NYC: good family friendly lunch and dinner spot?

[mtquinn]

We are heading there next weekend. Staying midtown. Anyone have some good recommendations for lunch and dinner that is family friendly (maybe semi-budget, too, though I realize where we will be and nothing sit-down is too budget).

We like most types of food, but there needs to be kids stuff to eat as well.

Thanks!

 

[disneymomjcs]

I know this will sound crazy.....but Olive Garden on Times Square is kid friendly and one of the only places to get free drink refills in NYC. Food is kid friendly and the price is just slightly more than at home. We live in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia.

We have also eaten at TGI Fridays but with multiple levels that are small and two bathrooms on each floor it is not a good choice with little kids. Stardusk Diner is great off of Times Square. Kid friendly and the servers sing and dance. Burgers shakes chicken fingers etc.

Mars 2112 is like traveling to another planet. Kinda strange.....Salads, burgers, chicken fingers not too expensive. Characters from Mars walking around meeting you. Mars 2112 and Stardust dinner are on opposite sides of the street.

Also Hard Rock Cafe on Times Square is typical food and kid friendly.

 

[disykat]

When we were there with our family a few years ago we ate at John's Pizzeria on 44th. It was in an old church, cool atmosphere. We weren't very hungry and basically got pizza and myabe a few sodas (I always drink water so I can't remember) and it was less than $30.

We ate very cheaply when we were there, depite being there with two teenaged boys. We did something like Papaya Dog for lunch, fruit from a vendor for a snack, John's Pizzeria for dinner. Our second day we ate a big diner breakfast, had huge pastrami sandwiches for a late lunch, and weren't hungry again until late at night when we split a piece of cheesecake.

We were there in the summer and for some reason we felt like we ate so much, but didn't have the time to eat everywhere we wanted to try. We had planned to do Ellen's Stardust Diner the second day, but skipped it.

 

[jama]

Dallas BBQ in Times Square is fantastic! it was so good that we ate there twice when we were there last spring..it ran ~$13/person.. huge servings, fast service, delicious food!

 

[shoney]

I agree with the PP's.



John's is great for pizza. Dallas BBQ is also good.

Another restaurant we were going to try one day, but never got there is vynl

http://www.vynl-nyc.com/


Unless you a pressed for time, you may want to take the subway to Chinatown. My kids love going there.....great inexpensive food!!!! and they get to eat with those "starter" chop stix!

While chain restaurants can be a safe bet, you can get them anywhere and at a lot lower cost than they charge in the city.

 

[shoney]

If you are up for venturing out of mid-town, my kids (and us too!) loved lunch at



http://www.smacnyc.com/


It's a great way to see other neighborhoods in the city.

 

[My5Mouseketeers]

We had dinner at Tony DiNapoli's on 43rd between 6th and 7th (right off Time Square) for dinner on Tuesday night. It was very good. Family style. Like Carmines but the portions are smaller so you can try more things! there were 10 of us (5 kids/5 adults - Kids night on Broadway). 2 apps, 1 salad, 2 pastas, 2 meats, 3 deserts and a bottle of red for $320 including tip. I will definitely go back.

Everyone raves about John's pizza. We haven't made it there yet.

 

[elf]

I 2nd or 3rd Johns Pizza. Nice atmosphere, good food. Sometimes a long wait. Been going with kids for years.

We also went to Tony's with 3 familys with young teens and tweens we all liked it alot.

I've been to Mars 2112 a few times but only because kids wanted to go when younger. I didn't like it the last time, burgers were a fortune and were not good, that was about 2 years ago.

Been to Ellen's Stardust a few times too, it's touristy but fun, food was reasonable and good though not great. We and kids all really enjoy it. I would suggest breakfast there instead of dinner it would be cheaper.

 

[cornflake]

Midtown where? East? West?

I'd stay FAR away from chains like Olive Garden and far away from Times Square (and also from Dallas BBQ, as at least one of their outposts has been actually shut by the health dept. recently).

You're kind of by 8,000 restaurants in Midtown...

There's a Serafina in the Dream Hotel, on 55th & B'way, where is to go for breakfast or brunch, unless you go to a diner (if you go to the Stardust, which is touristy but fun [food is better at Serafinas] ask for Erin to be your waitress!).

