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.

Bank Street boasts more than 60,000 titles in 17 languages and offers events throughout each month.

Bank Street Bookstore
Corner of 112th & Broadway
(212) 678-1654
www.bankstreetbooks.com

With Central Park front and center in NYC, it’s no wonder that the Playgrounds of Riverside Park are sometimes neglected. Flee the masses over in Central Park and venture on over to the water, where you can discover (or re-discover) Riverside Park and it’s dynamite playgrounds.

Spanning from the Upper West Side through Central West Harlem, from 67th to 148th Street, Riverside Park offers fifteen different playgrounds for kids of all ages. Some have animal themes such as Elephant, Hippo, Dinosaur, and more. Be sure to visit the River Run Playground, where kids can play with a water-play replica of the Hudson River and the Little Engine Playground where they can actually play in a little engine. So venture out of your neighborhood, give your kids a little variety, and check them out sometime. You will not be sorry!

1) Little Engine Playground – 67th Street & Riverside Boulevard – Your kids can play in a playground “choo choo”!
2) Classic Playground – 75th Street near the river (public restroom)
3) Neufeld (Elephant) Playground – 76th Street & Riverside Drive (public restroom)
4) River Run Playground – 82nd Street near Riverside Drive (public restroom)
5) Hippo Playground – 91st Street near Riverside Drive (public restroom)
6) Dinosaur Playground – 97th Street & Riverside Drive (public restroom)
7) 105th Street Tot Lot – 105th Street & Riverside Drive (smaller playground)
110th Street Tot Lot – 110th Street & Riverside Drive (smaller playground)
9) 112th Street Tot Lot – 112th Street & Riverside Drive (smaller playground)
10) 117th Street Playground – 117th Street & Riverside Drive
11) Sakura Playground – 122nd Street & Riverside Drive
12) Claremont Dolphin Playground – 124th Street behind Grant’s Tomb (public restroom)
13) Riverbank (Camel) Playground – 143rd Street & Riverside Drive (public restroom)
14) Palisades Playground – 148th Street & Riverside Drive (small playground)
15) Ten Mile River (Beaver) Playground – 148th Street, west of Riverside Drive (public restroom)