HI---no casting aspersions here and no elitism re: mcd....however, it would be like going to the Olive Garden when in Boston. You have all of the North End there and you go to Olive Garden?? Just makes no sense on every level. The same for brkfst in NY. You have all those wonderful, personality-laden coffee shops and you go to Mc Donalds?? So it is not just about the food, but rather the whole experience, as is often true in any and every aspect of eating while traveling.

You should all calm down...only one poster recommended McDonald's!

GwenB asked for "affordable" breakfast options, and McDonald's came to mind when I read the nearby Redeye Grill menu and noticed that the following is $18.25--not including tax or tip: croissant, eggs, potatoes, bacon or sausage, juice, and coffee or tea.

And, in case you don't know, at the McDonald's on 57th Street, you can sit at a window on the 2nd floor overlooking the street for one of the great NYC views at breakfast of New Yorkers on their way to work. My idea of a good time, but then that's me.

Those who would rather no rub elbows with the natives should, by all means, dine elsewhere.

My curiostiy was aroused, so I researched a little...the coffee shop connected to the Wellington is called the Park Cafe....the website for menu is below, but it appears that you can get 2 eggs/bacon, toast, and homefries for ~7.50.....a bargain for such a location and great NYC ambience, IMO.

http://www.menutopia.com/GetMenu.m?vendorId=2521

Socialworker thanks for mentioning the Park Cafe - I had forgotten about it! We've eaten there before the food is good and the wait staff was friendly & outgoing. Priced reasonably too!

I'm not going to get into the MacDonald's argument, but for those who want that kind of quick and convenient breakfast -- the Cosi places which are all around are great. They do an almost instant prepared to order "breakfast egg sandwich" on great choices of bread that beats the hell out of an Egg McMuffin at about the same price. And you can get real espresso drinks instead of the scalding plain coffee if you want. They also have great fresh fruit, real orange juice, and super baked goods. You go to a line, and get your stuff, pay for it, and it is very quick, cheap, and convenient.

Also, I've noticed the worst time to go to those "quick" places is between 15 minutes and 5 minutes BEFORE the hour as they are packed with people grabbing stuff on their way to work in the neighborhood. Go at 5 minutes after the hour and it will be like night and day -- only a handful of local workers who are late for work.

I do not spend much time on 57th Street but every Manhattan neighborhood has many little palces that offer breakfast specials where you get an egg on a roll, french toast, etc for far less than $7.50 and preapred by people who are not younger than the food.


There is also a Piatti Pronti on Sixth Ave that makes wonderful buttermilk scones. It is an expensive cafteteria style place but the quality is very good.

Hi All,
We just got back and I am still full from all of the yummy food. The hotel was located in the middle of so many awesome choices. This was different than the last time when we stayed at the Sofitel. For breakfast we ate at Fluffy's-- quick and yummy (but really crowded, vulture diners were circling for our chairs as we put the last bite into our mouths) and at Cafe Europa-- fine but STALE bagel-- in NYC there is just no excuse for that! For dinner we ate on the upper east side at S'Mac (our child loves mac and cheese) and at Blossom, an amazing vegan restaurant. We also ate lots of little "noshes" here and there-- the almond horns that are dipped in chocolate at all of the bakeries and the glazed amonds and coconut on the street cards almost do me in evertime I am there! No intention of insulting anyone about McDonalds, we just love trying things that are unavailable here. (We DO live in Boston, and recommend the North End over Olive Garden). :) Thank you again for all of your help-- we can't wait to go again.

Hi Gwen---did not realize you were a fellow Bostonian when I used my North End analogy! I have a question for you. We used to stay at the Meridien b/c we would get wonderful week-end package rates. These last several years I have not seen anything that I would consider a reasonable price. Would you mind sharing how much you paid and how far ahead you reserved? Thanks! :)

gwen...i miss fluffy's! i was a regular there for 4 years, now i work in a different neighborhood.
:-(

Hi GwenB--
Just thought I'd throw in a diner recommendation for something really basic. I like the omelettes at the MoonRock diner on 57th at 8th avenue. And who knows...you might see a celebrity--I saw Kurt Russell there a few weeks ago.

One small caveat... the coffee is not great.

Katie, you just mentioned a sore point with me. Coffee in diners. Now that I've gotten used to espresso drinks or really good coffee, it's just amazing how bad the regular coffee is (which is often all they offer) at many diners. I like the Cosmic diner for cheap and good breakfast, but I won't even order "dishwater" coffee there!

Hi Social Worker,
I don't mind sharing my rate, at all. We paid $255 a night as a prepaid, nonrefundable rate (found on their website). While I don't think this is a bargain, and I was a little anxious at the nonrefundable... it was MUCH less than any of the other rates I was finding for hotels in that area, and since we were with our 5 year old, it was worth it to be close to everything. I believe that I booked it about 5 weeks in advance. We also took the train out of South Station and had $59 one way seats (29.50 for our kiddo)-- on the way down, it was great we had a big delay on the way home, but all in all it was a pretty stress free trip.

Agree, agree on the coffee. My husband went out to one of the MANY (my goodness! there are a LOT there) Starbucks everymorning BEFORE we went out to breakfast. We learned on a recent trip there to not drink the diner coffeee... an aside:In the Museum of Natural History there were signs everywhere encouraging people to drink the NYC water... they might have to take on a similar ad campaign for the diner coffee if something doesn't change about it!

Speaking of coffee...Gwen..sorry we have sidetracked this a bit. But if you'd like 5 minutes in Rome--- be sure to have an espresso or cappuccino at Zibetto Espresso Bar on 56th and 6th ave.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrew_hyatt/138751322/

You should definitely go to Le Pain Quotidien on 58th and 7th. Wonderful breads and delicious coffee, and a European feel. Crowded, but worth it, and very affordable - I spent less there on breakfast than at Europa, which is really no more than a fast food type place.

I think you got a great price, Gwen. When we were looking last year, the best wknd rate they were offering was >$400! I guess that the "recession" has possibly hit them too? Back in the 90s I used to find wknd pkgs that included brkfst for ~$200/nt, so you paid about what we paid then, minus the brkfst, of course, but still a great buy. I like that hotel a lot. I remember it as being one of the quietest in which we have ever stayed.