I am going up to NY next weekend, and would love to have lunch in Chinatown. I'm pregnant, so am a bit leery about just walking into any place to eat. I travel for fun to NY often, but am usually with a friend that lives there. This time we will be without a local - so I am in need of recommendations!

I love Green Bo on Bayard St. Shanghai cuisine in very simple surroundings. They have the best soup dumplings! Go to the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory across the street for dessert.

If I were pregnant, I would not want to be walking around Chinatown on a weekend. It gets crazy down there with very crowded sidewalks. Hate to sound like a granny, but it just doesn't make sense to me.

If you still want to go, would help to know if you want dim sum or noodles or cantonese or????

I've been down there before on weekends, so I know a bit of what I'm getting into. If it's busier than I remember, we'll just leave! As far as food - probably not dim sum.

I love Chanoodle (79 Mulberry St.). They have this excellent spicy shrimp with scrambled eggs dish that I love. It's also somewhat removed from the really busy parts of Chinatown.

I've also heard really good things about Cantoon, but I've never been (22 Elizabeth). They are both Cantonese restaurants.

Peking Duck House on Mott is probably the best restaurant in Chinatown and the Peking Duck is legend there.

Don't dismiss Dim Sum so quickly, you can get excellent Dim Sum at several spots, my favorite is Mandarin Court also on Mott just south of Canal. They also offer a full menu so you can have whatever suits you fancy.

After lunch walk back toward Canal St and stop for a bubble tea at the bakery, almost on Canal and the same side of the street as Mandarin Ct.

Have a GREAT time.

Thank you for the great suggestions!