My wife and I are going to the Big Apple this Thanksgiving with our two children (ages 8 and 11). We will be staying in the Doubletree in Times Square. We are trying to find a decent place to have Thanksgiving dinner (you know, turkey and all the usual stuff). Does anyone know of a place that would be appropriate for kids and adults?

Any other tips about what to see and do would be appreciated.

Dave

Try the Rock Center Cafe at Rockefeller Center.

They usually have a traditional Thanksgiving menu and you can request a window seat and watch the skaters at the rink. Call 212 332-7620.

Fraunces Tavern serves a wonderful traditional Thanksgiving Day dinner and the setting of a historical landmark makes it all the more special.

Ye Waverly Inn may have something. THe location is a carriage house from the 1700s. It's located in the West Village.

If you want to stay in the area, try The View (rotating restaurant)at the top of the Marriott Marquis. Traditional TG dinner and it's fun to twirl around while you eat.

If you don't mind traveling, I agree with the Fraunces Tavern recommendation.

I would suggest Tavern on the Green as a good choice for Thanksgiving, but you would need to make reservations now, yes I know it is very touristy and you will probably have to wait in line, but the dinning is fun there, and lots of atmosphere.

Frances Tavern is one of my favorites as well, from Times Square take the #1 train to Staten Island Ferry stop and walk one north on Water ST, turn left and go one block and you are there. That area of town will be pretty quiet on Thanksgiving, so you can walk around and see some of the sites.

You should also have a great view of the parade from your hotel. Have a great time.

tweedy

Our favorite NYC Thanksgiving activity is to watch the parade balloons being blown up the night before the parade. It is so much fun to watch a balloon get unpacked and hearing the kids in the crowd try and guess what balloon it will be. It is such a festive time.

bump

Most of the hotels (Plaza, St. Regis)will all have nice buffetts.

You might consider the Doubletree! We stayed there with our kids and their restaurant was first rate!

Check out a place called Chelsea Bistro (23rd and 8th Ave). Cute place, very french, fireplace, and they serve a mean Thanksgiving dinner. People have raved about it.

Dave,
Just a word about Chelsea Bistro. We were there for Thanksgiving dinner three years ago. Although we called a month in advance, we were seated in the bar, close to the door on a bench seat right next to the neighboring table. Food was good (the usual stuff), but it was so crowded and noisy that it took some of the charm out of it. It looked warm and cheery in the main dining room next to the fireplace, but that was way out of our territory. Earlier that day we'd had lunch at a nice Chinese restaurant--it was terrific. If we ever do this again, I'm going for a Chinese Thanksgiving dinner.