NYC: good family friendly lunch and dinner spot?

[princessbride6205]

Thanks for this great thread of suggestions. I'm heading to NY for work tomorrow and was hoping to find a few new spots. I was born and raised in NJ, but it's been a number of years since I've been in the city regularly.

I saw Donut Plant on TV last week - and I WILL be going there!

My dilemma is what to eat tomorrow night - given that it's Valentine's Day and I will be alone and without a reservation. Perhaps I'll end up just getting a slice.

 

[cornflake]

Just go someplace non-Valentine-y and you'll be fine. Like... go to Khyber Pass for really good Afghan food on St. Mark's and then wander around the street shopping, go to Momo***u Milk Bar (it amuses me it stars that out, because there actually isn't a curse word in there unless you really can't spell) for cookies and cereal milk or cereal milk soft serve or walk over to Veniero's for coffee and cheesecake. Wander around.

 

[shoney]

Our favorite French restaurant in town is called Les Sans Culottes. It's a prixe fixe place, and I've been going there for over 30 years. It's Midtown east, on Second Avenue - check out the Yelp reviews. We never miss it when we're in town - the kids have been enjoying this place since they were toddlers.

We also love Wo Hop in Chinatown (downstairs, NOT upstairs, and don't let the run down appearance fool you), Vanessa's Dumpling House, and although the prices are high, you haven't lived until you've had a pastrami sandwich at Katz's (take my advice, get the half sandwich and soup, and get the matzoh ball soup). And no NYC visit is complete, in my estimation, without a trip to Grays Papaya or Papaya King for the BEST hot dogs in the city.

There are a million fabulous little restaurants in NYC, and I beg you not to waste your time in the Big Apple going to a chain restaurant.

KC

Does the French restaurnant put a rack of sausages and fruit on the table? I looked at their website and it looks like a place we ate at many years ago. I was 8 month preggo and couldn't stomach the sausages!LOL...but the rest of the food was really good. We could never remember the name of it.

When I was little (in the 70's) my dad always brought home Wo Hop when he worked in that area. (he was in construction so he moved around a lot!) Yummy!

We also ate at a great tapas place and for the life of us we can't remember where it was.... You sat on barrells and so was the table. These were located towards the front by the bar area. In the back was picnic type long tables. We had such a great time there (yes, the sangria was delish!) and don't know where it is.... Does this ring a bell to anyone? (for some reason 1st or 2nd ave seems right but I have no idea!)

 

[disneypofq05]

I second Carmine's , awesome family style and great food !

http://carminesnyc.com/

I also really like Carmine's. We've been going for ten years now and it's always very good. We always get the stuffed mushrooms and rigatoni with broccoli and sausage in garlic and oil along with another dish.

 

[klacey1]

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 -

I don't think Dean and Deluca fits either budget friendly or kid friendly-- it's constantly packed and it's just a deli. I work on that street and go there for lunch-- the Caesar salad is delish (and $10. Without chicken or any meat), but it's not a destination for tourists. To put it in perspective budget-wise-- I spent $50 for 10 pastries/donuts for Christmas morning!
I think Donut Plant is okay, but not worth the hype or the prices-- $4 a pop is not cheap!

OP, if your family likes thin-crust pizza, my absolute FAVORITE spot is Waldy's in Chelsea (6th ave between 27th and 28th). It's DELICIOUS and if you go for lunch, you get a free soda or water. Not a bad deal! Spunto on Carmine also has delicious thin-crust pizza and has good lunch specials, too.
In Times Square, I've found Virgil's to be decent. NYC has not fully mastered BBQ, but Virgil's does a pretty good job!

 

[MeganFyne]

I beg of you to venture away from Times Square for eating. It's all over-priced and of terrible quality. Even the best of Times Square get that angry, antsy feeling in my chest.

You can walk into ANYWHERE in the city if you go before 6:30.

8th ave still midtown, a tiny baby walk away from Times Square yields a ton of eateries. Including Eatery.

