Restaurant for food-fussy teen for pre-theatre dinner!
 

I actually have a few questions about a pre-theatre dinner. First of all, I've been looking at menus and web sites for restaurants. Everything I see sounds good to me, but I can see my 15 year old food fussy turning up his nose. Any suggestions on a place to make reservations for pre-theatre dinner? I was thinking maybe an Italian place that also had pizza or perhaps a steak place that might also have a hamburger on the menu. We want to go somewhere fairly nice, but not chic. I guess I had a little place in Greenwich Village in my head. More like a neighborhood restaurant than a destination. Also, I need to know what time I should make reservations for. The show starts at 8PM on a Saturday night in July.

Thank you for your help.

I'm guessing you are talking about NYC and if so the best place for him probably would be the Stardust Diner on Broadway around 48th St, but will get address and post it here.

All the servers are aspiring broadway stars and will sing during your meal. The food is pretty good and the portions are large and the sandwiches are great. Good milkshakes too.

It's a fun place before the theatre.

Have a great time while you are here.

Several thoughts, starting with the intrusively philosophical --maybe it's time the kid got a bit more sophisticated.

Most menus in the better restaurants have something that bridges the gap between McDonald's and sauteed goat's eyeballs simmered in squid ink, and topped with garden slugs -- whoops, escargot.

There's often a chicken entree that's cooked simply, with a plain sauce that you could get on the side. French fries are often almost as good as McDonald's (I think they've got the FF recipe almost perfect)and almost all restaurants can come up with an ice-cream and fruit desert that most kids would like.

I'm on the kid's side, generally, in picking food, but usually can find something in most restaurants. When I'm dragged to a Japanese restaurant, I can usually find Tempura, and, in a Chinese establishment, there's always Lemon Chicken for those of us less adventuresome.

Conversely to the sophistication concept, going to the theatre's a big deal, and you might as well try to make it a special occasion as far as the kid's food goes, too.

I'd pick a restaurant fairly close to the theatre, reducing the post-dinner rush, avoiding searches for cabs, etc.

One thought is to pick a Broadway deli with good sandwiches, french fries, lots of different soft drinks, and, assuming you come from somewhere other than NY City, a special New York kind of experience. I'm a Carnegie Deli fan myself, but there are others too, and none of them have snooty waiters who frown if you ask for ketchup. They may have snooty waiters who always frown -- that's the way some delis are -- but it won't be because there's a teenager there.

And, while the food isn't all that fancy, it is usually fine ingredients, prepared well, tasty, etc. for the grown-ups, too.

I've been to NY with several teenagers, and all of them "stretched" to take advantage of what was to them a special trip. He may want to stretch, too, especially if given an hour at the computer with a map of Manhatten and the Zagat's restaurant reviews, and the ability to influence the destination.

And, come to think of it, if you're willing to do the cab search after eating, the Tennessee Mountain House in Soho has great ribs, lots of families with fussy-eater kids, friendly staff, excellent fried onions, decent prices, and, I really do believe (I just order the ribs) hamburgers.

BAK

Consider Becco, about 7 blocks from the theater district. Good Italian and not stuffy. Ask for a table in the atrium.

Here's a useful link. It has menus from most of the NY restaurants by location, "midtown area" is where theatres are:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...?city=New_York

I certainly seems a shame to go to NYC and make food choices based on a picky 15 year old...

I'm speaking as a mother who's son has somehow survived to adulthood without eating at every meal. b-(

I agree with the above poster -- it's your trip, you should go where you want. The kid doesn't want to eat, who loses? The kid, that's who.

That said, take the spoiled little wanker to John's Pizza on 46th in the theatre district.

Not to dump on HMtravels' kid, but I'm with the others here: Go wherever you want and he'll just have to deal with it. And *I* speak as someone whose older brother dictated our dinner menu till he moved out-- and that evening our mom went wild with a 100% Continental French dinner she could never make cuz he would whine about "not eating that crap" (he's still like this, even with his German second wife). You're in a great dining town; it's high time he learned that sometimes you bear down and try new stuff.

Having said that, the suggestion about going the Deli route is a great one, as are the pizza and Italian possibilities. Everyone loves Italian food, don't they?

RJW, was that whining the reason behind his losing his first wife maybe?? Your brother was my brother's twin. He got a real kick out of it too. From yesterday rjw, my best to other family and hope all has been licked. Glad you all are so open with one another. You sound like a good and caring bro.

