Asking the Impossible
Clearly the apocalypse is nigh since I have now posted thrice in as many days. Ignoring that, I pose the following impossible question to you:
When we are in NYC in 2 weeks, where can we eat with Diner #3 that will actually be good? We have one grown up dinner planned for Jon and me (at Le Bernadin unless Per Se gets a cancellation), but we have to eat 8 other meals while we are there with the babe. We are spoiled here, since most places are child friendly provided you are restaurant friendly (ie, not letting your child destroy their surroundings, removing them from the dining room when a meltdown is imminent, etc.). Don't worry, I have no plans to take my wee one to, say, Per Se or WD50, but would love to take him somewhere along the lines of Zuni for example.
And please forgive my sorry ass for not doing this research myself, but I figured you all would be a better, faster source than scouring the interwebs.
xoxo
Joy
"To eat is a necessity. To eat intelligently is an art."
-- La Rochefoucauld
posted by Joy @ 8:52 AM
8 Comments:
Joy,
You may want to post on the Chowhound Manhattan board where you will get responses from residents.
http://www.chowhound.com/boards/18
Chowhound works just be prepared for the "you can bring a child anywhere" or even better, the pretentious "you can bring a WELL BEHAVED child anywhere".
I was in the same boat a few years back when my son was about 1.5 years old (I hate the month BS after 12) and we were lucky. He was and is great in restaurants so we brought him into several joints. He slept through Dim Sum in Chinatown. We went to a pretty fancy Italian joint who's name escapes me right now for a relatively late dinner, and a semi fancy brasserie for lunch and all was fine.
That being said, the thought of my daughter (now 2) in any of those places makes me cringe a bit.
I guess what I am saying is that YOU know Diner #3 better than any of us, so if the lil bugger is cool in restaurants, than most places in NYC are cool with him. If he is not, then you might find yourself in chain restaurants a lot.
Here is what I found on about.com:
Alice's Tea Cup
From Heather Cross,
Your Guide to New York City Travel.
Guide Rating - 4 1/2 stars
Looking for a great place to enjoy tea and a sandwich? Have a favorite wee one who adores Alice in Wonderland? This is the perfect place.
Visit Their Web Site
Pros
Yummy food
Over 100 teas
Friendly service & kid friendly
Cons
$10 minimum per person.
You're paying for atmosphere.
Alice's Tea Shop is located at 102 West 73rd Street.
Closest Subway to Alice's Tea Shop: 1, 2, 3, 9, B, C at 72nd Street.
Phone: (212) 799-3006
Cross Streets: Columbus & Amsterdam (closest to Columbus Avenue)
Hours: Tues - Fri 11:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sat 10:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Sun 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Guide Review - Alice's Tea Cup
Alice's Tea Shop was exactly as I imagined -- the front room offers take out tea, as well as themed gifts (ranging from tea pots to underwear). Inside, there are photos depicting scenes from "Alice in Wonderland" and lines from Lewis Carroll's memorable tale wind along the walls. The banana-walnut and pumpkin scones($8 for 2 with tea) were crisp on the outside and moist and delicious inside. Choosing from over 100 teas ($4 per pot) can be a challenge, but it was made a little easier by their helpful guide. Sandwiches & salads were fresh & tasty. The croque madame($7) was served on raisin bread with a salad and the smoked chicken ($10) with apples & goat cheese was great too. The children's menu offers baby food($4) and snacks($5-6).
Restaurant New York City
Search for top rated restaurants! Get reviews, ratings, tips & more.
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These restaurants are a great choice if you have a child in your group.
More Kid Friendly Restaurants
Serendipity 3
225 East 60th Street (2nd/3rd Avenues)
212-838-3531
Neighborhood: Midtown East (Map)
Subways: 4, 5, or 6 to 59th Street; N or R to 60th Street
Price: $10 to $20
Reservations available only if you have dinner or lunch.
There's a reason that this restaurant nearly always has a line out the door -- it's famous with kids and parents alike, especially for its frozen hot chocolate. Portions are large, whether it's the foot-long hotdog($7.95) or the ice cream sundaes($7.95+). To avoid long waits (it can be 2 hours at peak times), have dinner and dessert and reserve well in advance.
Shake Shack
Madison Square Park (Madison Avenue & East 23rd Street)
212-889-6600
Neighborhood: Murray Hill (Map)
Subways: N, R, or 6 to 23rd Street
Price: under $10
Closed in winter (mid-Dec through mid-March)
If you're in New York City on a beautiful day and want to enjoy some time outdoors, Shake Shack offers suprisingly delicious food at reasonable prices. Have a seat at one of the many tables, or take up some space on the park's grassy lawns with your family and enjoy Chicago style hot dogs, burgers and concretes at this Madison Square Park burger stand operated by Danny Meyer (of Eleven Madison Park, Union Square Cafe, and Tabla fame).
Shopsin's
54 Carmine Street
212-924-5160
Neighborhood: Greenwich Village
Subways: 1 at Houston Street
Price: under $10 to $20
Closed Mondays, no groups larger than 4
For the family that can't agree on anything, Shopsin's is a great choice for dining. The menu at this New York legend features a ridiculously wide variety of foods -- from eggs and waffles (available all day) to graveyard stew and ying/yang bowls. Keep in mind, they won't seat parties larger than 4, even if you try to pose as 2 separate parties. Kid's menu for $3.95
Yeah Shanghai Deluxe
65 Bayard Street (at Mott)
212-566-4884
Neighborhood: Chinatown (Map)
Subways: 6, J, M, N, Q, R, W, Z at Canal St.
Price: under $10 to $20
Cash only
This Chinatown restaurant is a great choice for families -- children can enjoy their traditional favorites and parents can choose to have the more adventurous, delicious Shanghai dishes the restaurant is well-known for. Quick service and a bustling atmosphere ensure that the kids will be fed before they get bored.
how about wd-50
http://www.prunerestaurant.com/
Roasted Marrow....mmmmm
If you're going to be near SoHo, try Novecento, 343 W. Broadway (bet. Broome & Grand), 212-925-4706. It's a laid back Argentinean place with great lamb chops. It can get pretty loud so they're not going to notice what Diner #3 has to say. Open until at least midnight every day.
barney greengrass!
Hi Joy! I'm a former SF native living in NYC. I've been to a lot of places from what others have suggested. I think Serendipity is closed, and if not, it's overpriced. Go to shake shack, Danny Meyer burgers eaten outdoors in the park, can't beat it! I LOVE Prune, but it's super small so definately make a reservation. Another restaurant I love is called Taboon in Hell's Kitchen. It's really spacious and the food is awsome Mediterranean (you have to get the bread with cheese and jalepaneo) I was there a couple days ago and there was a mother with a small baby and was walking around to calm him down and nobody seemed to mind. One more would be Community Food on the UWS (b'way & W112th) No reservations, but pretty spacious & comfy. I've seen many a stroller in the place. A new great place is Eletteria on W8th. SOOOOO good, very cramped so it could be hard to squeeze in a baby, but it's definately worth a try! I've always loved reading your blog and I can't wait to hear what you think about the NYC restaurants! Have a great trip!
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