Unusual food between Woolman rink and the Metropolitan Museum of Art?

[mdamiani]

Hello all!

I'm bringing my 2 children (8 and 12 years old) into Manhattan tomorrow (2/12) from Virginia, and while we have much of the day planned (eating our way through the LES), I'm stuck for dinner.

If we can bear the cold, we'll be skating at Wooman rink in the late afternoon, then having an early dinner, and capping our day with a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I'd like to not go to far afield from those places, since our time will be so limited.

I'd love to get some restaurant recs somewhere around the rink or the Met, preferably something inexpensive and an ethnicity we may not have in our small town.

My kids will eat almost anything, though my daughter is spice averse (sigh) and my son is cheese averse (double sigh)

Any suggestions?

[bigmackdaddy]

Even though you're post is asking for dinner recs I'm going to suggest Schaller & Weber on the corner of E. 86th and 2nd Ave. Pick up some German style Landjaeger sausage sticks. They're small, tasty and make great walking around protein snacks.
http://www.schallerweber.com/

I would suggest going to the Little Brazil area (not the restaurant), W49th Street to W46th between 5th Ave and 6th Ave. But, I haven't been to a restaurant in the area for years, so I'm not sure if the prices are inexpensive. It's certainly ethnic, though. Does anyone have any recs?

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Schaller & Weber
1654 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

Little Brazil
15 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036

[MikeG]

It's not on the way from the Rink to the Museum, but La Bonne Soupe, which isn't far from the south end of the park, might work. I guess everyday French food isn't very exotic these days, but it may not be something you come across much at home. The one caveat is that it can get busy with a wait for tables and that sounds like a very tight schedule you've got there. Since they've apparently started taking reservations, I'd call in the AM if you decide to try them -- I doubt you'd need more notice than that to get a table, let alone an early one.

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La Bonne Soupe
48 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019

[RGR]

When did La Bonne Soupe not take reservations? As far back as I can remember -- and that's a long time -- they've always taken them.

http://www.labonnesoupe.com

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[MikeG]

I guess I was wrong. :) Since I usually end up there more randomly than bydesign, it never occurred to me to try make a reservation there, but I didn't recall ever being asked if I had one so I just assumed they didn't take them.

[foodyum]

I'm going to suggest places close to Columbus Ave so that you can hop in a cab and go east to the museum. I think these would be child friendly too ...
Kefi for greek
Salumeria Rosi for Italian meats
Calle Ocho for Latin
Akai Lounge - Japanese not just sushi

I'm sure there's a good indian too - I just don't know one to recommend.

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Kefi
505 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024

Calle Ocho
45 W 81st St, New York, NY 10024

Salumeria Rosi
283 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10023

Akai Lounge
507 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10024

[bkfan16]

Not quite unusual or ethnic, but Shake Shack might be a good option - the kids will like it and it's not too far out of the way and it's quick enough (as long as there's no crazy line). And something you can't get back home.

[RGR]

Since you say you would would prefer an ethnicity that you lack at home, it would be helpful if you would tell us what they are.

Btw, the correct spelling is Wollman. The window for edits is 3 hours.

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[mdamiani]

I apologize for the misspelling, I should've double checked. I live in Charlottesville, so anything remotely unusual will fit the bill. What we have here is bad Chinese and mediocre Japanese (both of which we'll get in tomorrow around lunchtime, so I won't be looking for those)....

Any suggestions?

[gutsofsteel]

You could go to Beyoglu, a reliable Turkish restaurant on 3rd Ave near 81st St.

Cascabel Taqueria on 2nd Ave. near 81st St. serves good Mexican food.

Both are casual.

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Beyoglu
200 E 81st St, New York, NY 10028

[RGR]

The area from Central Park S. up to and close by the Met Museum is high rent territory with not much in the way of inexpensive ethnic spots. gos's suggestions are good ones though they are fairly far east of the museum.

You might consider AQ Kafe, which serves Scandinavian food. It's near Columbus Circle, on B'way, b/t 58th & CPW, not too far from where you would enter the park to go to the rink. My favorite: the Swedish meatballs. Delicious!

http://www.aqkafe.com/

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com