We're a family of 4 (two sons, 11 and 15) going for a quick trip to NYC this weekend. We're staying downtown (Embassy Suites) and will arrive Friday evening. Our first night's dinner is Layla in TriBeCa (middle-eastern, complete with belly dancer!), but we're still up in the air about Saturday night. We're seeing the late show "Stomp!" in the East Village at 10:30(!), so it might be good to find a place in that area for an 8:30 or 9:00 meal. (On the other hand, we could eat just about anyplace and give ourselves a bit more wiggle-room about the time.)

I understand there are a zillion Indian places on 6th St. Got any recommendations? How about Latin American (e.g Cuban)?

On Saturday afternoon, we figured on dim sum in Chinatown. Any favorite places you recommend?

Near to the Stomp! theater, I would suggest: Cyclo (Vietnamese, 1st Ave btn 12/13 Sts); Holy Basil (Thai, 2d Ave btn 9/10 Sts); 2d Ave Deli (Classic NY Jewish deli; 2d Ave @ 10); Miracle Grill (Southwestern; 1st ave btn 6/7--if the nice weather holds, they have a garden). In general, I'd avoid the 6th St. Indian restaurants; they draw a lot of tourists, and their year-round Christmas light decor is fun, but the food is not. There's a jokey NYC urban myth that they all have a communal kitchen, because the food and quality vary so little from one to the next. A couple of exceptions, though: Haveli, 2d Ave betn 5/6, and Banjara, 1st Ave @6. These are several cuts above and don't serve generic fare.

As for Chinatown dim sum, there are two ways to go. If you want the big-hall-with-with-circulating-carts thing, the usual suspects are Golden Ynicorn, Triple Eight Palace, and HSF (newly redone/reopened). There are a couple of places where you order dim sum off the menu; you don't get the fun of the carts experience, but everything is made to order and fresh. For this, Sweet-n-Tart and Dim Sum Go-Go are the places to try. Don't go too late, or you will have to wait a long time.

The atmosphere at Layla is kinda cool, but the food is hit or miss. Around Stomp I'd recommend the following: second avenue deli is probably the best kosher deli in the city and it's two blocks from the theatre. it's great eating, not dining. veselka is on 9th and 2nd and is good inexpensive polish food. go if you're in the mood for soup. yaffa cafe is a local hangout, at st marks just east of 1st. the indian places are pretty much all the same - pick one that is crowded. cucina de pesce is on 4th just west of 2nd - plentiful italian and inexpensive. johns is also a good choice on 12th just east of 2nd - old restaurant, good big dishes. all these places are inexpensive. if you want to know about pricier places just ask.

Forgot to mention that there just aren't really any Cuban or other Latib Am. places in that part of town.

Frutti de mare is also in the neighborhood - good moderately priced Italian - generally packed and noisy but fun and the food is a great value. Cash only - no credit cards.