Kid-Friendly Restaurants on the Upper West Side
MiniMunchers.com
Carla Sullivan – Founder & Mommy Muncher

The Upper West Side is another neighborhood that you will be hard-pressed not to see a stroller or ten on any block at ANY time of day.

Of course with Central Park to the East and the Hudson River to the West – why wouldn’t families want to live in this diverse yet super kid-friendly locale? Other great kiddie favs on the storied UWS include the American Museum of Natural History and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan – both great ways to spend a rainy Spring day with the kids.

While you are exploring the `hood – here are some of MiniMunchers.com favorite places to bring the kiddies for a great meal.

1. Landmarc – Landmarc has one of the most extensive children’s menus that I have ever seen, Landmarc really knows what kids want – from standards like macaroni and cheese and chicken fingers with fries to green eggs and ham, PB and Nutella or a petit filet mignon. Chef Marc Murphy also treats adults to a wonderful meal, the cesare salad and onion soup are great standouts for appetizers – and the Mussels with fries (served with ketchup and a mayo sauce!) and fish and pasta entrees are savory! Of course the views of Central Park could almost trump any meal you get. BONUS, if your kids/your tip ☺ are really good – your server might bring cotton candy to the table for dessert!

2. Fatty Crab – A relative new-comer to the UWS restaurant scene, this Malaysian inspired restaurant serves up a children’s menu that actually reflects what adults are eating – from dumplings with soy to fish fry in a box. With a following of trendy Upper West Siders, Fatty Crab is also a fun place for adults to eat, whether you choose the cool indoor dining room (with exposed brick) or the outdoor seating. Fatty Crab is a great choice for your adventurous eaters.

3. Atlantic Grill – When soaking in a little culture at Lincoln Center (yes they have children’s operas) a great alternative to the expensive tourist traps in Lincoln Center is Atlantic Grill. This location of what is a staple for hip Upper East Siders, just opened it’s doors in October. What I love about the children’s menu here is the Shrimp Tempura (oh I think my kids like it too) and I pretend to enjoy the yummy and varied selection of salads (they actually are good – including the seafood cobb, chopped salad and sesame crusted shrimp salad) while picking at their left-overs.

4. Brother Jimmy’s BBQ – Yes, Brother Jimmy’s is a bar, but who knew that Kids eat FREE, YES FREE with an adults entrée – AND the food is good. The menu is also a fun diversion – instead of spelling out the entrée selections – there are pictures for Munchers to guess – like a “chicken” and a “hand” for Chicken Fingers.

5. Café Blossom – Finally, a great organic and yes VEGAN restaurant close to the Museum of Natural History. You and your mini will be full and happy after eating at this Upper West Side spot. Situated right next to Kidville (which BTW offers great kiddie haircuts) your tot can be “fooled” into eating 100% vegan “grilled cheese” or “soy sticks” – don’t forget the vegan chocolate for dessert…YUM!

6. The City Grill – Yes, they have a typical kids menu (grilled cheese with fries, mac N’ cheese, chicken fingers with fries, etc.) but it all comes with a drink and dessert (ice cream scoop) for $7.95. A great deal for great portions. The waiters are used to kids – crayons and a coloring mat are presented upon seating – and you can easily roll a stroller in (when it is not crowded) I WOULD avoid the weekend brunch as it does get crowded with a hip UWS brunching crew (I guess the bloody mary’s are great!) BEWARE the bathrooms are VERY small and not conducive to changing little ones.

7. community food & juice – Yes, it is ALL the way up there but it is a very spacious restaurant (owned by a mom) with high chairs and alas, changing tables in the bathroom. Also – on the weekends from 9-10 kids get free oatmeal with caramelized apples and cinnamon butter with each adult entrée

8 & 9 – The West 79th Street Boat Basin Café and Pier i Café – I am grouping these together as they are seasonal restaurants, but DEFINITELY they are MUSTS when the weather turns warm. The Boast Basin at 79th Street has a little more to offer the minis – but they both have amazing views and the kids are free to LITERALLY run around while you enjoy some rays and maybe even a beer or glass of wine with dinner. They are two of the few places you can let the table manners slide a bit and let the kids be kids while eating lunch/dinner.

HAPPY MUNCHING!