I second the Artisanal vote for fondue... I used to work there and I still think their fondue is awesome. They DO book up fast so if it's a weekend get a reservation or go before 6:30.

For lunch there are 30 Le Pain Quotidiens in the city. Organic yummy food. The sandwiches don't come with sides, and they don't really offer any besides soup, and the sandwiches are also open faced, just so you know.

Go to a diner. Every diner is good. I swear. Well all the ones that are kind of off of Times Square. The best diner in the city is in Astoria, Queens though. I don't necessarily recommend a trip just for a diner, unless you wanted to go to the Museum of the Moving Image as well. Actually the Jim Henson exhibit there is pretty rad so if you do that, go to the Bel-Aire diner after or before.
Or Sac's for pizza. I clearly love Astoria.

Do you love terrible service and a horrible atmosphere with overhyped steaks? Then don't miss Peter Luger's in Williamsburg. I actually like Williamsburg, but not necessarily with kids, and not at Peter Luger's.

Best idea? I assume you have a smart phone because it's 2012, and at the very least you have a computer. Wherever you are, use the yelp app to find a place. It really makes very little sense to plan your restaurants rather than your attractions. Also use the concierge at your hotel! They TOTALLY get a kick-back, but still will help you out.

 

[cornflake]

I don't think Dean and Deluca fits either budget friendly or kid friendly-- it's constantly packed and it's just a deli. I work on that street and go there for lunch-- the Caesar salad is delish (and $10. Without chicken or any meat), but it's not a destination for tourists. To put it in perspective budget-wise-- I spent $50 for 10 pastries/donuts for Christmas morning!
I think Donut Plant is okay, but not worth the hype or the prices-- $4 a pop is not cheap!

OP, if your family likes thin-crust pizza, my absolute FAVORITE spot is Waldy's in Chelsea (6th ave between 27th and 28th). It's DELICIOUS and if you go for lunch, you get a free soda or water. Not a bad deal! Spunto on Carmine also has delicious thin-crust pizza and has good lunch specials, too.
In Times Square, I've found Virgil's to be decent. NYC has not fully mastered BBQ, but Virgil's does a pretty good job!

I was just by Doughnut Plant the other day and they're $3. Which is like twice a Dunkin' little crappy thing so... to me, they're more than worth it, I think they're fantastic.

As for D&D, yeah, it's a deli. If someone isn't from here, or isn't from or near a big city, it's interesting. I've been waylaid into such places by more than one non-resident - including one from LA, endlessly fascinated by delis one can enter and purchase one sour pickle or random cookie, go figure.

It's very pretty, kind of hilariously overstyled, which was the point of my saying stop in that particular D&D, and they have good stuff (I prefer their OJ to most), even if it's not cheap, an OJ or coffee and split a bagel isn't nuts (I mean it's more there than in a regular Korean deli yes but people buy Starbucks.)

 

[cornflake]

I beg of you to venture away from Times Square for eating. It's all over-priced and of terrible quality. Even the best of Times Square get that angry, antsy feeling in my chest.

You can walk into ANYWHERE in the city if you go before 6:30.

8th ave still midtown, a tiny baby walk away from Times Square yields a ton of eateries. Including Eatery.

I second the Artisanal vote for fondue... I used to work there and I still think their fondue is awesome. They DO book up fast so if it's a weekend get a reservation or go before 6:30.

For lunch there are 30 Le Pain Quotidiens in the city. Organic yummy food. The sandwiches don't come with sides, and they don't really offer any besides soup, and the sandwiches are also open faced, just so you know.

Go to a diner. Every diner is good. I swear. Well all the ones that are kind of off of Times Square. The best diner in the city is in Astoria, Queens though. I don't necessarily recommend a trip just for a diner, unless you wanted to go to the Museum of the Moving Image as well. Actually the Jim Henson exhibit there is pretty rad so if you do that, go to the Bel-Aire diner after or before.
Or Sac's for pizza. I clearly love Astoria.

Do you love terrible service and a horrible atmosphere with overhyped steaks? Then don't miss Peter Luger's in Williamsburg. I actually like Williamsburg, but not necessarily with kids, and not at Peter Luger's.