Not to pile on HMtravels...but the reactions above were identical to mine when I first read this thread. BAK's response was so thoughtful, I applaud his/her tact, but I spent a couple of hours with a friend this morning listening to tales of her just-graduated-from-hs son who has their whole household by the tail and is swinging it for all it's worth. I wanted so badly to say "NANCE, wake up...why are you enabling this behavior", but held my tongue, and probably should here. Hers is 18 times worse than yours but it's a pattern. Anyone else's parenting is none of my business...but...when our daughter tried the same with food, my solution for her deciding to be a vegetarian was to let her cook her own meals. It didn't last long. I understand you want no stress, struggles, hassles and pouting on what is to be a fun weekend, but I sure wouldn't let him think he's dictating the family restaurant selection--it only spreads from there!! Agreed, go for Italian but make no mention of whether or not its something to his liking. If you ask, it won't be. Apologies again for butting in on something that is truly none of my business.

Yes, it IS none of our business, but we're free on this forum to tell HMtravels what all their friends and family are saying behind their back!

OliveOyl: You know, I never did get a full accounting of the first wife's true beef, but knowing her, she was perfectly happy to make him the same three or four dishes day in, day out. But you should see his kids when they come to visit me-- "Tamales? Fresh veggies? Bring 'em on!!"

Thanks for the kind thoughts for my sister. We'll know more this coming week on her condition, but as of now she's running around like a house afire, even with chemo, so she'll be fine whatever the news.

HMTravels, how is your son regarding Chinese? That was a good idea. If he can handle the food-court types of places, maybe exposure to a real Chinese place-- family style, lots of courses, offbeat veggies, etc.-- might be fun, and he can load up on rice or chow mein while trying things.

Now, not to hijack this thread, but while we're on the topic: Are most Chinese restos in Manhattan Mandarin, Cantonese or Schezuan? In LA, they lean to the Schezuan/Hunan end (a bit lighter and a lot spicier). I imagine the choices are mind-boggling, but I'm just curious....

Wow, there are some great responses to this one. I agree with BAK.

HMtravels, don't mean to be blunt but NEWSFLASH: That 15 year old son of your's isn't actually fussy. He just likes controlling you.

Go wherever you want! (But do choose a place close to the theatre...it's such a pain to be rushing to the curtain after dinnertime.)

Choose your favorite place and then explain the "McDonalds" equivalents to him as you go through the menu.

God, I have a feeling your son isn't going to like the theatre either. So be braced for some fidgeting in his seat.

-Darvy, the travel gal

Well, let's see . . . near the theatre district there's John's Pizza. It's a whole pie place (as opposed to a slice place) and they have a great salad. I'm sure they also have pastas. Casual and inexpensive.

There's also Carmine's. It's family-style Italian, but red-sauce Italian. Nothing terribly fancy, but decent food and a loud, fun atmosphere. Casual and moderately priced, although they often don't seat you at your reservation time, so you might be stressed to get to the theatre before curtain.

There's also Ollie's. It's Chinese and they have great dumplings. You can also watch them make the dumplings. Could be fun for a teen. Again, casual and inexpensive.

There's Becco. Lots of people here seem to like it. I've never been. They have an all you can eat pasta deal with 3 kinds of pasta. Who doesn't like pasta? (other than *my* nieces and nephews but, hey, we all have our crosses to bear, right?).

There's a BBQ place nearby. I'm trying to think of the name. It's actually pretty good -- ribs, bbq chicken, etc.

Those are the first ones that come to mind. Good luck!

Hi,
I also second the Stardust Diner.
I went there with (3) 13 year old girls and they LOVED it!
Of course it might not be cool for a 15 yeqr old boy to love anything!
Good luck!

Lisettmac, I believe the BBQ place your are referring to is Virgil's. I've heard good things about this place. I must make a point of trying it the next time I am in the City.

http://www.virgilsbbq.com/

Just a Friendly Warning: If your "fussy" 15 year old son enjoys the theatre, you could be in for a little surprise very soon.

HM I'm coming to NYC with two fussy teen girls... I would be the last to criticize..:).

I looked at the menu for the Stardust Diner and looks about what I need for the inept eaters among us.

Sure we can let them go without eating, but why spoil it for everyone in the group. Spending "pleasant" quality time with a teen on a vacation is more important than satisfying my need for an eclectic menu... best wishes to you on your trip too!

Al
Explain please ???????

rjw - Chinatown restaurants are mostly Cantonese with some Vietnamese and Fujianese.

Restautants in the neighborhoods are a mix.

cd - what's to explain? If the kid puts up a fuss and "doesn't like anything on the menu," then the kid will sit, without food, and grow hungry. Therefore, learning a lesson that being fussy doesn't pay off.