twin girls at American Girl Cafe in NYC

[stitchs4kidsmy4kids]

Twins will be 9 in April. Thinking about going to NYC for the day...just mom, dad, twins(no brother or little sister). The girls are willing to give up having a bday party with friends in order to justify the expense. Has anyone been there? Is it worth the $$$AND worth giving up a party with friends????

 

[Ava]

I haven't eaten in the cafe so can't comment on that, but the store is worth the trip. Besides just shopping, you can get the doll's hair done, make doll t-shirts, & get your photo done with your doll. Just be prepared to drop some $$$. I would look up what is offered & the prices and have the twins decide ahead of time which they want to do. That way there's no issue when you get there & they see the different options. You can also order them each an AG gift card ahead of time. That way you can easily set a spending limit & they will know in advance how much they have to spend.

Have fun! I'm 30 years old and still love my AGs, hahaha.

 

[Anthony1971]

It is basically this:
a cute meal with dolls included and children in mind... with that said the portions are such so bring money for the hot dog cart outside and they will rush you out at the end... when it is over.... it is over!
if you are looking for an amazing experience go to Disney you money will be better spent
No one can answer is it worth it to some yes to others no..
It is a nice experience that you will pay for like some things at Disney if you girls want it that bad and you can pay and afford a no frills party then go for it but you will NOT turn them away for a BDAY party when the time comes.

 

[Bren's Mom]

If you can afford it and if they're into AG...they'll love it.

Be sure to book your dining reservations EARLY! They also have a brunch and an afternoon tea that are less expensive.

Plan to be at the store the minute it opens, and I'd suggest if you're getting the dolls hair done do that first. Just be sure to ask how long it will take, the girls will need their dolls back before your meal! Then pictures with the dolls and whatever else might have a line. Don't wait until later in the day.

Also, you can make an appointment for a 'personal shopper', I'm told that's fun. And there's no charge for that!

When we were there with my nieces our dining plan (not eating at AG, they'd done that before) were messed up because of the long waits.

 

[stewpette]

We were just there a couple of weekends ago. My daughter got her AG doll's ears pierced, and her hair done. It was super cute and my daughter loved watching the hair stylist. We wound up getting another doll and an outfit. We decided to forgo the lunch and saw Mamma Mia instead :O)

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would check out prices and decide if it's an option and then let the girls choose between the store and the party. Of course you risk them wanting DIFFERENT things!

 

[Zoemakes5]

Did this with DD in LA and she loved it!!!! I'd suggest the experience at least once. We've done it in LA and at the Mall of America in Minneapolis.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

The NYC AG store is nice... but the one in Chicago is truly spectacular. If you can swing it... it's much more fun. Took both my DDs there for their birthday many years ago. We had lunch (at a window table overlooking water tower place) the dolls got new hairdos, we saw a show in the theatre, the works.

 

[tiferetsix]

We did the lunch last year. Didn't have reservations as the decision to go was a little last minute but stood in the standby line. (and got it). I would NOT recommend doing it standby, we were one of the lucky groups who got in - not everyone did.

Lunch was ok (adult perspective). The girls (my then 8 year old and her 9 year old friend) enjoyed it. The dolls have special seats that clip onto the table (and they have loaner dolls too). Each girl gets a hair tie (initially used as a napkin ring) and there were a box of conversation starter questions on the table. I had the quiche. It was........nothing special. I agree with the previous poster that at the end they rush you out.

Frankly I think the girls would not have been broken hearted if we had not eaten there. Their main aim was shopping. One nice thing - we were there in winter, with heavy coats etc - our first stop was on one of the upper floors (we had a doll who needed to go to hospital) where we found the coat check. Its a lot more fun trailing after a 8 year old if you are not carrying heavy coats.

 

[monorailmom]

This is truly something you should do if your girls love American Girl. My girls have now outgrown it...but we went a few years ago with my mom. She passed away in 2008. This is a day I am SO glad we did and SO glad we enjoyed!!! The cafe is wonderful..the dolls 'sit' with their girls, and they all feel just so grown up and special. My girls have never forgotten it. If you can do it, I recommend it. Have you thought about the play? I know it's an extra expense, but again...completely worth it.

 

[poohfriend77]

The NYC AG store is nice... but the one in Chicago is truly spectacular. If you can swing it... it's much more fun. Took both my DDs there for their birthday many years ago. We had lunch (at a window table overlooking water tower place) the dolls got new hairdos, we saw a show in the theatre, the works.

I don't want to stray too far from the OP's questions, but I thought I'd add that the Chicago store moved a year or so ago. It's actually in Water Tower Place now, and there is no theater. It's still an amazing store, though!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

How much do your daughters love American Girl?

It is truly something special if they love it. My daughter loved it and truly dinner was very nice and not much more than when we went to TGI Fridays in Time Square.

