Restaurant recs for family trip NYC
May 25th, 2011, 05:35 AM
#1
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Restaurant recs for family trip NYC
I am taking my mother (75), sister, daughter in law, and granddaughter (6) to New York in June. This is my granddaughter's first trip to my favorite city and she is SO excited - she's seeing Lion King one night with her mom while the rest of us are doing Book of Mormon. And she already knows she wants to go on the ferry, see Central Park, etc. I'd really like for this to be a special trip for us all but am stuck on what we should do for dinners. When I go by myself I usually am researching newer or more upscale places that I think would not be appropriate for this trip. My mom and sister are from Arizona and would love a "real NYC experience". My granddaughter is very well behaved but a pretty typical child who likes her food fairly plain (pasta, chicken, fruit, bread, salad - not spicy). I am not looking for places that have a children's menu with chicken fingers - I'm certain she will not starve! But I'd like recs for places where we'd all feel comfortable and me (as the foodie) would still enjoy as well. We are booked one night at Otto's Pizzeria - which I think will be great for all of us. Any other suggestions for places that would be child friendly, not a chain, and something we'd all remember?
May 25th, 2011, 06:20 AM
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If you go early to dinner (before 7:00), you will find families dining at a lot of the more casual NYC restaurants, last time we went to Blue Gans (Austrian, in SOHO), there were quite a few tables with kids. If you like bar-b-que, Blue Smoke is very family friendly. Personally, I'm not a bit fan of Carmines, too much garlic and extremely noisy.
May 25th, 2011, 07:49 AM
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Take her to Katz's Deli. If you go to the sandwich counter, bribery is legal and if she slips a buck into the jar, she will get a slice of the meat.
Lombardi's pizza-if they are not too busy they will show the kids the ovens (not the Hansel and Gretl thing) and it is one of the best pizza places in the city.
Big Wong's or NY Noodletown-Chinatown. Both are cheap frenetic restaurants with an activity, sights and smells to keep any kid occupied. Be sure to go Chiantown Ice Cream factory-fabulous storemade ice cream. They have ribs and other kid friendly foods.
De Robertis-old fashioned Italian pastries. Ask for the orange or lemon thing, it is frozen and fun for kids.
Bubby's but only during the week. Kid epicenter in Tribeca.
Lombardi's pizza-if they are not too busy they will show the kids the ovens (not the Hansel and Gretl thing) and it is one of the best pizza places in the city.
Big Wong's or NY Noodletown-Chinatown. Both are cheap frenetic restaurants with an activity, sights and smells to keep any kid occupied. Be sure to go Chiantown Ice Cream factory-fabulous storemade ice cream. They have ribs and other kid friendly foods.
De Robertis-old fashioned Italian pastries. Ask for the orange or lemon thing, it is frozen and fun for kids.
Bubby's but only during the week. Kid epicenter in Tribeca.
May 25th, 2011, 09:10 AM
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I had dinner at Maialino last night and think it would be good for all ages.
The place is quite pretty, sort of a NYC take on a Roman trattoria. The menu spans the gamut.
You can take a peek into the very NYC scene in the hotel lobby (Gramercy Park Hotel, right on the park) before, or after, your meal.
Prices are on the high side of reasonable for New York. Pastas at dinner range from $15 to $23. You can have a good meal of pasta and an appetizer.
Lunch and weekend brunch are less expensive.
http://www.maialinonyc.com/
The place is quite pretty, sort of a NYC take on a Roman trattoria. The menu spans the gamut.
You can take a peek into the very NYC scene in the hotel lobby (Gramercy Park Hotel, right on the park) before, or after, your meal.
Prices are on the high side of reasonable for New York. Pastas at dinner range from $15 to $23. You can have a good meal of pasta and an appetizer.
Lunch and weekend brunch are less expensive.
http://www.maialinonyc.com/
May 25th, 2011, 09:58 AM
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For a fun experience go to Ellen's Stardust Diner. The food is basic diner fare but the waitstaff are "resting" B;way chorus boys and girls and performances are usually good quality.
For a place that's really pretty and has good food go to the Boathouse in Central Park.
Also - check out menupages.com. It has actual menus with prices for many hundreds of places so you can decide if the menu choices and prices meet your needs.
For a place that's really pretty and has good food go to the Boathouse in Central Park.
Also - check out menupages.com. It has actual menus with prices for many hundreds of places so you can decide if the menu choices and prices meet your needs.
