Adventure, baby!

Brooklyn Bites

River Deli; Kid-friendly Restaurants, Brooklyn Heights, New York

The River Deli is run by Sardinian expats Giovanna Fadda and her husband, Andrea Mocci. It’s a cosy, family-oriented restaurant, serving delicious, pan-regional Italian food.

We weren’t thrilled about leaving our stroller on the sidewalk, but we sat by the window so we could keep an eye on it and had no problems.

The food was really tasty, the staff friendly, and the baby happily entertained by other local families sitting around us. She made new fans, we had a great brunch – a winning situation all around.

Please, sir, can I have some more?
Please, sir, can I have some more?
Traditional Sardinian breakfast dish
Traditional Sardinian breakfast dish. Yum!

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Strollers are parked out the front. There is no room inside for strollers.
Easy access: Yes – wide entrance door and one step in.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

River Deli
32 Joralemon Street,
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (718) 254 9200
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Fri 5pm–11pm Sat-Sun 11am – 11pm
Get directions.

River Deli on Urbanspoon

61 Local; Kid-friendly Restaurants And Bars, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, New York

A favourite with families, particularly those with babies, 61 Local sums up the general parenting attitude in Brooklyn – drink in one hand, baby in the other. On week days you’ll find mothers groups baby wearing their newborns, and SUV-sized strollers in the corners. Weekends see both parents drop by to meet groups of friends. The tolerant staff only ask that babies are changed in the bathroom rather than on tables. Fair enough. Food is simple and tasty – order and pay for food and drinks at the bar, making for fast getaways when the babes start fussing.

61 Local Brooklyn

Dads and babies. Always photo-worthy.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: Yes – there is plenty of room for strollers.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

61 Local
61 Bergen Street (at Smith street)
New York, NY 11201
Phone: (347) 763 6624
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Thu 7am-12am, Fri 7am-1am, Sat 11am-1am, Sun 11am-12am
Get directions.

Extra image thanks to Yelp.

61 Local on Urbanspoon

two8two Bar & Burger; Kid-friendly Restaurants, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, New York

The name says it all – this low-key joint is all about burger, burgers, and more burgers. They are super-welcoming towards families with kids of all ages too, so it’s a solid choice for a casual lunch out. Friendly, fast service certainly helps, as does the very kid-friendly interior, with very basic tables and chairs. No need to worry about toddlers acting up or throwing food around;  they’ll certainly be in good company with the other kids enjoying a somewhat rambunctious weekend lunch with their families.

two8two Brooklyn

two8two-4

two8two-3

two8two-1

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes – lots of room for strollers.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

two8two Bar & Burger
282 Atlantic Avenue (Between Smith st and Boerum pl),
Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (718) 596 2282
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Thu 12pm–12am, Fri-Sat 12pm–1am, Sun 12–11pm
Get directions.

Two 8 Two on Urbanspoon

Images thanks to Yelp.

The Atlantic ChipShop; Kid-friendly Restaurants, Brooklyn

Deep-fried pizza, deep-fried burgers, deep-fried chocolate. You want it, they fry it. Seriously. If this sounds like the sort of heart attack-inducing lunch you’re after, step on down to the ChipShop for authentic British fare like Haggis, baked beans on toast, fried fish and British-style chips (thick wedges of potato – fried, of course), mushy peas and fried mac and cheese (the menu says “sounds weird but it’s bloody lovely”).

We ventured into the ChipShop after feeling homesick for some British-style chips. This divey little pub feels a bit grotty (sticky tables, sticky chairs, sticky everything!), but on the plus side, no-one cares if your toddler throws their entire meal on the floor.

All this food, for 2.5 people?!

Atlantic Chip Shop

Highchairs: Yes. They also have booster seats.
Stroller storage: Yes – room for strollers. Bring a folding stroller, however, if you’re coming at a busy time, just to be on the safe side.
Easy access: Yes – one step to enter.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

The Atlantic ChipShop
129 Atlantic Ave (Between Clinton and Henry),
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Phone: (718) 855 7775
Prices: $$
Hours:
Mon-Fri 12pm-12am (bar until midnight)
Sat-Sun 10am-12am (bar until 12am)
Get directions.

Chip Shop on Urbanspoon

Additional image thanks to Yelp.

Bocca Lupo: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Cobble Hill, New York

——- CLOSED ———————

Brooklyn babies earn their foodie stripes at Bocca Lupo, noshing on authentic Italian fare with their (often hipster) parents. The restaurant is a mix of modern design, with huge glass windows, and traditional, with beautiful wooden accents. We loved the friendly staff, huge wine menu for parents, and the really tasty paninis and salads.

Bocca Lupo is extremely family-friendly, which makes it really surprising that they don’t have high chairs. Babies can be parked in strollers at tables, and we saw an adorable family with three young kids all lined up on a window bench in a row enjoying Saturday morning brunch.

