Where to eat in Manhattan and still have a little left
 

Hello Everyone,
I know that Manhattan is expensive but do any of you New yorkers or past visitors have some good restaurants to reccomend? Now I am traveling with wife and 2 kids 7/11 and it would be nice to have a nice meal and also some great spots that won't break me. My neighbor said she had a fantastic meal in Little Italy for dinner any reccomendations? We plan on doing the touristy stuff by buying a grayline tour pass so we will be all over manhattan.
So If you could give us some reccomendations for meals to eat in the day that and evening that would be great. I already read a posting about a hamburger joint in the (I think the Ritz by the park) Burgers for 3.50 with a line and every seat taken. hard to find in a nice hotel. anyway looking forward to your responses
soames

You misread that post about the burger place being located in the Ritz. If I recall correctly, it was in the area of the Ritz but you would need to investigate that or if I find it, I'll let you know.

Since there are thousands of restaurants in NY and people have different "breaking points" in terms of spending for dinner, how about info on two fronts:
1. How much you want to spend?
2. What type(s) of food?

I had a great meal at Carmine's in Manhattan, very close to the Broadway theaters. It is Italian food, served family style, very generous portions, reasonably priced, in a casual environment. You can find more details in their review under Restaurants on the Fodors site.

If you and your family like pizza, then you're in luck b/c there's great pizza to be found in NYC! Many places sell it by the slice, so it would be fairly inexpensive. There are also lots of delis/small grocery stores throughout NYC with low prices. I'm sure you'll see them in any neighborhood you're in. One hint--avoid Katz's deli--way overpriced and doesn't taste great either (IMO).

One really great pizza place is Grimaldi's in Brooklyn. It's on Old Fulton Street, right under the Brooklyn Bridge. They sell whole pizzas and the prices are reasonable (they're open for lunch and dinner). The pizza is also delicious! You could ride the subway over to Brooklyn and then walk back over the bridge to Manhanttan for some great views of the city.

If you go to Little Italy, go during lunch time and you'll find prices that are cheaper than at dinner--lots of lunch specials. Chinatown is another low cost option, as is Chinese takeout. We had Chinese food delivered to our apartment one night and got a ton of food for less than $20.00.

For great food at reasonable prices you are better eating outside midtown. The upper west side is a mecca for reasonable, family friendly restaurants with fresh, good food of every possible variety from argentinian, ethiopian, vietnamese to all of the basics. All you need to do is walk up/down Broadway, Amsterdam or Columbus in the 70's and 80's. Anyplace busy will have great food.

Ninth Avenue between West 45th and 55th Streets has some great inexpensive places to eat. Island Burger and Shake just off 51st Street (east side of Ninth Ave) is amazingly good, reasonably priced, but tiny. They have wonderful grilled chicken as well. There are many other places to check out - just stroll!

If you like Chinese Food, Ollie's just west of Times Square (47th Street?) is cheap and very good.

Try John's Pizzeria in the theatre district. (Food Network has featured it.)

Also, my kids and I loved Sweet and Tart in Chinatown on MOtt St. Restaurant is a bit nicer than cafe.
def

Thanks for the responses. I didn't know that there was a food section on this website. I will check it out. I have heard that a meal at chili's will cost around 50 for 2 people. I was amazed and that is why i needed your help. I will try the chinese and definitely the pizza. what about the hot dogs from the vendors. I guess I should at least try it once. I also found out that the burger joint is at the park meridian.

This really isn't an answer to your question regarding "good restaurants" but do consider a deli picnic in your hotel room. Almost every trip to NYC I overschedule and alway appreciate cabbing it back to the hotel, grabbing a bite to go at a deli/grocery and resting a bit before heading back out again. With two kids in tow, I heartily recommend squeezing in some down time in the room. My first stop after check-in is the deli next to my favorite hotel and I'm "home" when I'm snacking on an egg salad sandwich with chips in my hotel room. I think your kids would enjoy the variety of salads, sandwiches and snacks from NY delis.
Coming from the land of super supermarkets, I was amazed at the A&P grocery store on 8th (I think). Tiny aisles and demon cart drivers during my Thanksgiving grocery shopping before the holidays at a friend's. Talk about road rage!
And nothing is better than picking up a bagel, juice and coffee at a corner market.

It's true that the cheap chain restaurants are not nearly so cheap in Manhattan as they are in other places. they are generally found in tourist areas with maximum rents and pump up prices for tourists (few New Yorkers eat at them - because the food is so bad) who go there berause they are comfortable.

Local restaurants - especially in more residential neighborhoods have much better/freshly cooked (vs long frozen and mic'd) food and can frequently be less expensive.

That said - all restaurants in New York have to pay high rents, high taxes and "high" salaries to employees (except waitstaff) and once you add (non-alcoholic) beverage, tax and tip - a basic dinner for two at even a modest neighborhood restaurant will be $35.

I think that there are several ways you can enjoy a meal and not break the bank.

First, try sharing. Portions in the US are huge. When my husband and I go out we usually get 2 apps and 1 entree.

Next, cut down on the beverages. Water is so good for you and soda is crap. Try water with lemon or lime and get your kids used to it too. Soda will add at least $10 to the bill by the time you are done, and most places do not have free refills. An average soda in a NY restaurant is about $3.00

Go family style - chinese and italian are always good choices. You can find inexpensive eats in Little italy, Chinatown, and the lower east side.

Just be careful about the "sharing" - some restaurants add a additional fee if you share a plate. Family style is a great way to go as bugswife1 suggested.

