kid friendly brooklyn Archives

kid friendly brooklyn

Southern Comfort & Biscuits: Buttermilk Channel, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, NY

November 25, 2014 / Brooklyn Bites, Carroll Gardens, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

What is possibly the most famous brunch spot in Brooklyn, Buttermilk Channel, has always eluded us as a brunchery with our child. The thought of a long wait has been too daunting to even try it. One rainy weekend, however, my desire to eat well (and potentially run into Beyonce, who apparently loves their chicken and waffles) got the better of me, so we grabbed our obliging neighbors and headed on down to Buttermilk Channel. The doors open at 10am on the dot. We arrived at 9:55 and were the 2nd in line. By 10am, there were over 10 other people behind us. So lesson learned — the early bird gets the waffles.

We were seated at a great table straight away, and had very attentive service. I particularly liked how our waitress brought the toddlers tiny glasses of water and crayons without being asked, and did ask us if we wanted to order anything for the kids while we were looking at the menus for ourselves. (And yes, yes we did.)

I ordered Buttermilk Biscuits ($4) for the toddlers to snack on while our meals were being prepared. I ordered the most exotic sounding dish on the menu — the Pecan Pie French Toast, with Bourbon, Molasses & Toasted Pecans ($11). It was outstanding. One of the best brunch dishes I have ever eaten. Thick bread generously soaked in egg, and covered with a thick, sweet molasses . . . absolutely incredible. The entire table had food envy so I had to share it so that everyone could enjoy its glory. That being said, every dish was delicious: Eggs Huntington with Poached Eggs, Buttermilk Biscuits, Benton’s Country Ham & Hollandaise Sauce ($11), Short Rib Hash, with Sunny-side-up Eggs, Toast & Organic Greens ($13) and the House-cured Salmon Platter, with Fried Peppers, Green Onions, Cream Cheese, Pumpernickel & Organic Green Salad ($12).

Buttermilk Channel does not disappoint. Its reputation is completely well deserved as one of the best brunch spots in Brooklyn, and the restaurant is an absolute must for anyone who loves fine, Southern-inspired food (and celebrity spotting). Their kid-friendliness is just such an added bonus that enables parents to enjoy top-quality food without feeling like pariahs for bringing small, noisy children with them.

Last Bite: Buttermilk Channel is worth the effort, even if you have to wait in line. Arrive early to avoid the throngs of New Yorkers also hankering for a divine brunch with their families.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Minimal. Bring a stroller that folds and be prepared to leave it outside.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Buttermilk Channel
524 Court St,
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: (718) 852 8490
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Wed 5pm-10pm, Thur 5pm-11pm, Fri 5pm-12am, Sat 10am-3pm, 5pm-12am, Sun 12am-3pm, 5pm-10pm
Get Directions

Brooklyn Neighborhood Guide: Cobble Hill

July 22, 2014 / Brooklyn Bites, Cobble Hill, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

The quiet neighborhood of Cobble Hill is home to a LOT of strollers. It’s often joked that once Manhattanites start breeding, they move to Brooklyn. If this is the case, then a lot of these new parents must move to Cobble Hill, as it is literally bursting at the seams with babies, toddlers and lots of kiddie fun.

Best Breakfast: Ted & Honey
This little cafe is the go-to breakfast sandwich spot. Order an egg sandwich on your choice of multi-grain, brioche or ciabatta (the bread is freshly baked from nearby Caputo’s bakery). The haloumi and avocado is our fave. While you’re waiting, look on the bottom shelf for books and puzzles to entertain your little one. If your child is not the sitting and eating kind, get your sandwich to go and sit in leafy green Cobble Hill Park next door. 264 Clinton St, Brooklyn

Best Quiet Nook: Cobble Hill Park
This little oasis of calm amongst the brownstones is a popular haven for mothers’ groups during the week, and families on weekends. A little play area at the end of the park entertains older kids with a sand pit and climbing structures. The park is lovely year-round, but is especially pretty in spring when tulips and daffodils are blooming.
Clinton St. Between Verandah Pl. and Congress St., Brooklyn

Best Lunch Spot: BareBurger
Grab an all-natural burger, shake and fries for lunch at Bareburger. Kids can order a Cubby Meal, choosing from items like a grilled cheese panini or “grizzly” burger (with a quinoa veggie patty option). Adults: order from a wide variety of burgers (including “build your own”), sandwiches and salads, all made with organic ingredients free of hormones, pesticides and other unsavory elements.
149 Court St., Brooklyn

Best Playground: LICH Playground
This large playground has climbing structures for toddlers and older kids, plus a few swings. The main attraction for the toddler set, however, is the ever-changing walker and car toys that are routinely “donated” to the park throughout the year. The park is well-shaded on afternoons, and the trees put on a beautiful display of color in the fall.
Henry St. and Amity St., Brooklyn

Best Kids’ Store: Picnic
Dress your little one like a Brooklyn hipster at Picnic. Owned by local mom Lindsey Engler, the store stocks adorable outfits and accessories for kids from baby and up. You’ll also find a range of NYC and Brooklyn books and toys.
192 Amity St., Brooklyn

This article was first published on MommyNearest.