May 25th, 2011, 10:34 AM
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I like both of Aduchamp's recommendations for Chinese food, but you should also consider Congee Bowery, where you might be able to sit in one of the more private dining alcoves. It's not as frenetic an environment, however. But it's a good, cheap restaurant and a good place if you want a big lunch. Weekends are really busy, so after 1pm on Weekdays is best, when it's more quiet. I took my cousin and her daughter there on Friday, and they loved it. The special chicken and the Peking-style pork chops were very attractive to a Midwestern palate, and they are not adventurous eaters.
Dim sum would also be fun, and you can easily avoid the more esoteric stuff.
I second the idea of Carmine's, but only if you can get a reservation (but I think you can only get a reservation with 6 people). The one on the Upper West Side is a bit more easy to manage than the one in the theater district.
And Junior's (either the original in Brooklyn or the Times Square branch) is a good choice.
If you don't want to go to Katz's, then you could go to Second Avenue Deli on 33rd Street (at 3rd, not 2nd Avenue, since it's moved). However, the Lower East Side is very family friendly, especially if your Mother is willing to walk around a bit. You could go to Economy Candy, which is not terribly far from Katz's. That's great fun.
Dim sum would also be fun, and you can easily avoid the more esoteric stuff.
I second the idea of Carmine's, but only if you can get a reservation (but I think you can only get a reservation with 6 people). The one on the Upper West Side is a bit more easy to manage than the one in the theater district.
And Junior's (either the original in Brooklyn or the Times Square branch) is a good choice.
If you don't want to go to Katz's, then you could go to Second Avenue Deli on 33rd Street (at 3rd, not 2nd Avenue, since it's moved). However, the Lower East Side is very family friendly, especially if your Mother is willing to walk around a bit. You could go to Economy Candy, which is not terribly far from Katz's. That's great fun.
May 25th, 2011, 01:18 PM
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Our favorite family restaurant is Becco. It is in theater district so a madhouse pre-theater, but lunch or after 8 is better. Pre-fix menu and NYC atmosphere makes my grandkids love it. They have special with 3 kinds pasta no limit plus appetizer. NOT like Olive Garden!
May 25th, 2011, 06:52 PM
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Thank you to all! This is exactly the kind of info I was hoping to get. I'll be checking these out and if anyone else has suggestions I will happily look at those too. Thanks for giving me and "insiders" tip!
May 25th, 2011, 07:03 PM
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Make sure you get a bagel while you're here. You could try ess-a-bagel for the real deal.
Where's Otto's Pizza? I love John's Pizza in the West Village. After pizza at John's you could stop by Magnolia Bakery and get a cupcake, if that's your thing.
You could also stop at one of the corner stores or bodegas that you'll see all over the city and have a few sandwiches made to be enjoyed later in your room. We've had picnics in our hotel rooms many times when we're just too tired to go out to eat at night.
Have you discovered menupages.com? You can check restaurants by meal, location, cuisine, etc.
Where's Otto's Pizza? I love John's Pizza in the West Village. After pizza at John's you could stop by Magnolia Bakery and get a cupcake, if that's your thing.
You could also stop at one of the corner stores or bodegas that you'll see all over the city and have a few sandwiches made to be enjoyed later in your room. We've had picnics in our hotel rooms many times when we're just too tired to go out to eat at night.
Have you discovered menupages.com? You can check restaurants by meal, location, cuisine, etc.
May 26th, 2011, 03:49 AM
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Yes Otto (as I've now been corrected) is very good. We did a wine tasting there and loved the food. One of my favorite restauranteurs so I'm very glad they are ( I've been told) child friendly.
May 31st, 2011, 07:00 PM
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What a fun trip!
Otto is really a wonderful family friendly choice. Our family loves Katz's and Congee Bowery too.
One other thought to throw into the mix - why not come to Brooklyn? I recently took friends from out of town on the water taxi from lower Manhattan to the Ikea stop in Red Hook, then we walked to Prime Meats in Carroll Gardens (though your mother might need to take a car service from the boat). Prime Meats is just superb, my kids love it. And my friends said it was their absolute favorite NYC experience.
Otto is really a wonderful family friendly choice. Our family loves Katz's and Congee Bowery too.
One other thought to throw into the mix - why not come to Brooklyn? I recently took friends from out of town on the water taxi from lower Manhattan to the Ikea stop in Red Hook, then we walked to Prime Meats in Carroll Gardens (though your mother might need to take a car service from the boat). Prime Meats is just superb, my kids love it. And my friends said it was their absolute favorite NYC experience.
