Adventure, baby!

toddler friendly carroll gardens

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

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.

Treats Truck, Carroll Gardens, kid-friendly cafes Brooklyn.
Treats!

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.

Treats Truck, Carroll Gardens, kid-friendly cafes Brooklyn.
Who let the kid out?

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!

Treats Truck, Carroll Gardens, kid-friendly cafes Brooklyn.
Play area.

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.

Treats Truck, Carroll Gardens, kid-friendly cafes Brooklyn.
Mayhem.

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.

Treats Truck, Carroll Gardens, kid-friendly cafes Brooklyn.
We ordered a kids mac and cheese, (not pictured) which Cheese absolutely inhaled, plus a delish raspberry iced tea and delectable chocolate brownie. Heaven.
Treats Truck, Carroll Gardens, kid-friendly cafes Brooklyn.
Christine and Alexis with Cheese and Baby J.
Treats Truck, Carroll Gardens, kid-friendly cafes Brooklyn.
Cheese knows what to do with a brownie.
Treats Truck, Carroll Gardens, kid-friendly cafes Brooklyn.
More chocolate, please?

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.

Treats Truck on Urbanspoon

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Brooklyn Farmacy on Urbanspoon