Bubba Gump's Shrimp Company452

Spun-off the Forrest Gump movie, this restaurant, located in the heart of Times Square, is loaded with movie memorabilia and has a kitschy Southern theme. The ambience is what makes eating here a treat for kids. Parents may be slightly less charmed by the tourist bustle and Hollywood trappings. And the service can feel rushed (though the wait staff somehow has time to pepper you with trivia questions about the film).

The menu delivers what you'd expect - shrimp and seafood dishes, lots of them deep fried. The food is reminiscent of TV dinner fare, but less tasty and more expensive.

On a cold or rainy day, the crowded "holding pen" at street level, where would-be diners must wait for tables (and cope with the retail store temptations - box of chocolates, anyone?), really tests the limits of patience for children and adults alike. Frankly, the wait isn't worth it.