Brooklyn Bites Archives - Page 3 of 7

Coney Island Day Trip: Totonno’s Pizza + NY Aquarium

August 6, 2013 / Animal Experiences, Brooklyn Bites, Cheese, Coney Island, Eat & Explore / 0 comment

Totonno’s - kid-friendly restaurants, Coney Island - via brunchwithmybaby.com — Huge pizza. No problem.

A day trip to Coney Island for most people is about sun, fun and hotdogs. For us however, it is all about pizza at Totonno’s, which is quite possibly the best pizza in New York. Big call, I know. But Totonno’s has plenty of press to back them up over the nine decades they’ve been open, as one of the best pies you’ll get in NYC.

Let’s back up a bit: After hearing about the Totonno’s reputation soon after we moved here from Sydney, we were determined to put their pizza to the test. So we decided to make a day trip of it, beginning with pizza and ending with a visit to the nearby NY Aquarium.

We were a bit wary after walking through a few Coney Island back streets, past auto-mechanics, to a nondescript storefront that opened to an old-school diner. Was this really home to one of New York’s best pizzas? We were dubious, but decided to stay and try it out anyway. Note to readers — our visit and these pics were taken before the hurricane, and before Totonno’s remodeling following the disaster. The pizza however, is exactly the same.

Totonno’s - kid-friendly restaurants, Coney Island — Waiting for food in the low-key dining area.

Totonno’s is not a fancy place. It’s more like your grandma’s 1970’s-style kitchen—no frills tables and chairs, old pictures on the walls, and the menu spelled out in tiles above the ordering window. The service was also similar to what you’d get at your grandparents’ house — friendly and casual, with a strong likelihood that one of the owners themselves would be serving you. (Totonno’s is owned by three siblings; Antoinette Balzano, Frank Balzano and Louise Ciminieri; whose grandparents opened the restaurant.) Totonno’s was closed for five months after Hurricane Sandy ripped through Coney Island, opening again on March 24 to the rapture of locals and tourists alike.

The pizza itself is MASSIVE. Absolutely huge. We ordered a large, plain cheese pizza ($19.50). Of course we ate every single last bite. With a pizza that good, it’s a crime to leave a sad little crust behind. And yes, it is as good as it’s reputed to be. The crispy dough, the perfect layering of delicious tomato sauce, and the dollops of fresh mozzarella cheese: Heaven. Go to Coney Island, just for this pizza. If you want something not-pizza, go somewhere else, as this is the only thing they serve on the menu. Add extra toppings for $2.50 each.

When we visited, Cheese was too young to do anything except gnaw on a pizza crust, which she highly enjoyed anyway. They did have a highchair, but we opted to hold her in our laps.

Coney Island via brunchwithmybaby.com — Coney Island beach.

After stuffing yourself with amazing pizza, walk on down to the Coney Island boardwalk to check out the beach and do some people watching.

New York Aquarium via brunchwithmybaby.com — New York Aquarium, Coney Island

Then wander on down like we did, to the also recently re-opened NY Aquarium (at Surf Avenue & West 8th Street) and get up close and personal with some seriously cute sea life. The aquarium also suffered a beating during the hurricane and is still being rebuilt. Several of the animal exhibits have reopened, like the penguins, sea lions, otters and walruses.

Last bite: A family-owned pizzeria that loves families. Scarf down some of the best pizza in NYC, then check out the also recently re-opened New York Aquarium for the perfect day trip.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Totonno’s
1524 Neptune Ave
(between 15th St & 16th St)
Brooklyn, NY 11224
Phone: (718) 372 8606
Price: $$
Hours: Wed-Sun 12pm-8pm

Get directions.

Baked: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Red Hook, New York

July 30, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, New York Food, Red Hook / 0 comment

Baked is a Red Hook bakery created by entrepreneurs, Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito, with their dream to “Open a great American bakery that is not a cupcake shop”. Baked was born in January 2005 in the neighborly neighborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn. It is now so well-known that people from all over Brooklyn and even Manhattan trek out to Red Hook (hey, there’s not much transport, it’s totally a trek!) just to try their treats.

