Sweet 16, friend and stepmom in New York for a week

[nazdorovya]

I arrive next Tuesday with my stepdaughter and her friend to celebrate their sweet 16s. We plan for a week of tourist traps, shopping and cheap food. Will visit MOMA, The Met, Ground Zero, Ellis Island and the Statue, Central Park, Empire State, Time Square and will see Chicago on Broadway. We are adventurous eaters and love food. So far these restaurants stand out from reading reviews on this website (my first time on Chowhound today!) as fun for the girls and within their teenage budget - $5 - $20. Please let me know your thoughts, suggestions what to eat at each location, price range and if we need reservations. Any tips are helpful. We plan to do a nice dinner before we see Chicago - $40-$50 each. I'm looking for a restaurant for that night as well. Thank goodness they can't drink yet! Thank you!!!
The Bar Room at The MOMA
Katz Deli
Ellen's Stardust Diner
Momofuku
Dim Sum Go Go
Shake Shack
Veselka (I'm Ukrainian a must stop)
Donut Planet
Russ and Daughters
Lombardi's Pizza
Artichoke

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Dim Sum Go Go
5 E Broadway, New York, NY 10038

Veselka
144 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Ellen's Stardust Diner
1650 Broadway, New York, NY 10019

[kathryn]

You can easily check prices of recent menus on menupages.com for restaurants in NYC. Most restaurants here have web sites with menus on them as well.

A budget of $5-20 per person for a meal will put you strictly in the cheap eats sector of Manhattan dining, especially if you mean to include tax and tip into that $20. Most of the places in that price range don't even take reservations in order to maximize table turnover.

> The Bar Room at The MOMA

There's no way you can have a full meal here for under $20. A snack, midday, perhaps. Check the prices online on their web site. Note also: the portions are also small.
http://www.themodernnyc.com/

> Momofuku

Um, which one? There are multiple Momofuku restaurants and most of them are out of your budget:
- Momofuku Ko is an upscale fine dining experience w/ a tasting menuand way over your budget.
- Ma Peche, the newest one, is located in Midtown and serves sophisticated French-Vietnamese food, and also over your budget.
- Momofuku Bakery & Milk Bar is takeout/counter-service only and in your budget, but it's not a place to sit and have a meal as they have no seats, and very few savory items. There's one in the East Village and one in Midtown
- Momofuku Ssam Bar is a small plates restaurant and you'll blow your budget very quickly if you order a la carte or go for dinner. The only way to stay close to it is to order the lunch prix fixe. No reservations unless you reserve a large group meal called a Bo Ssam.
- Momofuku Noodle Bar is a ramen focused restaurant, that also has some other small plates. It's the only one in your budget BUT a lot of ramen-o-philes don't think highly of Noodle Bar's ramen. No reservations unless you reserve a large group meal of their signature fried chicken.

Menus here but get prices from menupages.com instead:
http://www.momofuku.com/

> Shake Shack

They don't take reservations as it's an upscale "fast food" model. Waits can be very, very long at the Madison Square Park location if the weather is nice. Waits are shorter at the Upper West Side location but seating is much more limited there. Waits can be horrible at the newly opened Theatre District one for weekday lunch (think office workers on lunch break) but reasonable any other time, especially on weekends. Definitely within your budget. I like the classic Shack burger with vanilla custard for dessert. Prices are online:

http://shakeshacknyc.com/

> Veselka (I'm Ukrainian a must stop

)

They're open 24/7 which is nice and easy to fit into your schedule, but it's really a diner at heart, they don't take reservations. This is within your budget, though. I'm fond of the non-traditional pierogi on the menu. They have a web site including daily specials:

http://www.veselka.com/

> Donut Planet

I think you meant Donut Plant? It's a retail shop on the LES. No reservations. Very few seats. Not super cheap for donuts. Go early before they sell out of the popular flavors. Stick with the cake donuts; they're smaller and moister. I like the chocolate, carrot cake, and tres leches. The larger, yeast-raised donuts have a texture a lot of people dislike: it's like a chewy Krispy Kreme. Flavors are seasonal, and they sell out.

> Russ and Daughters

I really like this place be aware it is a takeout-only place, but they will gladly make you a bagel sandwich to go (I like gaspe with cream cheese, red onion, capers on sesame). They have benches outside and there's a park across the street. Their menu is online. Be aware that even the cheapest, smallest sandwich they have with smoked salmon is

> Lombardi's Pizza
> Artichoke

Long lines for both. I don't think Lombardi's is worth the wait as it's gotten wetter/soupier over the years. In the neighborhood, Arturo's is a worthy option in a similar style (coal oven).

As for Artichoke, I think the only thing worth getting here is the square slice and rumor has it that they make the pies really slowly on purpose, to maximize the line. Ugh. And it's pretty pricey for just a single slice of pizza.

My favorite pizza in the city is a few blocks away from Artichoke. Motorino, which has a weekday lunch prix fixe that includes a salad OR dessert. And even if you order a la carte, you'll be pretty close to your budget.

