My sister and I are bringing her 2 girls (ages 6 and 10) and our mother to see Hairspray the end of the month. I was looking for a reasonable place that served brunch. The girls are 'sophisticated' and 'adventurous',they eat out alot and like to try new things, Mom is not. Not interested in Serendipity or American Girl Cafe, or theme places. Any suggestions where we can go and make a 3 o'clock matinee. Thanks all.

I can recommend two places in the theater district for a Sunday brunch:
1. West Bank Cafe on West 42nd Street, just west of 9th Avenue. Very reasonable.
2. Le Madeleine on West 43rd Street, just west of 9th Avenue. Not as reasonable, but outstanding. (What do you consider "reasonable"?) Definitely make reservations for this one...and ask for the Garden Room. (PS: It has nothing to do with the doll of the same name!)

Balthazar has a good brunch.

thanks HowardR, those are good suggestions. I wish my mother was adventorous, I would like to go to Chez Josephine (I know you are quite a fan!).

Lucienne - Balthazar is to far for this day.

Do you or anyone know anything about the Eatery?

On Ninth Ave. around 43rd is Rachel's, a small and cozy cafe. They are very popular for brunch and very inexpensive. On the Sunday we were there we had a nice spacious table and as we were leaving Rosie O'Donnell, then a regular, and a guest were being seated in a rather crowded spot. The hostess offered her our much nicer table and she declined, saying she was happy there, and the people next to her looked nice -- she earned lots of brownie points that day.
Food is good, the girls would probably love it, if you aren't looking for a fancy or glamorous place.

For Sunday brunch, I actually prefer Le Madeleine and West Bank Cafe to Chez Josephine. (Surprise! But, please don't tell Jean-Claude!) I think you and the children would really enjoy Le Madeleine, especially if you sat in the Garden Room

I've been to eatery. I was taken there by a friend who says he brings all of his out of town guests there to show them a typical new york experience. I thought the food was fine, a little bit upscale american but definitely approachable. The setting is very casual. It reminds me of cafeteria in Chelsea.

I'm actually thinking about taking my mother, sister-in-law and niece there when they come to town next month. So I'd recommend it.

I've never been to any of the other places so I can't say anything about them.

I love Le Madeleine! For another idea, when my mom and I went in November and took my baby, we went to a place called America for Sunday brunch. It's between Broadway and 5th near 17th St. It was decent food--nothing adventurous on the menu but the french toast was great. They had a magician and a balloon artist travelling around the tables for the kids. (Be sure to ask your server to send one of them over to your table if its crowded--it takes them a long time to work the entire room.) Service was average; we had to stay on top of it, but we were in and out in an hour with only a 5 minute wait.

Blue Fin serves brunch, and they're right smack in Times Square. Plus they'll take a brunch reservation, unlike some more neighborhoody places that are first-come first-served. I've heard the brunch is excellent, though I've only been there for dinner myself. (And the dinner is excellent).

You can view menu for Le Madeleine at:
http://www.menupages.com/restaurantd...=0&cuisineid=0

Go to Isabella's on the Upper West Side behind the American Museum of Natural History (Columbus Ave). It's better than the tourist-traps in the theater district, but it's very close (and easy cab ride).

Real New Yorkers love Isabella's brunch, so you should consider reservations.

Enjoy!

I sound like a broken record but my two favorites are The Cupping Room and Blue Ribbon Bakery.

thank you for all your replies. I didn't know that Isabella's took reservations, so that is definitely an option. I also am liking Le Madeleine, or the more basic Blue Fin (I was just there for lunch on Monday!).

I'll have to disagree with Gekko. Le Madeleine is not a tourist trap. And, a lot of real New Yorkers go there! Further,as good as Isabella's might be, it seems a rather inconvenient location for brunch if one is going to a Broadway show.

I've walked from Isabella's brunch to a Broadway matinee -- it's plenty convenient and not in the tourist trap that is Times Square.

(Plus, Columbus Ave runs south, making the taxi situation that much easier.)

If one is not ambulatory or incapable of catching a taxi or paying a $6 fare (for a 1.5 mile ride), then, Yes, it may be a tad inconvenient.

You could try Brooklyn Diner on 57th or 44 & X Hell's Kithcen (44th and 10th Ave.) for some American comfort food.