The cafe is cute and cosy—with a long line snaking around the register of fellow cake-lovers. The booth cross-benches are filled with people on laptops and friends catching up over snacks.

With such a huge selection of treats, it’s difficult to know what to try. They’re well-known for their giant marshmallows, and, even though they didn’t want to be a cupcakery, their cupcakes are known to be pretty good too.

Baked: kid-friendly cafes, Red Hook, New York - via brunchwithmybaby.com — Where the magic happens!

We sat in a booth at the back where we could park the stroller behind us. The kitchen is next to the tables, with an open glass window to check out the baking in progress. Older kids will enjoy seeing their favourite treats being made before their eyes. Cheese just wanted to smash the glass jars.

I chose the intriguingly named “Coca-Cola Bunt Cake“. Disappointingly, it only had the slightest hint of Coca-Cola flavour in the icing—otherwise it was just another delicious chocolate cake.

Alec tried the Focaccia with Spinach, Tomato and Cheese as he’s not a big cake-lover (I know, right? How are we even married?!). He said it was delicious and would order it again.

We ordered Cheese a Scone of the Day in chocolate and banana. It was a good scone, but sadly Cheese just wanted the cake, of course.

Last bite: Join the rest of New York and take a day trip to Red Hook for delicious baked goods from Baked. Allow time for wandering around the quaint houses and parks in the area—and perhaps get the ferry home!

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: Minimal.
Easy access: No. There are a few steps to get in.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Baked
359 Van Brunt St
Brooklyn, NY
Phone: (718) 222 0345
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-7pm Sat-Sun 8am-7pm

Get directions.

The Treats Truck: Kid-friendly Cafes, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

June 25, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, Carroll Gardens, New York Food / 0 comment

With recommendations from several locals on The Treats Truck as an incredibly kid-friendly cafe (including a shout-out from our fave photographer and mama, Raquel Frechette, thanks Raquel!), we absolutely had to take a trip down Carroll Gardens way to check it out.

Treats Truck, Carroll Gardens, kid-friendly cafes Brooklyn. — Order and pay at the counter.

With a tag line like “Not Too Fancy, Always Delicious!” you know exactly what you’re getting into with this neighbourhood fave. Local families love the cafe (yes, it’s not actually IN a truck, but the do HAVE a truck) for its delicious brownies, rice crispies and cookies—they come back over and over again because it’s one of the most kid-friendly cafes or restaurants that you’re going to find—anywhere. No hyperbole.

Entering the “truck”, it looks pretty much like any other quaint little cafe. Tables, chairs, counter. Walk to the left of the counter however, and down the narrow hallway, and you’ll find yourself in a little back room, stocked with a toy kitchen, books and more toys and games for kids. One wall of the room backs on to the kitchen, with a huge glass panel running across it, so kids can watch their treats being made in person.

This quiet little back room just for kids means no-stress dining for adults—yay! We had a large group of kid-friendly cafe testers with us on this occasion, and, after blocking off the hallway with a stroller (sorry, we know, fire hazard ), we were able to let the toddlers run freely while we actually sat and held brief conversations with each other. Miracles do happen!

It’s not a huge area however, and I think we were pushing the limits with our group of crazy toddlers (we had six or seven toddlers under the age of two. After you hit five toddlers in one group, it’s impossible to keep track of them all). Older kids who sit still can fit in larger numbers.

The service is fast and friendly, the food a solid hit with mamas and kids and nobody sweats a big mess left behind. Tip big to show your appreciation to the hard working and kid-friendly staff.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

The Treats Truck
521 Court St,
Carroll Gardens, New York
Phone: (718) 330 0200
Hours: Mon-Thur 7:30am-8pm, Fri 7:30am-9pm, Sat 8am-9pm, Sun 8am-8pm

Get directions.