The Best Pizza In NYC? Lucali; Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Carroll Gardens, New York

July 16, 2014 / Brooklyn Bites, Carroll Gardens, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

The famous Lucali’s is reputedly home to one of the best pizzas in New York City. As such, there is always a line to get in, and it’s always seemed to us like too much of a hassle to try to get in when we’re paying a sitter so that we can potentially stand in line for an hour. When we recently flew back from Australia however, we had a week with jet lag where Missy E was awake every night at dinner time. Since she wasn’t sleeping anyway, we all headed down to Lucali’s in Carroll Gardens to FINALLY try this pizza we’ve been hearing about all this time.

We arrived right before the restaurant opened, and were not that surprised when we saw a big crowd of diners who had the same idea that we had had. Turns out that getting there right when the doors open does not beat the crowd: the smart thing to do is to reserve a table over the phone, or arrive at least 15 minutes before the restaurant opens, guaranteeing you a seat in the second seating of the evening — so about a 30-45min wait. Missy E was napping in her stroller when we arrived, so we strolled around the neighborhood for half an hour until we got the call that our table was ready. They do not have high chairs. Our table was right next to the pizza-making station. The staff couldn’t have been friendlier toward our slightly crazy toddler. The wait staff gave her a fresh flower to play with, and then a piece of pizza dough with which she could “make” her own pizza. When she started to get antsy, I took her to watch the chefs hard at work making the pizzas from scratch. We watched as they rolled and threw our pizza’s dough, covered it in fresh toppings, and finally, removed it from the oven, piping hot.

And about those pizzas. There are two menu options at Lucali’s — pizza or calzone, with your choice of meat and vegetables, which are listed each night on the chalkboard outside the restaurant. The only beverage they serve is water, but you can BYO wine. The much-hyped pizza was absolutely amazing. It had the perfect crust, thin and crispy on the edges, with a rich tomato sauce, a generous amount of cheese and giant clumps of fresh basil. One pizza was just the right size for two adults and a toddler to share (they do half-and-half if you want different toppings to your dining companions).

After our pizza we still had room for dessert, so we dropped by our nearby fave, Brooklyn Farmacy, for a banana split.

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

Lucali
575 Henry St,
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: (718) 858-4086
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-8pm Sun 10am-6pm
Get Directions

Brooklyn Farmacy
513 Henry St,
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: (718) 522-6260
Prices: $
Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-11pm, Sat & Sun 9am-11pm
Get Directions

Your New Regular Coffee Shop: Konditori, Cobble Hill, New York

March 11, 2014 / Brooklyn Bites, Cobble Hill, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

We are always searching for a new great coffee place that will deliver my flat white-obsessed husband with a consistent cup of decent coffee. His most recent obsession is Konditori, a Swedish cafe that aspires to combine the hominess of Swedish Coffee Culture with the edginess of Brooklyn. I’ve never been to Sweden, so I can’t comment on how accurately the cafe represents the “Swedish coffee hominess”, but what I do know is my husband has been stopping by this cafe twice a week on his way to deliver Cheese to pre school since it opened, and gets REALLY mad if Cheese isn’t ready for school in time for him to get his regular cup of jo.

Since I’m not a coffee drinker he promised me a good hot chocolate and selection of fine baked goods, which was enough for me to accompany him and Cheese on their regular coffee ritual one morning.

As well as a seriously good cup of coffee (the husband obviously has stamped it so) you can pick up a hand rolled kettle boiled bagel, gourmet muffins and Swedish treats like Cardamom Bread (coffee bread with almond filling), Kanelbulle (cinnamon rolls) and Coco Balls.

The cafe also has a fresh juice bar, which has a little IKEA train set running around the tip jar — a magnet for toddlers and adults waiting for their juices alike. Cheese was obsessed with the trains, and we were both very happy when told it was fine for her to take the train back to the table play with (bless you!).

In the back of the store is a huge foosball table (another prime toddler distractor) and plenty of room if you need to park your giant stroller.

I ordered a hot chocolate ($2.25) and one of the gourmet muffins ($2.50). I thought it was blueberry banana, but I could only find blueberries, so who knows, maybe I read the sign wrong. Either way, it was a good, solid muffin, and the hot chocolate was delicious.