Le Bonne Soup is a classic, traditional bistro, so everyone should be able to find stuff there, good prices, on 55th by 6th.

Pazza Notte is really good Italian, brick oven pizzas, pastas, not too spendy.

John's Pizza is the best in the City (and the world) but go to the John's on Bleeker, the original location, the original oven.

There's a Shun Lee on 55th and Lex, which is expensive, but excellent Chinese food. There's Peking Park on 40th which is fine, regular-priced Chinese. There's a Schezuan something over on 50something too, and China Regency is an old standby on 7th.

There are a billion diners, dunno where in Midtown you are so...

You might find the Waffles and dinges truck for breakfast, lunch or a snack on the go. Follow the smell of freshly-baked belgian waffles - or check their daily location here.

 

[mtquinn]

Midtown where? East? West?

I'd stay FAR away from chains like Olive Garden and far away from Times Square (and also from Dallas BBQ, as at least one of their outposts has been actually shut by the health dept. recently).

You're kind of by 8,000 restaurants in Midtown...

There's a Serafina in the Dream Hotel, on 55th & B'way, where is to go for breakfast or brunch, unless you go to a diner (if you go to the Stardust, which is touristy but fun [food is better at Serafinas] ask for Erin to be your waitress!).

Le Bonne Soup is a classic, traditional bistro, so everyone should be able to find stuff there, good prices, on 55th by 6th.

Pazza Notte is really good Italian, brick oven pizzas, pastas, not too spendy.

John's Pizza is the best in the City (and the world) but go to the John's on Bleeker, the original location, the original oven.

There's a Shun Lee on 55th and Lex, which is expensive, but excellent Chinese food. There's Peking Park on 40th which is fine, regular-priced Chinese. There's a Schezuan something over on 50something too, and China Regency is an old standby on 7th.

There are a billion diners, dunno where in Midtown you are so...

You might find the Waffles and dinges truck for breakfast, lunch or a snack on the go. Follow the smell of freshly-baked belgian waffles - or check their daily location here.

We will be in Midtown East, at 540 Park. But we will be all over. Going to Staten Island to do the ferry, Times Square, Paul Frank store, Empire State Bldg, etc. Everywhere! But, we are staying in midtown East.

 

[cornflake]

We will be in Midtown East, at 540 Park. But we will be all over. Going to Staten Island to do the ferry, Times Square, Paul Frank store, Empire State Bldg, etc. Everywhere! But, we are staying in midtown East.

Ahhh - get fondue at Artisanal Bistro on... 32nd btw Park and Madison. They have traditional bistro fare (and fab cheese tastings and cheese and wine flights) as well but the fondues are awesome. The cheese is great, who doesn't love a good cheese fondue, but the chocolate is to plotz for.

Kids will love fondue if they've never done. Midpriced.

Go to Serendipity for ice cream and frozen hot chocolate. Make reservations or be prepared to wait on line but it's worth it.

Alice's Tea Cup is a nice lunch or tea spot too, there's a midtown one.

Since you're going to be by SoHo - go to the Dean and Deluca on either Prince or Spring, just to go, it's basically a deli looks like a display of food art. Grab a fresh-squeezed OJ or coffee and pastry. Walk along Spring and Prince and window shop - FULL of awesome shops. Much, much, much better than Times Square is SoHo.

Also while down there go over to Momo***u Milk Bar for cookies and cereal milk, go to Peanut Butter & Co. for gourmet, ridiculous PB&J sandwiches (also totally regular sandwiches with their own line of peanut butters, including regular, chocolate, etc.) - like the Elvis (pb, banana, bacon) -

Oh, and stop in at Dougnut Plant, there's one on Grand St. and one on 23rd, for the best doughnut you've ever, ever had -

 

[ryrysmom14]

I immediately thought of Tony DiNapoli's also. Went there with some friends b/f a play and it was very good and pretty budget friendly for NYC.

I also have been to Ellen's Stardust twice and it is really fun. Definitely an experience with the singing waiters. My kids thought it was really cool. Not a great value for the diner kind of food they serve but reallllly fun!!

If you want to try great deli food...go to Katz's. It's where the famous When Harry Met Sally "faking" scene was filmed. Great pastrami and deli sandwiches and definitely has that true NY feel.

HTH!