Bocca Lupo – stroller parking out the front.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: Minimal – on the day we visited, there was a stroller parked at a table, but others parked outside the restaurant. Bring a stroller you’re prepared to leave outside (just incase), or a baby carrier.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Bocca Lupo
391 Henry street (At Warren St),
Brooklyn 11201
Phone: (718) 243 2522
Prices: $$
Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11:30am-12am
Fri: 11:30am-2am
Sat: 10:30am-2am
Sun: 10:30am-12am
Get directions.

Bocca Lupo on Urbanspoon

Le Petit Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

This sweet little cafe/restaurant is an indoor wonderland, filled with whimsical flowers, trees and fountains. During a long, dreary winter, it’s a haven to escape the bitter cold and pretend spring has already spring.

The food is good, solid French fare, and the omelettes in particular are amazing. The drawbacks to this otherwise great little place are the cramped interior and slow service. Expect to wait for a table for brunch on weekends, particularly if you have a group of people.

Omelette for everyone.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: No – bring a carrier or umbrella stoller.
Easy access: No – stairs down into the main dining area.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Le Petit Cafe
502 Court Street,
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: (718) 596 7060
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Sun 6am–10:30pm
Get directions.

Le Petit Cafe on Urbanspoon

Additional image thanks to Yelp.

One Girl Cookies Cobble Hill: Kid-friendly Cafes, Brooklyn

Delicious cookies are not the only offering from this adorable cafe, but you’ll find it hard to leave without eating a few. Great for breakfast, brunch or afternoon tea, One Girl is the perfect place to meet friends for a catch up, especially during the week days when it’s quiet. Order a hot chocolate with a marshmallow and whoopie pie (their speciality), sit back and prepare to while away the afternoon with your babe.

Whoopie pie! Yay!

Highchairs: No, but you can park your stroller at the tables.
Stroller storage: No.
Easy access: Kind of  – entrance has only one step, but also has two doorways in a row on an awkward angle, making it a bit tricky to get in if you’re on your own with a stroller.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

One Girl Cookies Cobble Hill
68 Dean Street,
New York, NY 11201
Phone: (212) 675 4996
Prices: $
Hours:
Mon-Thu 8am–7pm
Fri 8am–8pm
Sat 9am–8pm
Sun 10am–7pm
Get directions.

One Girl Cookies on Urbanspoon

Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain

The Farmacy (as the locals call it) is a beautifully restored 1920s pharmacy in Carroll Gardens, well-known for their amazing grilled cheese sandwiches and egg floats. They’re also a haven for neighbourhood families to bring their babies and kids of all ages to enjoy lunch, sundaes at the counter, or musical jam sessions with kids’ entertainers, the Jitterbugs, on Thursdays at 11am. Don’t let the lack of highchairs put you off. If your tot isn’t happy sitting in their stroller or on your lap, they’ll be in good company running around the store.

Brooklyn Farmacy
Floor space only left during the weekly Jitterbugs show.

Highchairs: Yes – but only one. There is, however, plenty of room to keep your baby in their stroller at your table.
Stroller storage: Yes – if it’s not too busy you can leave your stroller in the back room or by the front door.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No (there is a large bathroom where you can change your baby on the floor if needed).
Kids’ menu: Not a special menu, but most of the food is friendly for bigger kids.

Brooklyn Farmacy
513 Henry Street (at Sackett st),
Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: (718) 522 6260
prices: $
Fall Hours: Sun-Thur 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat: 10am-11pm
Get directions.

Building On Bond: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Boerum Hill, New York

A total hipster hangout – with delish, reasonably-priced food? It’s true, it does exist. Quarters are a little tight indoors, but still workable with a stroller or highchair. The food is stellar – our budding gourmet loved the egg scramble with mushroom, gruyere and broccoli. You can also order easy add-ons like a cup of yoghurt or side of toast for babies on solids.

Giant side of yoghurt = happy baby.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes – and you can park your stroller at the table if you prefer.
Easy access: Yes (one step to get in).
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Building On Bond
112 Bond Street (at Pacific st),
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: (347) 853 8687
Prices: $$
Hours:
Mon-Thu 12–4pm, 5–10pm
Fri 12–4pm, 5–11pm
Sat 11am–3pm, 5–11pm
Sun 11am–3pm, 5–10pm
Get directions.

Building on Bond on Urbanspoon

Additional image thanks to Yelp.

Watty & Meg: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Cobble Hill, New York

A neighbourhood brunch favourite, Watty & Meg is happy to accommodate Brooklyn’s littlest diners. Friendly staff create a fun vibe as well as providing good service. Add in solid food and a relaxed atmosphere, and you’re in for an enjoyable brunch for the whole family. The omelets in particular are very good.

The menu is the tastiest dish of all.

Watty & Meg

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes – but minimal, so bring a fold-up stroller if possible, or park your larger stroller at an outdoor table in warm weather.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Watty & Meg
248 Court Street (at Kane St),
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (718) 643 0007
Prices: $$
Hours:
Mon-Thu 12–4pm, 5–10pm
Fri 12–4pm, 5–11pm
Sat 11am–3pm, 5–11pm
Sun 11am–3pm, 5–10pm
Get directions.

Watty & Meg on Urbanspoon