I had to act quickly to snap Alec’s latte ($3.50) and croissant ($2.50) before they disappeared. Part of his weekly ritual with Cheese is for them to enjoy croissants together.

The Konditori staff were very happy to make a special “toddler” hot chocolate for Cheese. Basically this means I ask them to dilute the hot chocolate heavily with whole milk, and put it in a straw cup for her to drink. This both takes away from it being too chocolately for a toddler, and also brings it down to the perfect temperature for toddlers straight away, so we can skip the “you have to wait, it’s too hot!” talk.

Last Bite: Great coffee, friendly staff, and plenty of room and distractions for toddlers. Stop by to find us hibernating at Konditori all winter long.

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

Konditori
114 Smith St,
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (646) 696-0257
Pries: $
Hours: Daily, 6am-8pm
Get directions

Cafe Colette: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Williamsburg, New York

February 1, 2014 / Brooklyn Bites, New York, New York Food, Williamsburg / 0 comment

On a cold winter’s day, we made a trek on the G train to Williamsburg to visit friends and try out Cafe Colette. With a lot of restaurants cramped with elbow-tight tables, it can be hard to find kid-friendly restaurants in the ‘Burg. This little gem was a lucky find for this hungry family.

Serving New American cuisine, Cafe Colette serves up primarily locally-sourced in a menu that is influenced by flavors and techniques from Spain, Italy, Central America, and beyond.

The vintage feel, with the tin roof and cosy booths, conjours up a scene from a movie. Luckily for us, we arrive just when the cafe opens, and are shown to the corner booth, where there is plenty of room to park our stroller (and toddler).

The staff are welcoming and friendly to our crazy two-year-old. Missy E chose that morning to wake up pre-dawn, and so, by brunch-time, was a hot mess. While we felt stressed out by her antics, the staff showed no signs of dismay or judgement (thank you!!) and could not have been nicer, even when she tipped over a large glass of water all over the floor, requiring mopping.

We visited on a Monday and were served the lunch menu. I chose the Soup and Sandwich (tomato soup and grilled cheddar cheese on sourdough, $11) and the Hand Cut French Fries, $6, hoping missy E would eat some, and the rest of our party selected Breakfast Sandwich (fried farm eggs, cheddar cheese, smoked paprika aioli, lettuce, choice of bacon or sausage, $10), Garlic Herb French Fries (red chili oil, cracked black pepper, $8), Grilled Flatbread (caramelized onions, arugula, pecorino romano, garlic chili oil, $11) and the Grilled Fish Tacos (cilantro, red cabbage, pickled onions, chipotle mayonnaise, $12).

Miss E did indeed enjoy my lunch choice — after she ate all the fries, she progressed to demanding my soup to feed to herself (not a good idea, let it be noted). She’s a fussy eater, so it was actually great to see her wanting to try something like tomato soup, even if it had messy results. She wouldn’t try my grilled cheese, but I enjoyed it immensly. I adore sourdough, and this was good sourdough (not the fake kind with vinegar), with the right amount of cheese (not too little so it’s dry, but not too much to make it artery-clogging).

Missy E was a manaic and I spent most of the time trying to stop the tomato soup flying through the air. Alec and our friends enjoyed their meals, although the flatbread and garlic herb fries were deemed a bit too hot (both contained chili oil).

Last Bite: A bustling brunch or lunch joint, perfect for a casual lunch with friends AND a crazy baby or toddler.

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

Cafe Colette
79 Berry St,
New York, NY 11249
Phone: (347) 599 1381
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Thur 11am-12am, Fri 11am-1am, Sat 10am-1am, Sun 10am-12am
Get directions

Clark's Restaurant: Kid-Friendly Diners, Brooklyn Heights, NY

November 19, 2013 / Cheese, New York Food / 1 Comment

I know, I know, diners, right? Not exactly a foodie destination, but as any parent to a child under five knows, it is integral to survival. Ok, maybe I won’t go that far, but I can safely say that it is comforting to have a low-key neighborhood place to go with the kids when you need to get out of the house and you want a fail-safe restaurant solution.

We have a standing breakfast date at Clark’s Restaurant with our dear friends (pictured), now that the kids’ schedules are not compatible for afternoon play dates. Even though it’s called a “restaurant”, Clark’s is really a diner, and it’s a super popular destination in Brooklyn Heights for families to enjoy breakfast. When we arrive at 8:30am, it’s already busy with plenty of kids and tired-looking parents.