 

[mcgypsy]

I can't believe no one said Juniors! There are 2 in the midtown area. One in Shubert Alley between 43rd and 44th just off Broadway by the Marriott Marquis and the other is in the Grand Central Terminal.

We love it because no matter how crowded they are, the wait is never very long. The portions are huge!!!! My kids with very big appetites split the kids meals here....the pasta bowl was the size of a man's head. Also, the prices are affordable. There's lots of variety, and it's fast so you can get in and out quickly. They are also world reknowned for their cheesecake!

When I was there last month with a friend, we split a hamburger meal....it was almost a whole pound of meat for 1 burger, and came with fries and onion rings. Total for dinner for 2 with soft drinks and tip...less than $20

 

[DoomBuggy0922]

I can't believe no one said Juniors! There are 2 in the midtown area. One in Shubert Alley between 43rd and 44th just off Broadway by the Marriott Marquis and the other is in the Grand Central Terminal.

We love it because no matter how crowded they are, the wait is never very long. The portions are huge!!!! My kids with very big appetites split the kids meals here....the pasta bowl was the size of a man's head. Also, the prices are affordable. There's lots of variety, and it's fast so you can get in and out quickly. They are also world reknowned for their cheesecake!

When I was there last month with a friend, we split a hamburger meal....it was almost a whole pound of meat for 1 burger, and came with fries and onion rings. Total for dinner for 2 with soft drinks and tip...less than $20

Yes! I came in here to SAY go to Junior's. It's amazing.

 

[Swan4Me]

Becco!!

http://becco-nyc.com/menus/

Lydia (owner) has a cooking show on PBS

Her Appetiser/ 3 pasta meal is a GREAT deal for Times Square area!
$17 Lunch.
$23 Dinner
Can NOT beat the price-and the pastas were AMAZING & creative
(NOT Olive Garden-ish at ALL!!)

 

[Soulsearching]

subbing

 

[weeluvdisney]

subbing

 

[mtquinn]

What does "subbing" mean?


Thanks for the recommendations! They all sound terrific, and pretty budget friendly. Woohoo!

 

[beansmom]

i was intrigued by Mars 2112 so checked out the reviews on tripadvisor...the overwhelming opinion is that the food is awful.

I think we WILL check out smacnyc tho.

 

[BMC423]

We had dinner at Tony DiNapoli's on 43rd between 6th and 7th (right off Time Square) for dinner on Tuesday night. It was very good. Family style. Like Carmines but the portions are smaller so you can try more things! there were 10 of us (5 kids/5 adults - Kids night on Broadway). 2 apps, 1 salad, 2 pastas, 2 meats, 3 deserts and a bottle of red for $320 including tip. I will definitely go back.

Everyone raves about John's pizza. We haven't made it there yet.

John's Pizza is good, and I was going to recommend Tony DiNapolis, and while the portions are smaller that Carmines you can def. share them especially the kids.

Midtown where? East? West?

I'd stay FAR away from chains like Olive Garden and far away from Times Square (and also from Dallas BBQ, as at least one of their outposts has been actually shut by the health dept. recently).

You're kind of by 8,000 restaurants in Midtown...

There's a Serafina in the Dream Hotel, on 55th & B'way, where is to go for breakfast or brunch, unless you go to a diner (if you go to the Stardust, which is touristy but fun [food is better at Serafinas] ask for Erin to be your waitress!).

Pazza Notte is really good Italian, brick oven pizzas, pastas, not too spendy.
[/URL]

I agree with you! I am in no way a food snob, but being a New Yorker all my life it has always amazed me to see that tourist go eat at chains here when they can have the same food at home. NY has so many dinning options that eating at a chain would be a waste of opportunity!

Serafina has a great brunch! I don't know if you mentioned how old your kids are but Pazza is a great place, I go there for happy hour sometimes its right across the street from my job. The food is great its small and can be very crowded during happy hour since they have 2 for 1 martini deal. You can certainly do lunch there if you want to avoid that whole crowd.

Oh, and stop in at Dougnut Plant, there's one on Grand St. and one on 23rd, for the best doughnut you've ever, ever had -

Agreed these are the best doughnuts ever!!!

i was intrigued by Mars 2112 so checked out the reviews on tripadvisor...the overwhelming opinion is that the food is awful.

I think we WILL check out smacnyc tho.

Arrrgh stay away from Mars 2112 its cheesy and the food is horrible!