lunch Archives - Page 6 of 11

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.

Best Restaurants near the American Museum of Natural History

May 21, 2013 / Eat & Explore, Manhattan Munchies, Museums & Galleries, Upper West Side / 2 Comments

One of the best places to take kids of all ages is the American Museum of Natural History. We’ve been taking Cheese there since she was in utero – true story. Whether you’re taking your baby, toddler or bigger kid, there’s literally something for everyone to enjoy. Babies are happy to look at ceiling fans, so the constant changing scenery of exhibits makes them happy to just watch everything pass by. Toddlers love the dinosaurs and giant whales, and bigger kids can get involved in the exhibits.

Before a trip to the museum, you really need to food up to get through the day. Instead of eating at the museum cafe, check out these nearby restaurants that you and the kids will all enjoy.

Sarabeth's UWS — Cheese enjoying her grilled cheese and fries at Sarabeth’s West.

Best elegant dining: Sarabeth’s West
Book a table for a finer dining experience at Sarabeth’s West, where kids are welcome (and usually present, in abundance!). Try their four flower juice and the ricotta pancakes or omelette. No need to order for toddlers – they’ll steal your delicious brunch right off your plate. Ask for a kid’s sippy cup to entertain young ones and buy you a bit more time.

Sarabeth’s West
423 Amsterdam Avenue (80th Street)
New York
Phone: (212) 496 6280
Hours: Mon-Sat 8am-10:30pm, Sun 8am–10pm

Isabella's, Upper West Side. Kid-friendly restaurants, New York. — Me and my Cheese at Isabella’s.

Best Friendly Staff: Isabella’s
Not only is the food amazing at Isabella’s, but the staff really go above and beyond to make families feel at home. Waitstaff happily entertained Cheese when we last visited, as well as delivering fast service and perfectly cooked food. FYI I had an omelette and it was devine. Last tip: be sure to book a table as they’re super popular and get busy on weekends.

Isabella’s
359 Columbus Ave
New York
Phone: (212) 724 2100
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-10pm Sat-Sun 10am-11pm

Sugar and Plumm, kid-friendly New York — Bright, roomy interior.

Most appealing to little (and big!) kids: Sugar and Plumm
“Purveyors of yumm”, Sugar and Plumm are bright, cheerful and full of treats. They deliver a great brunch menu, sure to delight everyone in the party, regardless of their age. Kids are catered for with an innovative menu, sippy cups, crayons and a menu to colour in. The drawback: no reservations, so expect a long wait on weekends.

Sugar and Plumm
377 Amsterdam Ave
New York
Phone: (212) 787 8778
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8:15am-11pm

Shake Shack UWS, New York — Don’t take the shake from the baby. It’s bad.

Best fast food option: Shake Shack UWS
Fast food doesn’t necessarily mean bad food, as proven by the ever-popular Shake Shack. Right outside the museum, and only a block from Central Park, this is the best bet if you’re in a hurry. Solid burgers, fries and shakes will please most fussy eaters. The shakes are an especially big hit with the toddler crowd. They have high chairs and change tables, plus a downstairs rec room with extra seating, so be sure to check it out if the street level area is packed.

Shake Shack, UWS
366 Columbus Avenue
(at West 77th St)
New York
Phone: (646) 747 8770
Hours: Daily, 10:45am-11pm

Sugar and Plumm: Kid-friendly Restaurants, UWS, New York

May 13, 2013 / Manhattan Munchies, Upper West Side / 1 Comment

Entering Sugar and Plumm is like stepping into a a modern day Willy Wonka Land. Bright, cheerful and colourful, with delicious-looking sweets. Even as an adult, the candy land that is Sugar And Plumm has a strong allure for me, evoking memories of childhood candy stores, long summer days and running wild with friends.

Sugar And Plumm is divided into two sections – the restaurant and store. On weekends expect to wait for a table, so get there early or leave your name and hope you get seated before the kids lose the plot (or talk you into buying a pile of candy from the store).