In the past we’ve ordered the kids their own food, but since they almost always take a tentative bite and then forgot about it, on this visit we decided they could eat off our plates instead. Good move, since that day, both of the kids were only interested in eating toast, after slathering it with butter and Smuckers Grape Jelly.

The high chairs are the clip-on kind plus the normal ones. I love the clip-ons in the booths since they really fence the kids in so they can’t wiggle out and escape. We both always bring umbrella strollers and don’t bother to fold them because there is room at the front of the restaurant to park them, or you can bring them to the table. (My friend often brings her pretty large Bugaboo and parks it at the end of the table and no one complains). The staff couldn’t be friendlier or more welcoming. Everything, including the strollers, which are absolutely in the way, is “no problem”.

We order eggs with bacon and cheese on an English muffin ($9.25) and the Greek Omelet (with feta and tomato, $9.25) with home fries. The staff always gives us shots of complimentary orange juice, which I think were meant for the kids, but since we don’t give the girls juice, we drank it ourselves. They also give us small plastic cups for the kids with water in it. Cheese dumped hers all over herself on this particular day, so I guess we’re going to have to work on this at home before attempting it in public again.

The service is a little chaotic if you need attention, which we often do with two squirmy toddlers. When we need things like extra cutlery or napkins, it’s much faster and easier to get up and grab it yourself instead of flagging down busy staff and then hoping they remember to bring it back.

When the kids were about a year old, we liked going to Clark’s because it was a great place to take kids when we wanted to eat out but when a fancier restaurant wouldn’t have been ideal. It’s a great place to take your (high-spirited?) child to breakfast or lunch because even if they’re being the crankiest crank, and it doesn’t matter, because at Clark’s, no one cares.

As always, as we strapped our kids into their respective strollers and tried to wipe off some remaining crumbs from their clothes, the staff bid us all a cheerful adieu and we were already looking forward to our next breakfast together at Clark’s.

Last Bite: A classic diner with a huge menu, plenty of basic breakfast items, and delightfully friendly staff makes this a staple morning hot spot for families in Brooklyn Heights.

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

Clark’s Restaurant
80 Clark St (between Henry St & Hicks St)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (718) 855-5484
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Sat 7am-9pm, Sun 7am-3:30pm

AlMar: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, DUMBO, New York

November 5, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, DUMBO, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

In the heart of DUMBO lies Front Street—which is somewhat confusingly located a few streets back from the waterfront. (Ditto for Water Street, which is not on the water, but that’s another story). Most eateries, bars and shops are either on or near this main artery, making it a good way to get in brunch, candy, and a drink at a bar all without leaving a single block radius.

When we had woken up on that particular day, rain was pelting down outside, so we chose the restaurant AlMar mainly because of its location (we knew we could get there via the handy F line, without getting too drenched.) We were also interested in checking out a dish there that I’d read about: the dreamy-sounding Egg In A Cloud dish (baked egg yolk floating on whipped egg whites, fontina cheese, smoked ham, toasted brioche, served with sauteed spinach, $12).

Our beginning was not auspicious. The hostess sat us down without menus, so no one came to serve us. After grabbing a nearby staff member, I managed to procure the menus, but things were not off to a good beginning. As an FYI to restaurants—rule number one when people come in with a baby or toddler is to help them get in and out as fast as possible! This makes for happy families and happy diners surrounding those families.

Once we had the menu situation sorted out, our server became aware of us, and things ran much more smoothly. We ordered the aforementioned Egg In A Cloud for my husband (the omnivore), and the Egg Toast ($12 —baked egg over melted fontina cheese, toasted brioche, truffle oil and asparagus) for me. We weren’t sure if Cheese would eat off either of our plates since she wasn’t feeling the best that day, so we ordered her her own, especially made, single pancake, since there wasn’t a kids menu. They were also happy to make something like a single scrambled egg for her if we wanted.

Our served warned us that our dishes would take 10 minutes to cook, which I thought was very thoughtful of him. We entertained Cheese with our trusty iPhones and the sugar bowl while we waited.

The Egg In A Cloud did not disappoint visually. It’s a spectacular-looking dish, with a big fluffy “cloud” of egg-white literally on top of the toast. My husband said it was “pretty good”, which is his standard response to food. When pressed further on what could make it “outstanding”, he replied that the brioche was a bit overcooked, so it overpowered the delicate egg-whites. So detailed. Thanks, Husband!

My Egg Toast looked a much simpler affair, and was absolutely delicious. Perfectly baked egg, loads of melty cheese (yes, I know, a heart attack waiting to happen); and a huge amount of my favorite vegetable, white asparagus, perfectly blanched, in a ring around the plate.

