Halal at 6th Ave. and West 53rd?

[emc2d]

Hello! I will be traveling to Manhattan August 18-22 and am looking forward to trying some delicious local eats while there. I have heard about a Halal food truck/stand at W 53rd and 6th that is supposed to be fantastic and near my hotel in midtown. Does anyone have any familiarity with this; and do you know if it offers some decent vegetarian options (not vegan, just no meat) for my daughter?

If there are other "must see" dining options in midtown, theater district, or the South Seaport area that are not too touristy, please share as well. We are a family of 5 with a range of tastes; but my two sons are most happy with burgers, pizzas, fries, and some Mexican and Italian thrown in.

Thanks! Beth

[kathryn]

Also: Cheeryvisage's excellent Times Square list here:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/833282

[kathryn]

The famous halal cart on 53rd and 6th is on the southwest corner but only at night. There is an imposter cart there during the day. The real cart is on the southeast corner (closer to MoMA) during the day. There is nothing for a vegetarian to eat there really.

For burgers nearby, some people like Burger Joint in the Parker Meredien, or Bill's at Rockefeller Center. There is also a Shake Shack in Times Square now.

Don't eat at South St Seaport. Go elsewhere since you are only here for a few days. It is extremely touristy. The exception would be the New Amsterdam Market, an open air market with food stalls, Sundays, 11-4.

[emc2d]

Thanks Kathryn (and for the link, as well). We are going on a sailing trip from the South Street Seaport on Tuesday, so I figured it would be a good place to grab lunch before heading out. I lived in the San Francisco Bay for a number of years and from the looks of it, it appears a lot like Fisherman's Wharf there--which itself can be quite touristy. We were thinking of perhaps the Bridge Cafe or Heartland Brewery. Do you know anything about these places?
Beth

[kathryn]

Please don't go to Heartland Brewery. The food is terrible.

[ChiefHDB]

Definitely go to Bridge Cafe. Better beers, and It's much more old school NYC than Heartland Brewery.

[emc2d]

Thanks Chief and Kathryn; we will check out the Bridge Cafe for lunch.

[peter j]

Marea for Italian seafood
Toloache for Mexican
Don Antonio for Neapolitan pizza

Also consider:

Modern Bar Room
Ma Peche
Benoit

[sherry f]

Was just at Toloache this week.....fantastic. The restaurant week arugula salad with watermelon, and sea bass was fantastic. We also had a trio of ceviche, and a trio of guacamole and killer margaritas with jalapeño and cucumber. Thanks for all the recs on this board.

[emc2d]

Thanks for the tips Peter. I will definitely check these out. I had read about Toloache somewhere else and am looking forward to that.
Beth