Upper East Side Archives - Adventure, baby!

Top 5 Sweet Spots on the Upper East Side

September 7, 2014 / Manhattan Munchies, New York Food, Upper East Side / 0 comment

When your sweet tooth is a-calling, the Upper East Side is the place to go. Within a few blocks of each other lies a cornucopia of sugary heavens. How’s a sleep-deprived mom to choose?

Dylan’s Candy Bar
Created in 2001 by Dylan Lauren (of the Ralph Lauren family) Dylan’s Candy Bar is the place to go for a serious sugar high. Choose from 7,000 candy treats in the store, then lounge upstairs in a cupcake booth at the Candy Cafe to enjoy lunch or a snack, and perhaps a candy cocktail.
1011 3rd Ave, New York, NY

Baked By Melissa
These mini cupcakes were made with tiny hands in mind! At $1 for each little cupcake, it’s the perfect sized treat when you don’t want the day to get too sugary. Our favorite flavor is the Choc Chip Pancake (totally breakfast food, right?).
784 Lexington Avenue at 61st Street New York NY

Two Little Red Hens
How can you pass up what’s often called the best red velvet cupcake in the city? The cupcakes come in regular and mini sizes, so you can sample several if you’re not set on one flavor.
1652 2nd Ave, New York, NY

Sprinkles Cupcakes
If you’re on the go, grab your cupcake from the Sprinkles ATM out the front. We prefer to sit down inside to enjoy our cupcakes – the cupcake-inspired interior and ottomans are a huge hit with kids. Know before you go: Check out their rotating seasonal menu so you visit on the day when your favorite flavors are being served.
780 Lexington Ave, New York, NY

IT’SUGAR
This candy chain store recently opened its doors on the Upper East Side. IT’SUGAR focuses on the fun of candy, from giant 5LB Hershey bars to the World’s Largest Gummy Bear (they recommend sharing this cub, and so do we!)
1542 3rd Ave New York NY
IT’SUGAR Image via Jia J. Yelp.com

This article first appeared on MommyNearest.com.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

E.A.T. Cafe; Kid-friendly Restaurants, UES, Manhattan, New York

November 27, 2012 / Manhattan Munchies, Upper East Side / 1 Comment

E.A.T. was opened by Eli Zabar in 1973. It was the first of Eli’s shops, filled with his ideas on what makes for great food – delicious bread, overstuffed sandwiches and salads made in small batches several times a day. E.A.T. is a great cafe to stop by on the way to or from the Met, particularly if you have your infant or toddler in tow. The cafe has lots of tables and space – we were sat immediately during a busy Sunday lunch period. Right after being seated, water arrived – in a bottle for us, and in a cute little cup with a straw for the toddler.

The service continued to be attentive and fast. A bread basket with three kinds of bread and butter quickly appeared (their tagline is “Everything comes with Eli’s Bread!”), and our meals arrived with astonishing speed. Dining was a bit pricey (a cheese omelette was $20), but hey, it is the UES after all, and it’s worth paying a bit extra to have an enjoyable dining experience with babies and toddlers.

E.A.T. water cup — The straw cup for our littlest diner went down well.

E.A.T. hot chocolate — Cheese captures and destroys a (cooled) hot chocolate.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes – but minimal. We folded ours next to the table and it was no problem. Take an umbrella stroller or baby carrier if possible.
Easy access: Yes – one step to get in, and then navigate through the take away shop before getting to the entrance to the restaurant.
Change tables: No. The bathrooms are tiny (also a bit gross) – no room to even change a baby on the floor.
Kids’ menu: No.
Kid-friendly rating: ♥♥♥♥-

E.A.T. Cafe
1064 Madison Avenue (between 80th and 81th Sts),
New York, NY 10028
Phone: (212) 772 0022

Hours:
Mon-Sun 7am–10pm

Via Quadronno

November 19, 2012 / Manhattan Munchies, Upper East Side / 0 comment

Via Quadronno is famous for their mouth-wateringly amazing paninis. Also gasp-inducing? The prices. Two paninis, a latte and a croissant will set you back around $40. Note to pastry lovers: They have Payard’s croissants here! The perfect, buttery pastries are worth the exorbitant prices.

Describing this restaurant as tight-quarters is an understatement. Our suggestion is to order takeaway at the front counter and eat your delicious panini either on the bench out the front of the restaurant, or take a short walk to nearby Central Park for lunch with a view.