I surprised my daughter by telling her to pick any doll for her birthday. She spent an hour going to each doll's area and looking at all the different things. She had her doll's hair done before dinner so they both looked beautiful. We did not travel to NYC just to go to American Girl- but it was a great part of the trip.

One other thing we did in the city was go see Mary Poppins on Broadway- awesome!! There are always sales on the tickets and you could do just visit the AG store, maybe get the doll's hair done, get a sandwich for dinner and go see a show. The girls could easily bring the dolls with them.

 

[cmpfan]

We live near Chicago and have been to the AG place numerous times and have eaten in the cafe 4-5 times. The food is pretty un-spectacular. Never have been impressed with the actual meals.

The tea, however, was yummy with tasty treats. I'd recommend that dining experience over any of the others.

We went to the AG in Manhattan last summer and had breakfast. The food was pretty much the same as in Chicago - and again I was not impressed. You pay for the experience. It is fun to say you've eaten there and the girls get a kick out of their dolls sitting at their table. I'd say do it once at least. The memories are fun.

Have to say - I never thought I'd spend $20 to get a doll's hair done. But, alas, I have and it was adorable.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Well now I'm completely bummed. I loved the original location!

I don't want to stray too far from the OP's questions, but I thought I'd add that the Chicago store moved a year or so ago. It's actually in Water Tower Place now, and there is no theater. It's still an amazing store, though!

 

[Sagginit]

the trip to the store is worth it if you plan on shopping til you drop. i have gone in once or twice to browse but the windows always grab my eye when i walk by. i still get sticker shock at the price of some of the things. since you are a block from the rock if you go when it still cold you can eat downstairs at the concourse instead of at AG and watch the ice skaters, or just go the few blocks to times square to eat at any of those places. im partial to AG over the party since the nieghborhood is my work backyard.

 

[tigger51276]

I really enjoyed the NYC AG store and their lunch to boot. My DD7 went there 3 or 4 times last year as my cousin was going to school in the city and we'd stay with her at her apt. We did lunch on a whim one day and my DD just LOVED it. I thought the food was great and extremely filling. In fact after the apps they served I only got through half my sandwich and still had the other half left over for dinner. Then a couple months later my cousin was graduating from school and it was also my birthday so we decided to go back to the AG store and do lunch again, my DD was over the moon and again lunch was great and had leftovers yet again. Some of the menu items are rather small and obviously meant for little kids, but then there are menu items that are larger and more filling. Plus they come with apps and dessert!

 

[southern_redhead]

We've not done NYC (yet! LOL) but we have been to Chicago and Atlanta. DD would trade her birthday party and possibly vacation to go back to Chicago. We didn't eat there but I have friends who did and they loved it (the show not the food - now it looks like the show isn't an option anymore....boo!) We did eat in ATL. It was........so so. Kind of bland and I was suprised they didn't have better choices. If we did it again I'd do the tea instead of lunch. We "liked" ATL but DD wouldn't give up so much as a sleepover to go back. So I guess, for us, it would depend on which store NYC was more like - Chicago or Atlanta? If it were Atlanta I'd have to say we'd do the birthday party. I do kind of hope to get her and her BFF to ATL or Chicago this summer, they would be too cute there together!

 

[mommycrawford]

I live in NYC....Had a small party there for dinner when DD was 8, and have been there for breakfast(brunch?) and Tea. The food is NOT stellar, but kids like to go with their dolls (boosters and cups and sauces for dolls at the table.)

READ the menus before you choose a meal! I think breakfast is their best offering, and is less pricey....same experience at each meal really. Do be prepared for the girls to want to shop after....I suggest setting perameters or giving gift certificates before you arrive so they can budget what they want.

The store can easily be overwhelming! My always composed daughter has left there in tears more than once: frantic shopping, not her thing.

Let me just say that there are alternatives too! Tea at the Plaza, and a Madeline Tea at (I think) the St. Regis, as well as other places, and the dolls would be welcome. Just a thought.

 

[figment3258]

We love the American girl store where we live. We have one in Natick and its nice. It has a bistro and its cute. Its all pretty in pink and the food is good. We take our girls there for their birthdays. I think it is worth skipping a party if thats what they want. You can start by shopping then have lunch then go to the hair salon both my girls love getting the dolls hair done.

 

[Ava]

So I guess, for us, it would depend on which store NYC was more like - Chicago or Atlanta?

The NYC store is a full AG Place like Chicago. I believe the Atlanta store is called a "Boutique & Bistro" or something like that; it's smaller & doesn't have all the activities (doll hair salon, photos, etc) that the full AG Place stores have.

mommycrawford, I hear you on how overwhelming that store can be! It really depends when you go - obviously weekends & school breaks are more crowded than weekdays. The most crowded I've ever seen it was the week between Christmas & New Year - there was a line down the block just to get into the store!