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Momofuku Ssam Bar
207 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Veselka
144 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

Momofuku Ko
163 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

Ma Peche
15 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019

Motorino
349 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003

[iluvcookies]

Katz's is a great old NY spot. No res needed but it gets busy on weekend afternoons. About $15 for a sandwich that can be likely split between 2 teens. Do the counter, NOT waiter service. And get a Dr. Browns Black Cherry of Cream soda.... both go exceptionally well with pastrami. DH and I usually split a pastrami on rye, a hot dog, knish or fries and 2 sodas and it runs about $40.

Russ and Daughters has excellent smoked fish and appetizing but is strictly a takeout place, no seating.

On Rivington St a few blocks from Katz's and R&D is Economy Candy. Perfect to take the teens. Give them $5 each and they can get a ton of stuff. $10 each and their dentist can buy a new Lexus.

You can skip Ellen's unless you REALLY want a tourist trap.

Veselka is a nice diner-type stop, very casual and I love the pierogies. You can probably get by on $15 per person, no res needed and is open 24/7... near Veselka is DeRobertis bakery (1st Ave and 11th st) ---been around for over 100 years and makes good cannoli. IMHO better than Veniero's

I'd say go to Arturo's on Houston over Lombardi's... it's less crowded and the pizza is quite good (also coal oven). Relatively inexpensive, maybe $20 for a good sized pie with a topping or 2

If you stroll through Chinatown you'll find great bargains on food... there are HK style bakeries like FayDa and Tai Pan that have small cups of very good coffee for about $1 and buns/pastries for $1-2

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Veselka
144 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Veniero's
342 E 11th St, New York, NY 10003

Economy Candy
108 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002

[kathryn]

I really like Rocco for cannoli because they fill it on the spot (Veniero's pre-fills and it gets a little soggy). Does De Robertis do them piped to order?

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De Robertis
176 1st Ave, New York, NY 10009

[iluvcookies]

I think they do pipe to order... last time I sat down there for a coffee and pastry the cannoli shell was crispy.

[daffyduck]

i like rocco's more than veniero's and derobertis. i think derobertis also prefills. but i forgot it's been awhile since i was there. and yeah, i never buy cannolis if i see they're prefilled.

[foodismylife]

take scott's pizza tours great fun and scott is off the charts wonderful

[City Kid]

If Ukrainian food is a must, I much prefer the Ukrainian East Village Restaurant on 2nd Ave. between St. Mark's Place (8th St.) and 9th Street. Authentic, hearty, and very inexpensive.

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Ukrainian East Village Restaurant
140 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

[nazdorovya]

Thank you so much for the tips so far. I ca't wait to hear more!

[RGR]

Katz's, Russ & Daughters, The Doughnut Plant, and Economy Candy are some of the stops on my famous Lower East Side self-guided food tour, so you might want to do the entire shebang. Here's the link:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/493333

Note: Guss' Pickles has closed, so substitute The Pickle Guys, on Essex St. And the correct address for Economy Candy is 108 Rivington. You can also stop by Sugar Sweet Sunshine, on Rivington St., for delicious cupcakes.

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

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Russ & Daughters
179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

Pickle Guys
49 Essex St, New York, NY 10002

Doughnut Plant
379 Grand St, New York, NY 10002

Sugar Sweet Sunshine
126 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002

Economy Candy
108 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002

[daffyduck]

I like most of your choices. i dont think the bar room at the moma can be done under 20 dollars. u can try cafe sabarsky, it's a nice place and you would be able to manage with under 20 dollars or you can go to the UWS shake shack locaton.
i dont think momofuku can be done under 20 unless youre doing the milk bar, if so i think their are other asian dessert places in the city. but to be fair it's been awhile since i've been to milk bar and they do have pork buns if u go before 5pm i think. if you were thinking about the other momofukus i would replace them with chinatown meals. have you tried vietnamese (pho, bahn mi, etc) or you can try other ramen places.
ive never tried lombardi's but as kathyrn said i heard they haven't been good for years. i personally like keste but motorino is also good.

[nazdorovya]

