We love New York City for many reasons, one of which is our access to the incredible roster of live theater. The great white way has made its way to our hearts, and our theater-obsessed son. We make it a point to have special dinner and theater dates often together, it’s an incredible way to bond and to create a memory that will last forever, and open his eyes to the art of theater.
Finding a quality meal choice in Times Square however is another thing. There are plenty of chain restaurants that are big on gimmicks and inflated prices, but not quality food. I have long been on the search for a restaurant that is close to the shows, easy to access, and that has amazing (quality!) food that caters to both families and sophisticated palettes.
After years of searching I think we may have found the restaurant for us. We recently went on a “family date” to SpongeBob SquarePants the Musical, and stopped for dinner before the show at Charlie Palmer at the Knick, and had an amazing experience.
Pre-Theater Perfection – Charlie Palmer at the Knick
Charlie Palmer at the Knick is located in the historic Knickerbocker Hotel, a 1906 landmarked New York City treasure, right off Broadway on 42nd street near Times Square. It’s address is remarkably easy to access by subway – and its close proximity to the theater district makes it a perfect destination for pre-theater dining,
Dazzling Dining Room
The dining room itself is just as dazzling as the location. Charlie Palmer at the Knick is located on the fourth floor of the hotel. You first enter the hotels lobby to the elevator, and are greeted by a stunning dining room that sits on the corner of the hotel, with large windows that bring in natural light, overlooking Times Square and the Broadway sights below. Not just the view out of the window, the dining room itself is incredible too. A mix of marble, glass, and amazing chain metal curtains adorn the elegant space. The restaurant has a wonderful mix of sophisticated style, at the same time as being comfortable, and inviting – even for families.
Delicious Food
Guided by Chef’s passion for market-driven ingredients, the menus at Charlie Palmer at the Knick are sourced locally from the Hudson Valley and North Atlantic. Entrees such as Icelandic cod, chicken breast, and handmade(!) tagliatelle adorn the menu. We visited for dinner and opted for the Pre-Theater menu, which included an appetizer, entree, and dessert. The appetizers ranged from salad to a delicious flatbread; Icelandic cod, chicken breast, and handmade(!) tagliatelle were the entree selections, and a delectable selection of dessert was offered such as almond cake, creme brulee, and chocolate tart. Children’s selections are offered as well.
We started with the kale Caesar, and the flatbread pizza. The salad was large and fresh, and the flatbread, with onion, goat cheese and shiitake mushroom toppings, was absolutely delicious (my son ended up eating half of it!). We opted for the chicken and handmade tagliatelle for the entrees, and both were outstanding. The chicken was tender and delicious, and was my husband’s favorite. The handmade noodles were seasoned with king oyster mushroom, tarragon, aged pecorino, and tasted incredible. I barely saved any room for desert, but after seeing the (gorgeously presented) warm almond cake and chocolate tart, I couldn’t resist. Both desserts were decadent, and delicious.
The meal was quick, yet never rushed; and the service was impeccable. We had such an enjoyable meal. We ate at 4:30 and had plenty of time to reach the theater that was a few blocks way before the curtain time of 6:30.
Pineapple Under the Sea of Times Square
Are you ready kids? Aye aye captain! We love SpongeBob SquarePants in our house. The little sea sponge from bikini bottom is a regular guest in our living room, and one of our son’s all-time favorite characters. When we heard that our favorite TV was being made into a Broadway Musical, we were ecstatic.
Spongebob Squarepants the Musical is playing at the Palace Theater which resides on Broadway in the Heart of Times Square. It is just a few short blocks from Charlie Palmer at the Knick, and easy to access. We actually really enjoyed the walk through the bustling Times Sqaure at night, and taking in the huge billboards and lights.
Setting the Stage
The show itself is a glittering display of life in Bikini Bottom. A visionary director and Tony Award-winning design team created the glittering underwater scene, and it shows. There is such incredible attention to detail, which is evident the second you step into the theater with a large pineapple inspired chandelier.
The stage decor is jaw dropping, mesmerizing, and quite unconventional by Broadway standards – which is perfectly fitting for SpongeBob and the cast of underwater characters! SpongeBob SquarePants has always had a chaotic absurdity to it, and the stage design captures that essence the minute you walk into the theater. There are neon lights, nets, sea bottom decor to explore, and it’s not just confined to the stage. The chaos extends up into the side balconies to the ceiling, and is a mirage of neon and eye pleasing haphazard Bikini Bottom debris.
We recommend getting to the theater a little early. To the left of the stage, by the first row of seats, is a collection of SpongeBob memorabilia on display with a sign that reads “President SpongeBob Fan Club.” We loved walking up to it and seeing all the items in the collection. There is also a lively band that performs to the right of the stage before the curtain rises. They play underwater themed music that completely sets the mood for the show.
SpongeBob SquarePants the Musical – Show Synopis
When SpongeBob and all of his friends of Bikini Bottom face unheard of catastrophe – total annihilation of their undersea world, chaos erupts! Just when all seems lost, a most unexpected hero rises to take center stage. But will he really save the day? We won’t be giving the ending awaay – but the storyline was easy to follow through the show, and engaging for all ages.
Cast of (Underwater) Characters
The talent of the cast is dazzling, and truly brings the cartoon to life. First and foremost – Ethan Slater’s portrayal of SpongBob was AMAZING. From the walk to the talk, and even the SpongeBob laugh – Ethan is a SpongeBob reincarnate, and had it down perfectly! The actress Jai’Len Christine Li Josey, who plays Pearl Krabs, steals the show with her mind boggling vocals. The producers couldn’t have picked better than Brain Ray Norris for Mr. Krab, a boisterous actor who absolutely nails the Krusty Krab owner’s personality. Squidward surprises with a show stopping dance number that must be seen, and a brilliant portrayal of Plankton and his diabolical scheme was perfect for the story.
My favorite were the showstopping, amazingly choreographed dance numbers, and the fun humor that was seen throughout the performance.
Underwater Antics
The show itself is full of surprises and stage antics, and keeps the audience engaged throughout the entire show with theatrical innovation. From projection of fish and other 3-D characters, light show antics, glow in the dark scenes, as well as cannon confetti and bubbles that come from the ceiling, the surprising things that “erupt” from SpongeBob’s stage will surely amaze. Even if you are not a SpongeBob (the cartoon) fan, you will leave wanting to live in this technicolor, absurd, overwhelmingly fun, Bikini Bottom Land.
This is actually our second time seeing the show. We went when it was in previews in December – and I will tell you that it is that good that you can (and will want to) see it twice. It is the most fun you will ever have at a theater show – I cant recommend it enough.
Charlie Palmer at the Knick
The Knickerbocker Hotel, 6 Times Square, New York, NY
Hours: Breakfast 7 AM – 11 AM, Lunch 11:30 AM – 2 PM, Dinner 5 PM – 10 PM
SpongeBob SquarePants the Broadway Musical
The Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway (47th and Broadway), New York, NY
Show Dates and Times: 7 PM Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2 PM Wednesdays, 8 PM Fridays, 2 PM & 8 PM Saturdays, 1 PM & 6:30 PM Sundays
Thank you to the Charlie Palmer Group and SpongeBob SquarePants the Broadway Musical for sponsoring our experience As always, all opinions and reviews are our own.