Food Trucks at the Barclays Center in Prospect Heights, New York

June 13, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, New York Food, Prospect Heights / 0 comment

Cool Haus food truck - kid-friendly Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York - via brunchwithmybaby.com — Cool Haus food truck

Here’s some happy news for foodies who usually hunt down food trucks on Twitter: Brooklynites can now catch some of their faves on select weekends—July 6 and Sept. 7—at the plaza outside of the Barclays Center.

Frites 'N' Meats food truck - kid friendly Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York - via Brunchwithmybaby.com — Frites ‘N’ Meats food truck

We wandered on by to check out the food trucks on their opening day, and were so pleasantly surprised to see a great variety of trucks (with no queues) and plenty of seating in the shade. Score! The food trucks out on that day were: Kimchi Taco Truck, (think Korean-cross-Mexican), Treats Truck (the actual truck that serves the Carroll Gardens store of the same name), Coolhaus (build-your-own ice cream sandwiches), Mamu Thai Noodle (a family-owned and operated truck specialising in Thai food), Frites ‘n’ Meats (design your own burgers) and Taim Mobile (gourmet falafels and smoothies).

Barclays Center - via brunchwithmybaby.com — Shade

We were planning to pick up food from a truck and walk with it to Prospect Park. But when we felt an unexpected cool breeze coming through the plaza (on an otherwise stifling hot day), we decided to sit and eat in the nearby plaza instead.

Taim Mobile - kid-friendly food, Barclays Center Brooklyn, New York via Brunchwithmybaby.com — Taim Mobile

I’d been wanting to try Taim in the West Village for ages, so was delighted to see their truck Taim Mobile in attendance. Taim is great for more than just vegetarians like myself—their falafels are gluten-free and cooked to order in 0% trans-fat vegetable oil. All of the items on their menu are vegetarian—most are actually vegan (items with a * on the menu contain either dairy or egg products).

We decided to share a few things—the Mediterranean Platter, $9 (hummus, tahini, israeli salad, green cabbage, quinoa salad and pita), Falafel Side, $4 (six balls) the Date Lime Banana smoothie with soy milk, $5, and Falafel Sandwich, $6.50 (green falafel, hummus, israeli salad, green cabbage and tahini sauce).

In retrospect we didn’t need the sandwich—we had SO MUCH FOOD. We tried our best to eat some of everything, but admitted defeat with groaning stomaches. Note to fellow diners—the platter plus falafels are PLENTY for two people to share, plus a toddler. Miss Cheese tried a bit of everything, and decided she liked the smoothie, pita and falafels best—perfect kid food, by the way.

Barclays Center food trucks - kid-friendly food, Barclays Center Brooklyn, New York via Brunchwithmybaby.com — Loving the soy banana shake.

We let Cheese sit on our laps or on a proper chair since she was too wiggly to stay in the stroller. If your kid sits still you can park them right at the table. We each also took turns chasing her around the plaza while the other parent finished his or her food. There was a lot of shade and plenty of fun things for toddlers to explore (doors and fences and tables, oh my!), so she was actually really reluctant to leave.

Treats Truck - kid friendly Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York - via brunchwithmybaby.com — Treats Truck food truck for desserts.

Last bite: A great variety of food surrounding a shady plaza with tables and chairs. Put the dates on your calendar and make it part of a day trip to Prospect Park.

Barclays Center
620 Atlantic Ave. (between Dean St and Flatbush Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Food Truck Dates: June 1, July 6 and Sept. 7
Hours: Saturdays, 11am-5pm

Butter Lane Cupcakes: Kid-Friendly Bakeries, Park Slope, New York

June 6, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, New York, New York Food, Park Slope / 0 comment

All I need is to hear the word “cupcakes” and “new location”, and I’m there, basically the next weekend. This was the case with the new Park Slope opening of Butter Lane, a cupcakery based, until now, just in the East Village. Butter Lane is known for having something for everyone—you can mix and match your cake base and frostings, meaning that even the pickiest eater can “design” (kind of—they’re pre-made, but you get my point) their perfect cupcake.

