How about eating at the Met?

How are you leaving town? Car, plane, train? How long will it take to get to your point of departure?

Ackislander, We are taking a bus home from New York, which leaves at 5:45 from Times Square or Penn Station--haven't purchased tickets yet, but looked like on the schedule one could choose. We had originally thought to travel by Amtrak, but looking at the schedules for bus vs. train, bus made more sense with less wasted time.

Eating at the Met sounds like a great idea!

This next question, I feel stupid asking, but is 4 in a cab possible? Is it permissible for one to sit in front with the driver? Would it be more sensible to take a cab from The Met back to the hotel. I'm assuming that bus or Subway would be more time consuming and not worth any cost saving considering there are 4 of us.

Thank you for your help! pp

I would skip the bikes on Sat and walk in the Park. Hopefully you will be subwaying downtown and back.

thestarryeye.typepad.com/explorenyc

"We're planning to walk from one place to another Thursday. Is that too ambitious?"

Walking makes the most sense. It's only a few blocks from each place to the next on your list.

"Does anyone have a lunch recommendation for a place on the way from the Marriott to the library?"
This is midtown with lots of very casual lunch places for nearby workers, nothing really destination worthy. Normally I'd suggest pizza slices, but if you're set on pizza for dinner that's out. There are some places for soup, and typical (at least for NY) salad and sandwich places for about $10 per person. Several are on 42nd street between 6th and 5th avenues, right across from the library.

BTW, some people strongly suggest doing either Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building but not both. Most say TOR is "better" and much less crowded.

Food at the Met is not worth it in my opinion but if you don't find anything else and are in a rush, the slighty overpriced cafeteria would be OK. If you have time, you can also walk across the park to the upper west side where there are dozens of moderate places for lunch and brunch (anything from eggs and pancakes to Thai, Mexican, Dominican, middle eastern food)

Yes, taxis are required to take 4 people. It's not hard to get back to the hotel from the Met by bus/train combination but a taxi will be a few dollars more, and more convenient

The day we were at Central Park we ate at the Boathouse, which was a really pretty setting. There is the cheaper hamburger/daily sandwich area on the back stone patio and the somewhat more formal tables and menu looking over the water. If you go for the more inexpensive back patio, would suggest you get their special of the day (panini or whatever) over their regular fare. Much better stuff.

The day we were at the Met, we ate at Mimi's Pizza, which was four blocks from the entrance to the Met. It is not often recommended by the Fodorite New Yorkers, but is one of Bobby Flay's recommendations and so we went with it.

If the teens insist they want to bike somewhere in your itinerary, I would suggest doing it earlier in the day. It gets pretty hot late afternoon where you had slotted a ride.

Thanks for all the great info! Does anyone have an opinion on the Restaurant "Un Deux Trois"? It look like it would be on the way from the Marriott to the Library.

Café Un Deux Trois is a pretty mediocre French bistro. It hasn't changed in at least 40 years.

Agree. Curious how you chose those restaurants that you mentioned(???)

Do you mean Pongsri Thai in Chinatown?

Do you care a lot about food, or just looking for convenient place with "all right" food?

One thing you should know about riding bikes in Central Park: most of the paths are pedestrians - and adults/older kids are not allowed to bike on them. There are special bike lanes on the east and west park drives (not the transverses) that you can use - but you cannot bike all though the park unless you are a small child - so what you can see if limited unless you walk the bike.

Naturally you are not allowed to bike on the sidewalk any place in the city.

Thanks for all the tips! Nytraveler--didn't know that about the bikes,so we'll be walking, plus didn't consider the heat of the afternoon--thanks for bringing that up Sue!

Ekscrunchy, I chose the restaurants based on some other threads I have been searching through, but my choices aren't written in stone, and I really welcome everyone's opinions.
For Friday night, because of the theater plans, I do want to stay close to the theater district.The Pongsri rec I was given, is for W.48th.

As far as whether I care alot about food or just looking for "all-right food"--I'm ashamed to say the answer is probably "all-right food" with maybe a splurge or two. The limiting factor might be dress--the hubs would like to get away with no suit in the luggage!

Espielman, thanks for the heads-up on un,deux,trois!

5alive-I appreciate the Boathouse an Mimi's rec!

Overall, it looks like you have planned a very reasonable and enjoyable itinerary. Just a few thoughts, that you may have already considered, but I just thought I'd throw out there...