Visit www.MiniMunchers.com for the complete children’s menus of over 240 great restaurants in NYC! MiniMunchers also offers great weekly discounts on children’s products and classes in our “Goodie Bag” as well as advice from experts on making your eating experiences with kids enjoyable – from celebrities to restaurateurs to Moms-in- the-know!

A ten-year resident of Manhattan, Carla Sullivan is the founder and “Mommy Muncher” of the internet’s only source of kid-friendly restaurants in NYC, www.MiniMunchers.com.

Pleased to introduce our monthly guest column by Carla Sullivan Founder & Mommy Muncher at MiniMunchers.com!

Kid-Friendly Restaurants on the Upper East Side

The Upper East Side is a HOTBED for kid-friendly restaurants AND things to do with tots! From the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Art Farm in the City and the newest Mini hot spot, Scribble Press, there are countless indoor diversions to get us moms through this brutal winter!
Once you decide where you want to go – where you are going to eat, that is kid-friendly, should also be planned in advance.
Here are some of MiniMunchers.com top picks for the neighborhood.

1. Brother Jimmy’s BBQ – 1485 2nd Avenue (between 77th & 78th Streets) Yes, Brother Jimmy’s is a bar, but who knew that Kids eat FREE, YES FREE with an adults entrée – AND the food is good. The menu is also a fun diversion – instead of spelling out the entrée selections – there are pictures for Munchers to guess – like a “chicken” and a “hand” for Chicken Fingers.

2. Atlantic Grill – 1341 Third Avenue (bet. 76th & 77th Streets) This staple for hip Upper East Siders is always buzzing at no matter the day, no matter the hour (so no worries about fussy noisy children). You will rarely be alone with a stroller at the table – and my kids love the coloring mats/menus. What I love about the children’s menu here is the Shrimp Tempura (oh I think my kids like it too) and I pretend to enjoy the yummy and varied selection of salads (they actually are good – including the seafood cobb, chopped salad and sesame crusted shrimp salad) while picking at their left-overs.

3. Brasserie Julien – 1422 Third Avenue (bet. 80th & 81st Streets) Brasserie Julien has a downtown vibe but an UES location. There is nothing not to love about this cool French Bistro – from the Steak Frites and Moules Frites and cheese fondue – kids might just want what is on YOUR plate. The children’s menu is typical (although if you want something else they usually can accommodate) but minis do get to choose from a menu of desserts (included with their meals). Oh did I mention kids eat FREE Mon – Fri 4:30-6:30pm?? BONJOUR PARIS!!!

4. Candle Cafe – 1307 Third Avenue (bet. 74th & 75th Streets) Leave your stroller at home (or bring a collapsible) when visiting this UES, organic, vegetarian mecca. This jewel-box restaurant has one of the most extensive organic menus (kids and adults) in the City. The children’s menu has everything from pizza margarita (with tapioca cheese) to seitan skewers. Ask your server if you have any questions – they keep a book at the counter with every menu item ingredients described in detail.

5. Big Daddy’s – 1596 2nd Avenue (bet. 82nd and 83rd Streets) Big Daddy’s is a great place to take the kids! The music is pumping, tvs with cartoons are constantly on, and the bright décor (murals with every cartoon character imaginable) are all fun distractions for Minis. Although the children’s menu is limited, it does feature the old reliables and breakfast is served all day/night. Kids are also entertained by the coloring mats, crayons and balloons – and parents will enjoy the full bar, good comfort food, and a bit of peace and quiet from the kiddies.

HAPPY MUNCHING!

Visit www.MiniMunchers.com for the complete children’s menus of over 230 great restaurants in NYC! MiniMunchers also offers great weekly discounts on children’s products and classes in our “Goodie Bag” as well as advice from experts on making your eating experiences with kids enjoyable – from celebrities to restaurateurs to Moms-in- the-know!

A ten-year resident of Manhattan, Carla Sullivan is the founder and “Mommy Muncher” of the internet’s only source of kid-friendly restaurants in NYC, www.MiniMunchers.com.

Kid-Friendly Restaurants in TriBeCa

Some people think that dining out with kids means McDonalds or the local pizzeria. Yes – there is a time and a place for a Happy Meal or a slice but I, for one, have choked down enough pizza and chicken nuggets for a lifetime! There are so many options in NYC for families, restaurants that actually WELCOME children, that you really never have to suffer a bad meal (or high-fat, cholesterol, etc.) again!

