New York Metropolis is residence to numerous eating places, together with many iconic and in style spots. Discovering the perfect eating places with children in NYC generally is a problem – it’s laborious to know what’s a vacationer entice and what’s a reputable must-visit.
On a latest household trip to New York Metropolis, I requested for ideas for Occasions Sq. eating places, and overwhelmingly, two spots have been advisable – Junior’s Cheesecake and Ellen’s Stardust Diner.
Since we have been there for a number of days, I used to be capable of go to each of them. In subsequent NYC journeys, we’ve returned to each eating places a number of occasions. My children particularly beloved Ellen’s Stardust Diner and so they even requested to return extra occasions throughout our journey. We extremely suggest visiting each throughout your subsequent household trip to New York Metropolis.
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Information to Ellen’s Stardust Diner and Junior’s Cheesecake Occasions Sq.
Ellen’s Stardust Diner – the restaurant with the singing waiters
As I led my children to the lengthy line snaking across the exterior of Ellen’s Stardust Diner, they questioned why we couldn’t simply head to the close by Olive Backyard. They actually weren’t involved in ready in line, as a result of they didn’t know what was ready for them on the within. The wait is certainly price it although as a result of Ellen’s Stardust Diner is such a singular expertise.
Though the usual diner fare meals isn’t actually something particular, the ambiance and leisure completely are. It’s a must-do in Occasions Sq., whether or not or not you might be touring with children.
Ellen’s Stardust Diner doesn’t take reservations (besides for giant events of 25 or extra), so that you’ll must get in line and watch for a desk. We arrived nicely earlier than midday on a weekday throughout our go to, and nonetheless waited in a protracted line. I like to recommend going for lunch on days when the Broadway musicals wouldn’t have matinee performances.
Lunch traces are sometimes longer earlier than Broadway present matinees (which is once we had sadly gone). Fortunately for us, the climate wasn’t dangerous, and the lengthy line we waited in moved rapidly, and we have been seated after possibly 15 or 20 minutes. In subsequent visits, we arrived at an off-peak time on a non-matinee day and walked proper in.
At Ellen’s Stardust Diner, servers double because the leisure, however these aren’t any amateurs. The performers are aspiring Broadway performers, in addition to veteran Broadway performers between reveals. In common intervals, servers are known as to carry out in style numbers. It’s typically regarded as the restaurant with singing waiters.
Music varies from Broadway tunes to in style music, and the servers stroll across the diner as they carry out. My children at all times love all the leisure however particularly take pleasure in seeing our server carry out.
Ellen’s Stardust Diner has a 50s-themed diner decor, with two ranges. The waiters carry out on each ranges and for the reason that prime stage appears down into the middle of the principle stage, you don’t miss a lot by sitting upstairs. The tables are quite shut collectively, which is commonplace for New York Metropolis eating places. You gained’t have a lot selection in the place you sit, however all the seats are good for the reason that waiters transfer round.
Meals at Ellen’s Stardust Diner is fairly typical diner meals, however a bit dearer, even for NYC. You’ll discover burgers, blue plate specials (together with meatloaf and hen pot pie), and sandwiches on the Ellen’s Stardust Diner menu. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and are open each day from 7 am to midnight.
Throughout our go to, I had a burger, and whereas it was undoubtedly good, I wouldn’t go there particularly for the meals. The draw to this restaurant really is the singing waiters. Throughout the performances, they do move round a bucket for added suggestions, that are cut up between the performers to make use of for added appearing, dance, and voice courses.
My children, particularly my musical-theater-loving daughter, couldn’t get sufficient of the leisure at Ellen’s Stardust Diner. They didn’t need to depart, even once we’d completed consuming, and so they requested to return a number of occasions throughout our journey. We’ll undoubtedly be sure that it’s a cease on any of our New York Metropolis holidays.
To reduce your wait time, it’s a good suggestion to reach at an “off” time. Proper at peak breakfast, lunch, or dinner occasions are more likely to be busier. You’ll additionally need to keep away from matinee days in case you are planning on having lunch at Ellen’s Stardust Diner.
Junior’s Cheesecake
Throughout our journey, regardless of my children begging to return to Ellen’s, we tried a special restaurant – Junior’s Cheesecake. There are a number of NYC areas of Junior’s Cheesecake – the unique in Brooklyn, one in Grand Central Station, and the situation we visited in Occasions Sq.. It’s tucked right into a hidden alleyway – I needed to ask for instructions as we walked as a result of I initially missed it.
Arrive early, as a result of, like different in style eating places in Occasions Sq., it does get crowded. Since Junior’s additionally serves breakfast, you do must time issues accurately if you would like lunch. We arrived simply as they have been switching their menu from breakfast to lunch, and needed to wait a couple of minutes to be seated for lunch.
Junior’s does use a waitlist system via Yelp. You may add your identify to the waitlist earlier than you arrive. We did this for a weekend go to round Christmas and located it to be actually environment friendly.
Junior’s provides a full bar, youngsters’s menu, diner menu, and fabulous dessert menu, together with that world-famous cheesecake. My children and I beloved the meals, and the cheesecake is certainly a must have. My son ordered a chocolate cake, and it was HUGE.
Positively carry your urge for food, or take into account sharing your dessert. Even for breakfast, the entrees have been massive! Junior’s additionally has a to-go kiosk, in addition to a bakery.
If you’re searching for locations to remain in Occasions Sq., take a look at these accommodations that get nice TripAdvisor opinions:
Hilton Backyard Inn Occasions Sq.
You may also discover some locations to remain on the map beneath (together with affiliate hyperlinks).
In addition to accommodations we’ve reviewed ourselves, together with the Row NYC, the Yotel Occasions Sq. NYC, and the Intercontinental NYC.
You may also take a look at this put up to see all the issues to do in NYC with children.
Extra sources: Learn our New York Metropolis Journey Ideas put up right here to learn lodge, attraction, and restaurant opinions, suggestions, and concepts.