Butter Lane - kid-friendly bakeries, Park Slope, New York - via brunchwithmybaby.com — Cheese loved drawing on the chalk table.

Our afternoon tea break at Butter Lane came on a steamy hot Sunday, after a day in nearby Prospect Park. The cafe is a decent size, with high counters and kitchen stools, decorated with pastel KitchenAid mixers. Nestled in between the tables is a kids’ table and chair set, the perfect size for toddlers. The table is embedded with a chalk drawing area and there is a box of large chalk pieces for little kids to busy themselves while parents line up for cupcakes—and then devour them.

As I mentioned earlier, Butter Lane let you choose your perfect cupcake combination. Choose your base cake (vanilla, chocolate, banana), then your frosting. Try a seasonal special (we had options like chocolate malt and key lime) or a classic favourite like caramel, raspberry (my favourite!) and sea salt chocolate.

I find it hard to chose a single cupcake with so many options before me, so I had to get two (one for now, one for later!). I picked up a vanilla cupcake with raspberry frosting, and a banana cupcake with caramel. The first was definitely my favorite, just because I love raspberry so much. The vanilla cake base was light and fluffy, and the frosting just tasted like a whole bunch of raspberries crushed up and spread all over it. Holy moly, amazing. The banana cupcake I saved till later, and it was also really delicious. A dense base with big chunks of banana, and the caramel frosting was light and fluffy—probably not the best combination, in retrospect—next time I’d do banana with cream cheese, or vanilla with caramel, I think.

Butter Lane also do baking classes (in both locations) for both adults and kids. What could be sweeter than that?!

Last bite: The perfect place to stop off for a sweet treat before or after (or before AND after!) a trip to Prospect Park with your kids. Pick your perfect base and frosting to create your dream cupcake.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: Yes, plenty of room for strollers.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No. But, come on. CUPCAKES!

Butter Lane Cupcakes Park Slope
240 7th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Phone: (718) 369 0466
Prices:$
Hours: Daily 11am-8pm

Get directions.

Bareburger, Cobble Hill: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Brooklyn, New York

June 4, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, Cobble Hill / 1 Comment

As a vegetarian and fussy eater in general, I really struggle to find good burgers. My husband has been a fan of Bareburger for a while, but I’ve never had the opportunity to go until the new branch opened recently in Cobble Hill. There are about a gazillion burger joints in New York—so what makes Bareburger special? They partner with local artisans and organic farmers to give diners the tastiest, locally-grown and humanely-sourced food possible. The result is healthy and delicious food that will fill you up and make you feel good in the inside—happy tummy, happy soul.

The new Bareburger in Cobble Hill is a little tight inside—be prepared to wiggle between tables. We rocked up at prime lunch time and were sat immediately. They have minimal space for strollers, so our jumbo one had to wait patiently for us on the sidewalk. They had room for folding stroller, however, so bring your umbrella stroller or carrier where possible.

Our friendly server couldn’t do enough to make Cheese happy. Crayons, colouring paper and a cute little cup filled with iced water. “Would she like anything else? Juice?” The thoughtfulness was great and made us feel super welcome.

My favourite burger is very simple – patty, tomato, cheese and ketchup. Since I always get the veggie patty, it’s difficult for me to just get the simple burgers I love so much. Anywhere I can build my own burger is guaranteed to become a firm favourite of mine, very fast.

Alec and I split a banana shake—it was huge, and half each was the perfect amount. We also loved that it arrived with two glasses and straws, so we could each have our own half-sized shake, meaning less fighting over who drank the most shake.

We also ordered a big side of fries. It came with a bunch of dipping sauces—Cheese tried them all and declared the curry ketchup her favorite.

My vege burger was fantastic. A hint of spice, tasty cheese, and a whole grain bun. Delicious and filling, and possibly even, dare I say it, healthy?