In typical form, Cheese wanted nothing to do with her pancake (which, thoughtfully was garnished with blueberries, syrup and a butter wedge), and instead wanted my cheese and egg on toast. That’s my girl!

Other tips: AlMar can get quite busy, so reservations are recommended (via phone). They’re a cash-only establishment, so visit the Chase ATM across the street on the way if you arrive without real money in your wallet.

Last bite: AlMar is a handy Italian eatery, serving up a solid brunch menu. High ceilings and plenty of space make you feel like you’ve briefly left New York.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: Yes, but it’s outside.
Easy access: No. There are a few steep steps to get in.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

AlMar
111 Front St.
Brooklyn,NY 11201
Prices: $$
Phone: (718) 855-5288
Hours: Mon-Thur 8am-10:30pm; Fri 8am-11pm; Sat 9am-11pm; Sun 10am-5pm
Get directions

No. 7 Sub: Kid-Friendly Cafes, DUMBO, New York

August 22, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, DUMBO, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

With toddler Cheese now refusing to sit in restaurants, we’re doing a lot of “grab and go” lunches to keep everyone happy. One of our favourite things to do on weekends is to walk on down to DUMBO and spend an afternoon chasing Cheese around the playgrounds, taking a spin on Jane’s Carousel, and eating — usually at the same time as running …

Sandwich experts No. 7 Sub opened up over Memorial Day in the Smokestack Building on Water Street. The location is perfect — directly in between the Pier 1 toddler playground and ferry terminal, and Jane’s Carousel and the Pier 1 pirate playground. It’s also a great option for Sundays when you attempt to go to Smorgasburg and are scared off by the massive queues.

Behind the Smokestack Building is extra seating — yes, in the shade! If you can actually take advantage of seating, it’s the perfect place to take a break and enjoy your sandwich.

I chose one of the staple sandwiches, the Broccoli Classic (Lychee Muchim, Ricotta Salata, Pine Nuts, Mayo). At $9 it’s a pricey sandwich, but it’s also big and filling. The combination of broccoli, ricotta and nuts is delicious. I wasn’t a big fan of the lychee muchim (pickled lychees). They had a bit too much of a kick of chilli for my taste. Next time I would probably order a build-your-own sub, which is perfect for picky eaters like me.

Sandwiches made from scratch, so be prepared to wait 10-15 mins for your creation. If you have an energetic toddler like we do, take your sandwich to one of the nearby playgrounds to enjoy it while your kid runs around.

Last bite: A great grab-and-go option for lunch (and now breakfast!) in DUMBO. Freshly-made sandwiches are a delicious option when you want good food, fast. Cafe seating is available if you have time to sit with your family.

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

No. 7 Sub
11 Water St,
Brooklyn, NY
Prices: $$
Hours: Daily, 11am-8pm

Get directions.

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.

Brunch Survival Guide: Taking Your Kids To A Food Festival

July 23, 2013 / Brunch Survival Guides / 0 comment

While food festivals are ideal outings to take a baby, toddler or older kid to, they can also be chaotic and overwhelming.

Here are our tips on how to survive (and hopefully enjoy!) a food festival with kids:

Pack your bag in advance. Lots of face wipes, water or milk bottles, bibs. Snacks, or possibly even an entire meal for the kid, incase the food takes too long to buy. Don’t forget sunscreen and a picnic blanket if there is no seating area at the event.
Bring entertainment for the child—a ball or baby doll stroller for restless toddlers, or something new your baby hasn’t yet seen.
Scope out what food vendors will be there or decide in advance what kind of food you are in the mood for so that there is a meal game plan of sorts.Remember, babies and toddlers have a very brief window of time in which they will tolerate, well, anything. Especially when it comes to you enjoying a meal.
Arrive early. We can’t emphasise this enough. If you are unable to get this step right, be sure to mind the following ones, or you might as well head straight home, feeling hungry.
When you first get there, have one person take the baby and stake out somewhere to sit. Find tables and chairs, or put down a picnic blanket on the grass.
Have the other person forage/hunt for food.
Note! The Food Hunter may have the urge to take her time browsing ALL of the food stalls and enjoy her time away from the baby. Don’t give in. Time is of the essence. If it’s a busy day, choose the shortest line. Lunch decision made.

That’s it! You made it! Enjoy your food, lounge in the sun (or, if you’re like us, take turns chasing your toddler while your partner lies in the sun), and congratulate yourself on successfully taking your family to a food festival.

Looking for a food festival to try? Our fave is Smorgasburg DUMBO—with Jane’s Carousel and several playgrounds nearby, it’s the most kid-friendly food festival we know of.

What’s your favorite food festival to visit during the summer?