Taking a trip to NYC with my son (age 15) this weekend. Really, the only things we have planned are the Cindy Sherman retrospective at the MoMA, and a walk on the Highline (and I'd like to go to Toy Tokyo ). We'll be staying with a friend in Greenpoint. We had an ambitious food plan, wanting to partake of as many exotic, not-available-in-VT food experiences as possible... but I've just been diagnosed with multiple gastric ulcers (yay!!! )), so I need to rethink things for myself, a bit. I'm already onto a hardcore diet change (goodbye, coffee; hello, quart-of-cabbage-juice-a-day) that's basically high-protein, high-fiber, low sugar... if anyone has any good recommendations for quality, affordable sushi or ceviche places, I would appreciate them (and I definitely plan to allow myself some cheating on this trip... like a Shake Shack visit, and a spicy dosa or two ).

Thanks in advance!

two places:
ippudo, on 4th ave and 10th st - the ramen is awesome and the pork bun is kind of orgasmic.
luke's lobster, on 1st ave and 7th st - best. lobster roll. ever.

i'm waiting to go back to nyc, just for those two places.

(there's also salumeria rosi, on amsterdam and 73rd st, but that's all fatty meats, so i don't know if that's going to work so well for you...)

Alrighty...

If you're on a health kick, I would take a trip down to the village and eat at Angelica Kitchen. It's vegan cuisine done really well. They just lost their alcohol license so it doesn't get very rowdy, and the food is amazing good. You could actually pick up a few of the best health juices in the city right around the corner at Liquiteria, and then hightail it to Stogo OR 16 Handles for some froyo/gelato (16 handles is fun for kids. mix and match froyo and you get to put your own toppings on). If you're into sushi, I'd go to sushi park (formerly May's Place), also in the east village. Cheapest, best sushi I've found in the city. Also, into indian? Definitely go to MILON on 1st ave (make sure you go to the top right one, not any other. You'll see what I mean if you go, there are 4 identical places). Also, it's BYOB. Really, really fun though and a kid would like it a lot. Caracas (right next to Luke's Lobster ) if you're down for empanadas or arepas. You will not regret it. These are all a matter of blocks from Toy Tokyo and MyPlasticHeart

If you're into art I'd check out what's going on at The Hole gallery and take him to see what's up on the Deitch wall on Bowery/Houston.

^^^ Thanks bbb! I haven't heard of MyPlasticHeart before. I have been to Toy Tokyo and it's amazing! I want to go to Mandarake in JP... I hear one of their stores is SEVEN floors! ungawa222 have a great trip to NY you will love it!

If you wanna cheat on your diet, go to Pommes Frittes, its 7th and 2nd under where the old Toy Tokyo was, french fries and endless homemade sauces. its delicious and where i always take friends visiting New York. Also dollar slices on St Marks, and there is a place there that makes you an ice cream sandwich but splitting open a doughnut, and scooping ice cream insides. Also delcioius, have fun Mike!

Pommes Frites is right next to Sushi Park! Never been there though. Also, around the corner on St. Marks is Kenka, which I swear by because of it's super kitchy-ness. Very cool dingy Japanese speakeasy feel and at the end they give you cotton candy to make. Very fun and cheap.

All great suggestions, guys- THANKS!

Yeah, Sam, I know we'll be hitting Pommes Frites- always a stop for me when I visit Toy Tokyo, though this time I'll have to go a bit lighter on the fried goodness (I'm sure Ben, my son, will step up to the plate). Ben (bbb, not my son), last time we were in NYC, we ate at Kenka, then went to 16 Handles! Stogo sounds awesome. Luke's Lobster, YES. Okay, w/ what I already had on the list (Mamoun's, Thelewala, Shake Shake, a bacon ice cream sandwich at Big Gay Ice Cream (god, super-ulcer-friendly list I've got going ) we've got nine days of eating to do in two days.

Current Hole show seems to be those pics of freaky, monsteriffic ol' Kembra Pfahler naked in a garden... sure, we'll check those out! Can't figure out what's up at Deitch right now from their website...

Hit up Red Bamboo, delicious vegan food. I've taken non vegan/vegetarian friends there and they couldn't tell some of the things were vegan.

140 West 4th Street New York, NY 10012

^^ Cosign.

Hearth is also awesome! (fancier)

bbb has got the east village on lockdown, haha. I definitely agree about Caracas, its one of my favorite places to go to. They also have another location in Williamsburg too, that's way bigger and less cramped. And there's also the Skinner show up over at Cotton Candy Machine and the Mishka store a few blocks away. And if you're looking to stay in Greenpoint (my neighborhood ) there's Calexico for Mexican or Paulie Gee's for pizza, among countless other good places.

Ah, Skinner show! Despite what I have heard of CCM, we will be checking in on that.

Our friends took us to a killer Mexican place last time we were in Greenpoint; I forgot the name... I had a huitlacoche enchilada plate that was incredible!

as long as they don't try to auction off something to you, you should be fine

If you like to beer, Beer Castle around the corner (41 E. 7th) from Pommes Frites has a good selection of Belgians, is mellow during the day, and has free frites from PF around 5 three days a week.
McSorley's (NYC's oldest continuously operated bar) is up the street (15 E. 7th) is worth a pop in to check out the decor. The place can be a zoo if you hit it at the wrong time, though.
I second Angelica Kitchen. I've taken non-veg friends there who also really liked it.

LOVE beer... sadly it does not love me right now!

best cheating breakfast
Clinton Street Baking Co

love it, I go there multiple times when I visit

http://www.clintonstreetbaking.com/

If the Shack is to crowded try Five Napkin Burgers

http://5napkinburger.com/

There is also one little store that I always check out

Reed Space, nice mix of mooks, music, clothes, and a few other things.

http://thereedspace.com/

Dude, that 5 Napkin place looks awesome, I will have to go there next NYCC.

5 Napkin is okay, but not really worth going out of your way for considering the zillions of other great burger places in the city. Definitely agree with the other recs though!

Burger Joint is fun for the kitchyness (it's a run down diner in the middle of one of new york's fancier hotels). And they just happen to have a really freaking good hamburger.

Before you come in, I recommend picking up a copy of New York Mag. It'll come in handy when you're faced with any down time, and there's usually an article in there about what's going on that week.

Is it weir that one of the main places on my list to try in August is white castle?

nope, that was on my list as well and I'm glad I did.

As a California transplant...absolutely not.

I cant wait to take you to white castle!

That shit is just wrong!!!! You will pay the price!!!! White Castle

Thanks for the continued tips, everyone!
Much appreciated!

(I ate enough White Castle on teenage weekends spent helping at my dad's store in Verona, NJ to last a lifetime!)

Paul's Palace, I recommend the Texas burger, and its right down the block(like 50 feet to the right of) from TT and Frites...