My friend who came with us has a gluten and dairy allergy. If you have any similar special dietary requirements, Bareburger is the place for you. My friend had what she described as an amazing burger, with vegan cheese and a tapioca rice bun.

Last bite: Bring your kids and a big appetite for a great burger, shake, fries or salad. Leave your big stroller at home, and enjoy the Bare experience!

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes – but minimal. Bring a folding stroller if possible.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Bareburger Cobble Hill
145 Court St.,
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (347) 529 6673
Hours: Sun-Thur 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm

Get directions.

Lark: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, NY

May 28, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, Ditmas Park, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

Lark, Ditmas Park - kid-friendly brooklyn — Bright, roomy interior.

A cafe that caters especially to families that doesn’t compromise on style. No, it’s not a mystical creature, it does indeed exist, in the form of a sweet little cafe called Lark, in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. Started by Kari Browne, a journalist, and Lori Kranczer, a lawyer, Lark was born when the two mothers realised there was nowhere in their neighbourhood for families to go to relax, connect and have fun.

We dropped by Lark on a Saturday afternoon after playing in nearby Prospect Park.

At the front counter we were delighted to see locally-sourced food such as our favourite Dough doughnuts. Lark also features Blue Marble ice-cream, Ovenly cookies and cupcakes, Colson pastries, Betty Bakery cookies, ring-a-dings and twinks, Magpies pop tarts and Stumptown coffee.

I tried a lemon pop tart, while Alec tested out a chocolate croissant and a coffee. My pop tart was like a giant shortbread cookie, filled with lemon jam – both Cheese and I really enjoyed the sugar hit. Alec, who has a serious love of croissants, pronounced that his treat was “really good” – as evidenced by the speed in which it was inhaled.

A really great feature of Lark is the events that they hold in the cafe and adjoining event space. Lark offers daily sing-a-longs and story time, as well as live jazz on Saturday afternoons. Performers include well-known kiddie faves such as AudraRox, Music For Aardvarks and Rolie Polie Guacamole. They also host new parent meet-ups and Babes and Beer Happy Hour, which sounds right up our alley!

Lark, Ditmas Park — Honey, Dear – vintage jazz, 4-5pm Saturday afternoons.

Being a Saturday afternoon, we were lucky to be in time to catch vintage jazz duo, Honey, Dear, who performed some cruisy, bluesy tunes, a perfect low-key compliment to the relaxed atmosphere.

As an added bonus, Cheese adored the jazz music. She was totally engrossed in watching the performance (and eating my pop tart), so it was a really enjoyable afternoon for us all.

Lark is constantly adding new events to its already jam-packed schedule. Coming up is a floral arrangement class for kids (junior family members will have fun with flowers, such as making a bouquet), which is being run in conjunction with Stems (the floral shop connected to Sycamore, the bar). Summer at Lark heralds even more new events, including a revolving art exhibit featuring local artists.

Last bite: Lark is your go-to cafe for relaxing with family and friends. Catch a kiddie class or weekend jazz, or just stop by for some seriously good treats.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: No.

Lark
1007 Church Ave,
Brooklyn, NY 11218
Phone: (718) 469-0140
Hours: Mon-Thur 7am-7pm, Fri 7am-8pm, Sat 8am-8pm, Sun 8am-7pm

Get Directions.

The Blue Stove: Kid-friendly Restaurants, Wiliamsburg, New York

May 16, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, New York, New York Food, Williamsburg / 0 comment

Here’s a good generalisation for you. Aussies love their pies. After two years living in the US, my husband and I really crave the occasional savoury pie, ala Aussie-style.

We finally ventured to Williamsburg to test drive The Blue Stove, after hearing that they might satiate our pie cravings.

The Blue Stove, Williamsburg - kid-friendly brooklyn — The Blue Stove – super-cute, old-fashioned interior.

The Blue Stove is such a sweet, old-fashioned store, with a serious hipster edge (hey, it’s in Williamsburg! Of course it’s a hipster pie store!). We loved the rustic wood, long communal dining bench, and pies tied up with string.