The good news is that they serve treats like ice-cream, macarons and cake in the store section, so if they’re crazy busy on the day you visit, you can always grab something sweet to eat in the park, and come back another day to sit down in the restaurant.

Once seated, everything runs smoothly. Cheese is brought a sippy cup with water, crayons, and a kids’ menu she could colour in.

One tip – if your kid is eating with cutlery and not yet ready for an adult fork, bring a toddler fork with you. Cheese stole my fork and tried to stab herself in the throat with it, trying to feed herself scrambled eggs.

We ordered a range of dishes, including burgers, the crunch toast, wholegrain salad (vegan and gluten-free) and a vanilla Plain Jane shake. Everything came out quickly and was well-cooked, as you’d expect from a quality restaurant. Cheese was given the eggs-in-a-basket, scrambled eggs in brioche toast, which came with another sippy cup (filled with milk this time). She loved the eggs but found the brioche toast too hard and crispy to eat.

Last bite: A crowd-pleaser for kids of all ages, get in early to secure a table, and enjoy a family-friendly meal that will leave everyone with a sweet taste in their mouth.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes – on a weekday, plenty of room for giant strollers. On weekends, stick to one that folds.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Sugar and Plumm
377 Amsterdam Ave
New York, NY
Phone: (212) 787 8778
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8:15am-11pm

Sarabeth's West: Kid-friendly Restaurants, UWS, New York

April 30, 2013 / Manhattan Munchies, Upper West Side / 3 Comments

A visit to Sarabeth’s usually requires a reservation and careful planning. We were super lucky on this occasion to walk in on a Sunday afternoon and be seated straight away, with no reservation.

Sarabeth’s West has a bit of a different look and feel than the TriBeCa restaurant. It feels slightly more formal, particularly in the upper seating area. While it’s still super kid-friendly (when we walked in, there was a table of no less than eight parents each with a baby), the feel of the restaurant is geared more towards adults than families.

We were all starving, so we promptly ordered Cheese her own meal of grilled cheese and fries. I can neither confirm nor deny whether I ate most of her meal as well as my own. Perk / con of having a toddler – double meals!

The grilled cheese was tasty (ahem), on a sweet brioche bread. The tomato ketchup is not the best idea for a toddler, but Cheese insists on dipping her fries in it and sometimes eating them.

My lemon ricotta pancakes were absolutely delish. Not quite filling enough for lunch, so lucky I had the kid’s leftovers as a fall back.

I don’t usually order juice, but this time I went with the “four flower juice” on a friend’s recommendation. Good call – it was one of the best juices I’ve ever had. I can’t even say why – it was just a taste explosion in my mouth. Order it! You won’t be sorry!

Last bite: Sarabeth’s is the perfect pleaser for both kids and parents who want to eat well in a relaxed, but still elegant, restaurant.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes, but you’ll need to fold it if possible.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Sarabeth’s West
423 Amsterdam Avenue (80th Street)
New York
Phone: (212) 496 6280
Hours: Mon-Sat 8am-10:30pm, Sun 8am–10pm

Smooch Organic: Kid-friendly Cafes, Fort Greene, New York

April 22, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, Fort Greene, New York, New York Food / 1 Comment

Smooch Organics is an Australian-owned cafe in leafy Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The service is laid-back and friendly, the ambiance hip, and kids of all ages are welcome.

As an Australian living in New York, I’m always looking to meet other expats, and searching out Aussie-run businesses. Even though I love our life in New York, there is a part of me that’s always homesick, and finding other Aussies and talking about home really helps.

A friend back home recommended Smooch when she saw it written up an Aussie newspaper. Amazingly, it’s in Fort Greene, only a hop, skip and a stroll from where we live, so we checked it out on a (finally!) sunny, spring day.

Smooch Organic — Cute interior – not much room for strollers.