MiniMunchers.com is excited to bring you our top suggestions, by neighborhood, each month. To get the ball rolling, we have three great suggestions in TriBeCa that will be sure to please both the adults and Minis in your family!

1. Moomah – A great spot to bring your tot in TriBeCa. Not only is the extensive menu local, seasonal AND organic (with dairy-free and gluten-free choices) but kids are encouraged to play while they eat with incredibly beautiful and engrossing (yeah) art projects! If you visit on Friday or Saturday the back room (“Funky Forest”) is open for kids to run around and explore! Moomah is definitely worth a special trip downtown (and it’s very close to Century 21 if your kiddies will allow you to squeeze in some shopping ☺).

2. Landmarc – TriBeCa’s Landmarc has one of the most extensive children’s menus that I have ever seen, Landmarc really knows what kids want – from standards like macaroni and cheese and chicken fingers with fries to green eggs and ham, PB and Nutella or a petit filet mignon. Chef Marc Murphy also treats adults to a wonderful meal, the ceaser salad and onion soup are great standouts for appetizers – and the Mussels with fries (served with ketchup and a mayo sauce!) and fish and pasta entrees are savory! BONUS, if your kids/your tip ☺ are really good – your server might bring cotton candy to the table for dessert!

3. Cercle Rouge – A typical French bistro during the week – but on the weekends this adorable restaurant features a very entertaining magician at brunch! Ok – so they do have the standards, (french fries, chicken fingers, grilled cheese, etc.) but tots of all ages are enthralled by the tableside magic show and balloon creations – a great diversion so adults can actually enjoy what they eat (how novel!)!

Visit www.MiniMunchers.com for the complete children’s menus of these great restaurants and over 220 many more!

See you next month when we will cover Gramercy/Union Square!

Lunch afterwards at kid friendly hit, The Peanut Butter Co., didn’t hurt either. We got our fix of Elvis Sandwiches and I got to share my first milkshake with my son. A perfect NYC day.

All Bareburgers are made with organic meats and poultry free of growth hormones, artificial additives and antibiotics. The animals are humanely raised, free-range, and grass-fed, and their turkey bacon and regular bacon are both organic and nitrate-free. Their food comes from local farms and cooperatives (their brioche buns and 7-grain buns are baked daily by local artisan bakers). All vegetables, fruits, cheese eggs, and dairy products are certified organic and produced without any pesicides or antibiotics. Carb-counters may choose to have their entree wrapped in lettuce instead of served on a bun. Even the physical space was built using sustainable, reclaimed and recycled materials. This is not a joke.

At Bareburger, every burger is made to order, so although there is a menu, you choose your ingredients. I ordered the Avocado California Burger for $11.95 (aged cheddar, hass avocado, mixed greens, tomato, raw red onion and organic dressing) and chose turkey meat and the 7-grain bun. Messy, yes, but simply delicious. My husband ordered the BareBurger Supreme for $10.95 (monterey jack cheese, gourmet bread battered onion rings, applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomoato, and BareBurger special sauce) with beef and a 7-grain bun. Equally devastating although not half as healthy. We also shared the french fries for $4.95 (cooked in 100% peanut oil) served with spicy chipotle mayo, curry ketchup, and BareBurger special sauce. As if we needed it, we topped off our meals with yummy organic beer (mine was $3).

As for the wee ones, this place is as kid friendly as they get. They provided us with a fun, colorful, and super-comportable (padded) booster seat that my son loved and actually wanted to sit in. There were tons of kids in the restaurant and they clearly have experience in this department. We sat outside which was perfect as it was not in direct sunlight. For my 21 month old son, we ordered off the kids menu (they call them Cubby Meals all priced at $5.95). We chose the Grizzly Meal – choice of beef, turkey, or veggie burger, served with monterey jack cheese, lettuce and mayo. All Cubby Meals include a small salad and fries. The kids presentation was just perfect. It’s a mini burger which comes on a huge platter with a small salad and fries. Our son was in heaven. We considered ordering one of their amazing looking milk shakes for deserts but just couldn’t eat any more.

Don’t live in Queens? BareBurger is so good it’s even worth a special trip.

BareBurger
33-21 31st Avenue
Astoria, NY 11106
(718) 777-7011

(Note that BareBurger also serves breakfast and offers free delivery with a $15 minimum)