- you'll want to reserve tix for the 9/11 memorial in advance
- as stated above, going to the top of both ESB and TOR is a bit repetitive. I prefer TOR because you actually get a nice view of the ESB
- The Met is located right on Central Park, so you may want to group those visits together
- a lot of teens enjoy shopping and generally strolling about in Greenwich Village
- Grand Central (lower level) is a good place to get something casual too eat... It's like a food court of NYC eateries. I like the soup place the best.
- it's likely to be quite hot in July, so just consider that in your planning
- Personally, I'd throw another museum in the mix. You might want to at least have a second (air-conditioned!) museum in mind in case you hit a heat wave.
- there are gazillions of restaurants in NYC, so you'll have no trouble "winging it" if needed.

Have a wonderful trip!

Hi Patti,
Thanks again for your Portugal Trip Report which was so helpful.
Un, Duex, Trois is fine, not spectacular but good enough for a pre-theater dinner.Friends had booked it and they had a good crepe menu which I ordered from and enjoyed.Since you're staying nearby, it would be a much better option than anything in Times Square, chains, etc.
If you walk west to 9th Avenue , you'll find better choices.

I was also going to recommend the Boathouse . We went for a late lunch then walked a few blocks to the Frick Collection, which we loved for both the art and the space it is in.

Have you considered the Tenement Musuem? If you want to go the ESB, maybe consider going very late at night. The lines may be shorter plus you get the night time view. ( We did do this since we could never stay up that late!)

I can understand the "just all right food" qualification. Not everyone is seeking food utopia, especially with a jam-packed itinerary centered on Times Square..

Having said that, there ARE a few good places within walking distance; I think this has been discussed on a very recent thread.

One place I mentioned there is La Silhouette:

http://la-silhouettenyc.com/


Just be aware (as per your earlier comment) that there are very few places where a man is required to wear a jacket at dinner. (We should compile a list here, but as mentioned, you can count these on one hand and they are probably not the places you are thinking of for this trip)

And even at that limited few (Jean Georges comes to mind) there will probably be jackets for lend at the hostess station.

I LOVE FODORS!--I am always telling my travelling friends to come here for advice. It always amazes me how quickly everyone comes to my aide!

Msteacher, Thanks for all the great tips!--I have heard about not doing both the ESB and TOR, but these girls will want both. But ESB at nite sounds perfect--thanks Michelle! And putting the Met with Central Park--never thought of that! I think every one but me is probably more interested in the architecture than the art! So probably won't set any longest visit records there anyway.

HappyTrvlr, Thanks for the nod to my trip report!--That was the last time this same group travelled together! Family circumstances haven't allowed travel until now. And now really because my daughter just came back from a school trip, fell in love with the city, and wants to go back,instead of a graduation party (!). (I suspect because no time was alloted for shopping)

Ekscruncy, I think I have been perusing the thread you speak of, and you won't believe why I bypassed La Silhouette--can't stand the orange color! (I can see your eyes rolling!) Another difficulty with the restaurant choices is the necessity of reservations. This group really hates having to get to a restaurant at a certain time, and some of the places I've seen recommended look like they require reservations way in advance. I'm not averse to popping into a place, but nothing I hate worse than standing around wondering where to eat, and then finding out later that we were just a few blocks from something really good. I like to have a few ideas in reserve just in case!

You guys have given my alot of ideas! I appreciate it! pp

Last night my wife & I dined with friends at a new restaurant close to your hotel, La Pulperia, and it is excellent!

http://www.pulperianyc.com/

I had the pacu fish ribs --- amazing! Also the bespoke cocktails are not to be missed.

From Blackbook: "On a stretch of West 46th Street where elderly tourists in oversized jackets stuff every window frame, one might hope that Latin newcomer La Pulperia can remain a gem just hidden enough. Two weeks after opening the signage has yet to go up outside, and the staff are in playful debate about whether to keep it that way. The door marked 371 is well worth seeking out, especially if partaking in co-owner Victor Medina’s tequila offerings won’t compromise, I don’t know, your evening plans with another revival of Sister Act."

http://www.blackbookmag.com/restaurants/latin-love-la-pulperia-comes-to-hell-s-kitchen-1.59328

Gekko, thanks for the recommendtion! I appreciate it!! pp

Drop bags at Marriott Marquis

--Is that where you are staying, or just using the place for storage?

Have lunch
Library

--ye, the library is a preferred destination for 73.6% of tourists after having lunch. BTW, which library?

Grand Central
Visit Empire State Bldg

--Why not The Port Authority as well? or Penn Station, or the Coney Island bus circle?
ESB bored me to tears.

John's Pizzaria for dinner

--who is John? John Doe? John Dillinger? I wouldnt go to the "John" to eat anything.

Saturday:
Lunch wherever we wander in

--stay away from anything by Guy Fieri; this guy gets nothing but bad reviews for his overpriced burgers.

Sunday:
Mass at St. Patrick

--is the new Pope in town?

Port Authority Bus Terminal? Avoid at all costs except for the International Market(Greek) on 9th at 40th nearby, wonderful foods.