First impressions – it’s quite a hipster little place. Lots of Aussie references with pictures of our beaches and items on the menu named after places I miss, like “The Tamarama” (described as “sexy toast with avocado, tomato, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice, served with a latte, cortada, flat white). My husband misses flat whites possibly more than anything, so was all over this toast and coffee. He says the coffee is solid, by the way, so be sure to check it out if you’re a coffee-lover living nearby.

The cafe is on the small side, with the tables pretty close together. It’s not super kid-friendly for eating in – we could instead suggest either eating on the benches outside, or taking your food to Fort Greene Park, which is just around the corner (literally less than a block away). If you’re after a place to work during the week, this is ideal – they have free wifi and welcome laptops. Yay!

I ordered a smoothie, which was delicious. Cheese and I shared it on the bench outside, enjoying the warm day that had been so long in coming.

As a side note, I saw the owner while we were there. He was in board shorts, thongs (calm down, it’s what Aussies call “flip flops”), and a bucket hat. He was so Aussie I forgot I was in Brooklyn for a moment.

Be sure to take your kids to Fort Greene Park afterwards to run their crazy out – Cheese particularly loves the swings and slide.

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

Smooch Organic
264 Carlton Ave
Brooklyn
Phone: (718) 624 4075
Hours: Mon-Wed 8am-9pm, Thur-Sun 8am-12am

Get directions.

Isabella's, Upper West Side: Kid-friendly Restaurants, New York

April 21, 2013 / Manhattan Munchies, Upper West Side / 4 Comments

It doesn’t get more kid-friendly than Isabella’s. They’ve got the whole shebang – high chairs, take reservations, friendly wait staff who entertain the kids, crayons, kids’ menu … they’re doing it right, and, as a result, Isabella’s is known as one of the most kid-friendly, elegant, dining spots in Manhattan.

Isabella's, Upper West Side — Ready for brunch!

On our way to the Natural History Museum, we went to Isabella’s for brunch. We were seated as soon as we arrived, thanks to our reservation, and the staff immediately gave Cheese crayons (which she immediately put in her mouth and ate).

Isabella’s looks like such an elegant dining establishment, it’s hard to believe that it’s kid-friendly. The staff are the friendliest we’ve encountered anywhere, talking with Cheese and entertaining her for us (thank you!!!), as well as being efficient and courteous to us.

Last Bite: Isabella’s deserves it’s reputation as a premiere kid-friendly restaurant – we can’t recommend it highly enough for a relaxing meal with your family.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes. Bring a folding stroller though as in rush hour, you’ll struggle to find a place for anything bigger.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Isabella’s
359 Columbus Ave
New York
Phone: (212) 724 2100
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-10pm Sat-Sun 10am-11pm
Reservations

Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain; Kid-friendly Restaurants, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

March 30, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, Carroll Gardens, New York, New York Food / 1 Comment

We often end up at the Farmacy on a Sunday afternoon when we’re craving a grilled cheese and shake, and want somewhere close, low key and extremely kid-friendly. I have an obsession with finding the perfect grilled cheese sandwich, and Brooklyn Farmacy has the best grilled cheese I’ve found so far.

Brooklyn Farmacy, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, NY.

The shakes at Farmacy are phenomenal – we always order a vanilla malt thick shake to share. It arrives in an old fashioned glass, so thick that it’s hard to slurp up through the straw.

Sharing a shake, Brooklyn Farmacy, Carroll Gardens, NY.

What makes the grilled cheese so special? The cheese is plentiful and sharp, and oozes out the sides of the bread. The bread is crispy but not hard, and is toasted in a sandwich press rather than being fried, so it’s never oily.

Grilled cheese glory. Brooklyn Farmacy, Carroll Gardens, NY.

One more reason why we keep coming back to the Farmacy – it’s one of the most kid-friendly, baby-friendly, and, thankfully for us, crazy toddler-friendly restaurants in Brooklyn. No one minds if your toddler, like ours, spends their entire time there running around the store and playing with the old fashioned scale in the entrance. Bless you, Farmacy, we love you.