Via Quadronne — Sheltering from the rain with lunch at Via Quadronno.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: No – this is a tiny cafe. Bring a carrier if possible if you’re planning to eat inside.
Easy access: Yes – one step. There are more stairs however into the main dining area in the rear.
Kids’ menu: No.
Baby-friendly rating: —–

Via Quadronno
25 East 73rd Street (at Madison st),
New York, NY 10021
Phone: (212) 650 9880

Hours:
Mon-Fri 8am–11pm
Sat 9am–11pm
Sun 10am–9pm

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=via+quadronno&fb=1&gl=us&hq=via+quadronno&hnear=0x89c24fa5d33f083b:0xc80b8f06e177fe62,New+York,+NY&cid=0,0,4762130834165716547&ll=40.772687,-73.965233&spn=0.006295,0.006295&t=m&iwloc=A&output=embed&w=425&h=350%5D

Dylan's Candy Bar

November 8, 2012 / Manhattan Munchies, Upper East Side / 0 comment

While kids and teenagers on the ground floor whirl around the self-serve candy bar, minutes away from a sugar coma, upstairs is a bright, pastel haven where you and your little ones can sit in giant life-sized cupcake booths (excellent privacy for nursing mothers) and chug down sweet candy-themed cocktails from the bar. Savoury food is limited to pizza and build-your-own deluxe peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (add-ins include things like rice krispie treats, so this isn’t your typical sandwich). Their speciality is, of course, desserts, so be prepared for a sugar-high pretty much as soon as you walk in the door.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: No – but there is plenty of room for strollers to wheel around or sit at your table with you.
Easy access: Yes – an elevator to the 2nd floor where the cafe is housed.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: No – but most older kids will eat pretty much anything on the menu. Ice-cream – hello?
Kid-friendly rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Dylan’s Candy Bar
1011 3rd Avenue at 60th street,
New York, NY 10065
Phone: (646) 735 0078

Hours:
Mon-Thu 10am–9pm
Fri-Sat 10am–11pm
Sun 11am–9pm

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=dylan's+candy+bar&fb=1&gl=us&hq=dylan's+candy+bar&hnear=0x89c24fa5d33f083b:0xc80b8f06e177fe62,New+York,+NY&cid=0,0,7473195737351987267&ll=40.762165,-73.965826&spn=0.006295,0.006295&t=m&output=embed&w=425&h=350%5D

Serendipity 3

November 7, 2012 / Manhattan Munchies, Upper East Side / 0 comment

A place this cute and kitschy screams child-friendly – until you read the sign on the door that reads “Absolutely no strollers or carriages allowed in the restaurant”. The decor, with oversized clocks and stained glass lamps, is a vision out of Wonderland – but this land is for big kids, not toddlers and babies. When asked if they have highchairs, the server responds with a no – adding they have booster chairs however, which they don’t recommend we use because they’re not safe.

Having a heart-to-heart with a friend’s toddler, who is perched on the “un-safe” booster seats.

The tables are small and squished together, making it difficult to hold infants on your lap. Add to that slow service and a potential long wait for a table (half an hour on weekdays, up to an hour on weekends), and you’ve got a place that is best left till the kids are a lot older.

The redeeming feature of Serendipity 3 is that their meals are tasty and large portioned, including their speciality Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, which is large enough for four people to share.

Three ladies, three babies. Stealth baby in the baby carrier. Forbidden strollers ready to be deployed.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: No
Easy access: No – several stairs down into the restaurant, plus two flights of steep stairs if your table is in the upstairs section.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.
Kid-friendly rating: –—-

Serendipity 3
225 East 60th Street
between 2nd and 3rd Avenues
New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 838 3531
Serendipity 3 accepts a limited amount of reservations for lunch and dinner only, not for desserts. To make a reservation for lunch or dinner please call (212) 838 3531.

Hours:
Sun-Thur 11:30am to midnight
Friday 11:30am to 1:00am
Saturday 11:30am to 2:00am

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=serendipity+3+225+East+60th+Street+between+2nd+and+3rd+Avenues+New+York,+NY+10022&aq=&sll=40.697488,-73.979681&sspn=0.573686,1.347198&ie=UTF8&hq=serendipity+3+225+East+60th+Street+between+2nd+and+3rd+Avenues+New+York,+NY+10022&hnear=&radius=15000&ll=40.761776,-73.964943&spn=0.03582,0.0842&t=m&z=14&iwloc=A&cid=16942713096821584029&output=embed&w=425&h=350%5D

Alice’s Tea Cup

October 22, 2012 / Midtown East, New York, New York Food, Upper East Side, Upper West Side / 1 Comment

A little girl’s dream come true, this cafe chain is heaven for kids and adults alike. Delightful scones, a large menu of tea and whimsical decor make this a fun place to eat. While it’s definitely kid-friendly, it’s not so great for young toddlers and babies. On weekends there is a long wait (usually an hour), no reservations, and slow service.

Highchairs: Yes – a limited amount however. We were told during one visit that if wanted a table with a high chair it would be an additional wait time.
Stroller storage: Limited space. Bring a stroller that folds up if possible.
Easy access: No – lots of steps.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Yes.
Kid-friendly rating: ♥♥♥–

Alice’s Tea Cup
102 West 73rd St
New York
Phone (212) 799 3006

156 East 64th Street
Manhattan
Phone (212) 486 9200

220 East 81st Street
New York
Phone (212) 734 4832

Hours:
Daily: 8am-8pm

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&q=alice's+tea+cup&fb=1&gl=us&hq=alices+tea+cup&hnear=New+York&ll=40.746537,-73.980674&spn=0.077243,0.060719&t=m&output=embed&w=425&h=350%5D