The pot pie range is wide – savouries like vegetable, pulled pork and chicken. They also have a wide range of seasonal fruit pies, such as apple, strawberry rhubarb and key lime. Our advice – you need to try both, so go with friends so you can share both savoury and sweet.

I ordered a vegetable pot pie, and it was delicious. Root vegetables delicately seasoned with flaky pastry. The only thing it was missing was a good dousing of tomato sauce (that’s ketchup, US friends). Or maybe this is just how Aussies eat it. Anyway – if you love your pies with tomato sauce/ketchup, BYO.

I also ordered an iced tea. I wasn’t a fan of the flavour they had already brewed, so the helpful staff offered to make me my iced tea of choice from scratch. Yay!

Moving on to the dessert round, we split a strawberry rhubarb pie (make sure to ask for ice-cream on top). It was everything a pie should be – stuffed with fruit and bursting out of the pastry. Yum. We will all be back for more!

Last bite: The Blue Stove is all about pies – so come hungry and be prepared to eat your fill. Park the stroller and balance your little ones on your lap while they dig into your delicious pie.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No. But pieeeeees!

The Blue Stove
415 Graham Ave
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
Phone: (718) 766-7419
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat-Sun 10am–9pm

Get directions.

Cafe Pedlar: Kid-friendly Cafes, Cobble Hill, New York

May 9, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, Cobble Hill, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

For a coffee-picky Australian (like, say, my husband), finding a great latte is like discovering a sparkly unicorn living in your neighbourhood. Our favourite cafe to stop by every Sat (and Sun!) morning for coffee is Cafe Pedlar, an artisanal coffee shop in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Their coffee beans are roasted by Stumptown Coffee Roasters in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and their baristas are all well-trained in the delicate art of making lattes and more. In addition to freshly baked pastries, they also serve some light lunch items such as sandwiches and cut fruit.

As well as making killer coffees, Cafe Pedlar is nice and roomy, with some tables and chairs if you want to sit down. Bonus – they have enough room for you to park your stroller at the tables. Take your coffee and enjoy it on one of the benches outside the cafe, or grab a pastry (on good days they have little pretzel bread rolls) and a window seat for a sweet morning ritual.

Cafe Pedlar, Cobble Hill, New York — Entertaining the kid while waiting for coffee.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: Yes. There’s lot of room for strollers of all sizes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Cafe Pedlar
210 Court St
Brooklyn, NY
Phone: (718) 855 7129
Hours: Mon-Sun 7am-7pm

Get directions.

Happy Friday! Have a Beautiful Brunchy Weekend!

May 3, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, Cobble Hill, Weekly Links / 1 Comment

cheese_smorgasborg — Cheese, being sassy on a spring day.

Hope you’re planning to enjoy the beautiful spring weather that looks like it’s FINALLY here to stay. (We know Cheese is ready for more ice-cream outings.)

The Brunch With My Baby team is looking forward to relaxing with our families – and checking out more kid-friendly restaurants to review. Alexis plans on taking Baby J and Big J to try someplace new in the city (that will be her reward for driving out to New Jersey today AND Saturday to visit friends and family). Christine and Co. might just be forced to sample more treats from Smorgasburg. For work, you know.

We hope you enjoy your weekend and have a chance to enjoy some of the many delicious places and sights NYC has to offer. Here are a few fun links from around the web to help inspire you:

Brooklynites, check out these great dishes, and where to eat them.

Want suggestions for fun weekend outings?

This great new website for stylish new mamas and mamas-to-be is a must-see.

OXO Tot’s awesome new cutlery, plate, bowl and cup for toddlers that want to be big kids. Genius.

Ever wonder how much you should be eating? (On second thought, maybe we shouldn’t click…)

Bare Burger just opened in Cobble Hill! Ahhhhh!

Healthy eating for your family is made easy with these wholesome, nourishing meal plans.

Have a good one!

Christine + Alexis