Best idea? I assume you have a smart phone because it's 2012, and at the very least you have a computer. Wherever you are, use the yelp app to find a place. It really makes very little sense to plan your restaurants rather than your attractions. Also use the concierge at your hotel! They TOTALLY get a kick-back, but still will help you out.

You used to work at Artisanal?! Picture me staring at you in wonder, heh. I just love that place. It's so cheese oriented! And walks the neighbourhoody/nice bistro line well, even if sometimes loud.

Totally agree with the Le Pan Quotidian, though I recommend breakfast. They have fantastic pastries, amazing french toast and really good steel-cut oatmel and brown rice pudding and other such things. They're also really homey, cozy, with long family-style tables.

Also seconding the Carvel recommend. It's a NY staple/classic. There's one in Chelsea. Though the soft serve with cereal milk at Momo***u is also great and there are other really good ice cream and gelato and custard places. Grom is good gelato.

Oh and I didn't know there was a Henson exhibit at MMI - I have to check that out. Thanks!

 

[MeganFyne]

I just CRINGED when I read my own words "I assume you have a smart phone because it's 2012" because I meant "I assume you have a smart phone AND because it's 2012" I swear I'm not a jerk!

 

[MeganFyne]

You used to work at Artisanal?! Picture me staring at you in wonder, heh. I just love that place. It's so cheese oriented! And walks the neighbourhoody/nice bistro line well, even if sometimes loud.

Totally agree with the Le Pan Quotidian, though I recommend breakfast. They have fantastic pastries, amazing french toast and really good steel-cut oatmel and brown rice pudding and other such things. They're also really homey, cozy, with long family-style tables.

Also seconding the Carvel recommend. It's a NY staple/classic. There's one in Chelsea. Though the soft serve with cereal milk at Momo***u is also great and there are other really good ice cream and gelato and custard places. Grom is good gelato.

Oh and I didn't know there was a Henson exhibit at MMI - I have to check that out. Thanks!

Yup I worked at Artisanal...I recommend EATING there not working there

And beware, NYC Le Pain Quotidiens do not have French Toast or Omelettes, but they have the soft boiled eggs and the PASTRIES!

And DO visit the Henson exhibit. It's a (relatively) inexpensive museum, and the exhibit is included, it's really cool. Also the rest of the museum is awesome. I'm a lucky lucky lady - it's a few blocks from my apartment.

I also can't believe I forgot to mention Shake Shack. SHAKE SHACK!!!!

 

[cornflake]

I've had french toast at Le Pan.... here... ?! Whatchu talkin 'bout, Willis?

Agree Shake Shack has good custard, but I think their fries suck. I know, that's right, I said it. They suck. Little greasy, crunch things taste of grease and crunch like cheap Ore-Idas.

I'll take your word on working at Artisanal but I don't know if I *quite* believe you - you had access to the gougeres like, fresh out of the oven. That's not nothing! I wonder if we've met, heh.

 

[KCMiller]

Does the French restaurnant put a rack of sausages and fruit on the table? I looked at their website and it looks like a place we ate at many years ago. I was 8 month preggo and couldn't stomach the sausages!LOL...but the rest of the food was really good. We could never remember the name of it.

When I was little (in the 70's) my dad always brought home Wo Hop when he worked in that area. (he was in construction so he moved around a lot!) Yummy!

Les Sans Culottes - yup, that's the place - the prices are still amazing, they still put huge racks of sausages, pate and 'cut it yourself' crudite on every table, and I recommend the mussels in cream sauce - divine! I've seriously been eating there since 1980.

Wo Hop hasn't changed in decades - and by that I mean the great food, but also the decor. My dad used to say that you could tell a really good restaurant in Chinatown by seeing how many cops ate there (there is a huge precinct building right there), and there are always tables full of police officers chowing down there. I've sent folks there before, and any time they say they didn't like it, I ask them if they went DOWNstairs, and they say no. You gotta go downstairs.

KC