Thank you for all the great tips so far. I've made a grand list of potential cheap eats for us then I plotted each location on my Manhattan map so that we can choose a restaurant based on where we are at the time. Here is my list so far, if you see any glaring omissions please do not hesitate to let me know. Prices do not include drinks or appetizers.
Pomme Frites, fries, $5+
Veselka, Ukrainina Food, $7+
Katz's Deli, Pastrami on Rye, $14+, can share
Russ & Daughters, bagels and toppings, $6+
Dim Sum Go Go, made to order, $15+
Donut Plant, Tres Leches
Babycakes, baked goods, $1 cookies, $5 cupcake
Economy Candy
Dumpling House on Eldridge, $1 - $5
Uncle Nick’s Greek, lunch $10+, dinner $15+
Serendipity, $15-$25
Shake Shack, burgers, dogs, ice cream; $4-$8
Dylan’s Candy Bar
Yakitori Totto,food on a stick, $20+
Ellen’s Stardust Diner, singing staff, Breakfast $6-$10, Lunch/dinner $10-$20
Momofuku Noodle Bar, Lunch-prix fixe ?
Momofuku Milk Bar, pork buns $9
Cafeteria, Breakfast $7-$10, Lunch $10-$20
Keste, pizza, $10-$20
Porchetta, $10-$15
Chelsea Market – any suggestions?, Lobster Place window
Otto, Pizza & Pasta, $9-$15
Rice to Riches, rice puddings, $5-$20
Joe’s Pizza on Carmine, $3 slice,
Artichoke, pizza, $5 slice
Lombardi’s pizza, $20 whole, slice?
Mandoo Bar, Korean, dumplings
Halal cart on 53rd and 6th, yellow bags,
Banh Mi Saigon, Vietnamese sandwich
Woorijip, Korean, under $12
Prosperity Dumpling, $1-$4
Tuck Shop, Australian meat pies, $4-$12
Gray’s Papaya, dogs and juice,
Shopsin’s, soups, sandwich, fires, mac & cheese, $7-$10 breakfast and lunch
Motorino, pizza, $9-$18 whole
Pepe Verde, paninin & pasta, $7-$13
Indian Bread co.,
Taim, Middle Eastern, $5-$10
Corner Bistro, burgers and sandwiches, under $5
Pinto, Thai, lunch app & entrée $8; dinner up to $20
Soho Sushi; lunch $10
Amber, Sushi, lunch specials $7-$10; dinner $10- $30
Hummus Place
Symposium; Greek; $10-$15 dinner

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Russ & Daughters
179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

Babycakes
248 Broome St, New York, NY 10002

Corner Bistro
331 W 4th St, New York, NY 10014

Banh Mi Saigon
198 Grand St, New York, NY 10013

Dim Sum Go Go
5 E Broadway, New York, NY 10038

Veselka
144 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Mandoo Bar
2 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001

Woorijip
12 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001

Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

The Lobster Place
252 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Prosperity Dumpling
46 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002

Uncle Nick's
747 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019

Rice to Riches
37 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

Economy Candy
108 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002

Porchetta
110 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009

Soho Sushi
231 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

Motorino
349 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003

Momofuku Milk Bar
15 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019

[RGR]

In Chelsea Market, L'Arte del Gelato.

L'Arte del Gelato photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157624376967932/

Also, Fat Witch for brownies: http://chelseamarket.com/fatwitchbakery/

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[kathryn]

> Babycakes, baked goods, $1 cookies, $5 cupcake

Personally I think Chikalicious, Sugar Sweet Sunshine, Butter Lane, and Two Little Red Hens all have better cupcakes than Babycakes.

For Momofuku Noodle Bar's pricing, their web site says:
q: how much is an average menu item?
a: our menu and prices change daily. small dishes can range from 9 to 15 dollars, and larger dishes range from 11 to 22. the 3 course lunch prix fixe is $20 and the 4 course dinner prix fixe is $30. the prix fixe menus change daily and pricing is subject to change. please note, we only accept a maximum of four credit cards per table.

> Lombardi’s pizza, $20 whole, slice?

Lombardi's does not do slices. Whole pies only.

> Halal cart on 53rd and 6th, yellow bags,

Dependent on what meat you get, it won't be more than $7-8.

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Babycakes
248 Broome St, New York, NY 10002

Two Little Red Hens
1652 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

Sugar Sweet Sunshine
126 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002

Butter Lane
123 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009

[uwsister]

A couple suggestions:

I would suggest that you get something else other than dumplings at Mandoo Bar. I know it seems counter-intuitive, but their non-dumpling dishes, like their dolsot bibimbap, are better than their dumplings. I'd probably skip Woorijip though. I like it a lot, but I don't think it's worth going if you're out-of-towner visiting.

I love Ronnybrook's ice cream sandwiches at Chelsea Market. There's Amy's Bread too, usually pretty good.

Shake Shack - go to the UWS one if you're visiting Museum of Natural History or Central Park on the west side (Strawberry Fields, etc.) Go between lunch and dinner time and you won't wait long at all. Seatings aren't that hard to come by but if you don't want to wait for a seat, Central Park is a short walk for a picnic.

Motorino has a pretty good lunch special. $12 for a salad, a pizza, and sorbet (used to be tiramisu, but I don't think they do that anymore?)

I find it hard to get out of Yakitori Totto under $20/person.

I'd probably skip Pomme Frites and Serendipity, but that's me. I also find Cafeteria overpriced and not a destination-dining spot, but if you're in the neighborhood late at night it's worth going.

[daffyduck]

never tried ronnybrook's ice cream sandwiches, but jacque torres also makes a killer ice cream sandwich and they are just a few stores down. maybe ill compare one of these days.

[uwsister]

I don't like Jacque Torres' cookies for ice cream sandwiches. I feel that it's too crisp to make a perfect ice cream sandwich. I like them by themselves though, with a glass of milk.

[nazdorovya]

Thank you all, we leave tomorrow morning!