There's are tons of reasonably priced family friendly places to eat with decent food. The times sq area in particular tends to be very touristy and in many cases over priced, although there are some great deals too. Other neighborhoods have many options. There are coffee shops, delis and pizza places all over. FOr inexpensive lunch or breakfast you can pick up food at any deli type place (there are small storefronts on just about every block), in many cases they have tables to eat there as well. John's pizza in both the theater district and in the village (Bleecker st) has great pizza (only by the pie, not slice).

Some places my kids like to eat (that are inexpesnive) are the Vietnamese chain called L'ANnan, the Japanese chain East (these chains are just NYC local chains), Grey Papaya or Papaya king for good hotdogs, Silver spurs/Grub in the village and soho, Cosy's (not the chain cosi) for good diner type food, Patzy's pizzeria for excellent pizza, salads and pastas (has lareg and single portions, also a chain, several locations), Brothers BBQ (in the W. Village, has kids menu), Joe's pizza in Greenwich VIllage (the best slice in town), various Indian restaurants (in Little india on e. 6th st between 1st and 2nd avs), and almost any chinese restaurant (there are hundreds, and most are inexpensive). I like Il FOrnaio (nothing fancy but very good food) in Little italy but if it's crowded service can be iffy. If you get there before the crowds it's fine. These burger and hot dog joints seems to be popping up all over the place.

If your kids like fallafel or gyros, there are many small palce in the village area (particularly on macdougal st).

For good sit down deli food, forget the midtown ones, go to the real thing, either 2nd av deli in the e. village or Katz, in the lower east side. ALso stay away from the national chains or midtown theme restaurants (mars, jecyll & hyde, etc) , the food tends to be overpriced and mediocre at best.

Most delis in Manhattan have a very decent buffet priced by the pound. My favorite in the midtown area is Cranberry Gourmet on 45th between Times Square and Sixth Avenue.

I took my 2 children about the same ages to NY 2 years ago. Hands down winner was John's Pizza in the theatre district (may be acroos from Phantom) and Sweet and Tart on Mott St. (the restaurant, not the cafe).

Check the New York Times Guidebook to NY for other suggestions. I was just in NY (without kids) and found their reviews / suggestions excellent. There is a chapter on NY for kids.

Do yourself a favor and avoid any and all chains in Manhattan. Not only is the food worse than what you'd get at the same chain in the 'burbs, but the prices are triple and so not worth it, compared to the fresh and unique cuisine offered up by the local establishments. If you can skip lunch and grab a hot dog and knish on the street, you'll save some cash and be able to splurge a bit more on dinner! Just MHO. Also, Carnegie Deli will cause you to take out a second mortgage for your sandwich but it may be worth splitting one before you leave (I hear they're offering a 5 year adjustable arm ;)

As a Manhattan resident, I was very interested to learn that a meal for 2 at Chili's costs $50.

There are no Chili's locations in Manhattan.

Try Hung Fats on Mott St in Chinatown. Puglia on Mulberry in Little Italy. Meals at Puglia are served family style and the portions are huge. If you want to try deli food such as pastarmi or corned beef stay away from Carniege Deli, Stage Deli and Katz very overpriced. Instead try one of the corner Greek diners they serve that as well and at least half the price of those other places. Enjoy

Well this thread is a year old, but I'll add something.

Anyone considering cheap eats might want to try one of the Dallas BBQ restaurants around town. Their main focus is chicken (but they do have burgers and salads) and they are reasonable. For $5 you get quarter chicken, potato and cornbread. They have locations in Chelsea, East Village, Upper West, Upper East.

http://www.bbqnyc.com/

P.S. There was a Chili's in Manhattan, but it closed.

We all have our favorite places we haunt, but since you are going to be all over the city I would strongly suggest getting a Zagat guide, so no matter where you are, you can find a good to excellent restaurant.

I would recommend Fraunces Tavern as a good restaurant, and it has LOTS of intersting history, George Washington said good bye to his troops there and took the oath of office for President a few block away on Wall St. That might be interesting to the kids and it has good food.

Grey's at 72nd and Brodway has the BEST hot dogs and it is very cheap.

Lots of fun places in the village. A special treat for the kids would be Pom Fritte on on 2nd Ave around 8th St, they have THE BEST FRIES ANYWHERE and you get to choose some interesting sauces to have with them.

Ellen's STardust on Broadway and 47th? is a fun evening and ok food, and all the servers are aspiring singers so it would be fun for the kids. Great chocolate shakes there.

In Chinatown, Mott St has several good restaurants, our favorite for Dim Sum is Mandarin Court. Another nice place that won't break the bank for dinner is the Peking Duck House and order the Pekind Duck it is amazing. If the kids like chicken they will love the duck.

The Museum of Natural History has a restaurant right there, and it's kind of McD's so you get the idea, you can tour the museum have lunch when the kids get tired and then head out to the Park, and find the carousel. You also might rent a boat to row around on the little lake there, and bring bread to feed the birds.

The Central Park Zoo also has a nice cafe and the food is also pretty good kids fare and reasonable. The kids will also enjoy the exhibits of animals there.

If you venture out of Manhattan, you might think about Fire Island and the Sunken Forest for a day at the beach. Long Island Railroad has a "special fare" which includes train/taxi/ferry rt very reasonably and the walk through the Sunken Forest is fun as is the Ranger Station there. Sunken Forest is a family area, and there's a shower building, and a cute cafe close to the ferry landing.

Hope this helps some, and hope you and the kids enjoy your trip to the city.

the heartland brewery chain is very good.