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

Winter/Spring Hours: Mon-Thur 10am-10pm, Fri 10am-11pm, Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 8am-9pm

Get directions.

Bacchus Le Cafe; Kid-friendly Places To Eat Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, NY

March 28, 2013 / Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Bites, New York, New York Food / 2 Comments

Sunday morning, breakfast date with friends. It’s still fiendishly cold, so we head around the corner to our local patisserie for a simple, fast breakfast before the kids need naps.

Sweet, very French, interior – La Patisserie, Boerum Hill, New York.

The counter is piled high with freshly-baked goods. Croissants, pain au chocolate, pains aux raisins … the smell is unbelievable.

Complimentary sweet treats for the babies.

The service is fast and super-friendly. They were so welcoming to us, crazy toddlers and all.

The food is great – fresh omelettes packed with spinach and tomato, flaky crossants with layers of ham. The kids shovel as much of the food into their mouths as they can, unable to believe their good luck at getting so many treats on this cold morning.

I took a madeleine to go for the Cheese – and when I tasted it later I wished I’d bought more. It was so insanely good that I went back a few hours later, just for a few more madeleines.

This casual little cafe is absolutely going to be our weekend place to stop by and grab fast and delish food, either to eat in or to grab a pastry on the run. It’s hard to find a decent crossant in New York – but this little cafe really delivers. The pain au chocolate I tried was light and soft, flaky but not hard.

A sign on the counter displayed their free wifi password, so this cafe could also be great as a working location – if you can resist gorging yourself on the pastries, that is.

We had such a pleasant and delicious morning, that we will most certainly be back for more.

Where do you head when you’re in the mood for a croissant?

Highchairs: Yes, there is one highchair.
Stroller storage: There is room if they fit through the narrow front door. Think Bugaboo Bee or smaller.
Easy access: Yes. One or two easy steps.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Bacchus Le Cafe
411 Atlantic Ave
(between Nevins St & Bond St)
Brooklyn, NY
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-9pm, Sat-Sun 8am-9pm
Get directions.

Superfine; Kid-friendly Restaurants, DUMBO, Brooklyn

March 20, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, DUMBO, New York, New York Food / 1 Comment

On a cold, unexpectedly snowy day, we trudged on down to check out Superfine in DUMBO. It’s such an in-the-know-only hipster joint – if you didn’t know it was there, you’d walk straight past it.

Inside is a spacious bar and restaurant, where kids are welcome and the cocktails run strong.

We wheeled our jumbotron stroller up the ramp to the eating area and were given a massive table next to some strollers. “Great,” I said to the hostess, “stroller parking!”. “Actually, there are babies in there”, she confided, as she slipped away again. We peeked inside the strollers and, sure enough, there were babies asleep in there. We sat down, baffled as to what to do with the slumbering babes, when their mother came over and let us know that they could sleep through a hurricane, so not to worry about them. Ok!

And that, really, sums up the atmosphere at Superfine. Super casual. Anything goes. Park your stoller (and potentially babies, too) wherever they fit.

We also found some spare toys they had lying around for Cheese to play with when she wasn’t running up and down the ramp like she was possessed by a demon.

We were super keen to try out Superfine’s brunch menu, but I didn’t realise it was only served on Sundays, so we had the Saturday lunch menu instead. My sandwich with fries was fresh and tasty, and the fries were devoured by Miss Cheese.

The cocktails are a must-have. If you’re a lightweight, be prepared to have someone escort you home after just one, as, yes, they are that strong.

Superfine is known for its live bluegrass music, but sadly we didn’t have any during our visit, so perhaps it’s only on Sundays – their website is a bit sparse, so I’d suggest you call them directly for more information on anything.

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

Superfine
126 Front St,
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 243-9005
Call for updated hours.

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