Mommy and Me NYC Weekend

[shaiken]

I'm taking one of my two 7 year old girls to the city next weekend for a little Mommy and Me time. We'll be staying near Lincoln Center and are planning to see the Gazillion Bubbles Show on Sunday at noon. I'm looking for dinner and Sunday brunch ideas - fun for her / decent food for me - that aren't over the top expensive. Dinner will be on Saturday. I'm tired of Ollie's and the food is pretty dreadful. A friend has recommended Mary Ann's, but I've seen mixed reviews - still a possibility, though. For Sunday, I'm looking for a typical NYC brunch, in a casual but pretty setting (live music would definitely be a plus), near the West 50's - we can walk a bit if need be and it's not pouring.

Thanks!

-Sue

[foodwhisperer]

I dont think Mary Anns is too good. Kids seem to like Ruby Foo's on Broadway,
My rec is Mars2112 on 51st and broadway,,, it's a kids place,,entertaining, chicken fingers are the best thing to get. and its located where you want to be,,its also inexpensive ,,remember they are 7 year olds,,thats where you should go for sure

[Ann900]

Ruby Foo's has been closed for some time.

[LNG212]

I believe the Broadway location on the UWS is closed but the Times Square location is still open.

[notsochubbychubette]

Dont come to manhattan and go to mars2112 , please.

[sohjyu]

OMG. Mars2112 is still open??? It's so bad, I would've thought it closed down ages ago! Don't go. Waste of money and waste of time!

[shaiken]

I did take my son to Mars a few years ago and he really enjoyed it, but I don't think I'll go back. I think we're going to do Shake Shack for dinner and then find somewhere in Hell's Kitchen for brunch on Sunday. There seem to be a few options, so I think we'll just wing it for brunch. As for being 7, all three kids recently enjoyed lunches at both 15 in London and Jules Verne in Paris and actually managed to behave themselves through both. For 85 euros each at JV, it's a good thing they did, too!

[chow_gal]

I took a 10 year old to a matinee followed by meal at Vynyl. Very cute place, broad menu, fun drinks.

[twiggles]

i was also going to recommend vynl- it would be a good place to take the girls for brunch (or dinner), and so much better than mars2112. cute, kitschy atmosphere, good variety of food, and even the bathrooms are funny. it's on 9th between 50th and 51st.

[shaiken]

Vynl was one of the places I came across for lunch. Thanks for the rec - it's right near the theater, so should be perfect.

[kathryn]

There's a good amount of kid friendly restaurants nearby (Landmarc, Pinch and Smac, Shake Shack, etc) that adult tastebuds will enjoy as well.

Kid friendly in near Lincoln Center:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/576370

Kid friendly on the UWS (the aforementioned Pinch & S'mac, Shake Shack, etc):
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/631297

Kid friendly brunch:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/600760
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/620713

[shaiken]

Wow - thank you! I don't know why I didn't come here first. I've been doing futile google searches all morning. Shake shack is a definite possibility - I haven't been but having been drooling at the thought of it for months.