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Garden River Cafe; Kid-Friendly Cafes, Moorebank, Sydney

July 7, 2014 / Moorebank, South West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 8 Comments

I love nothing more than a good surprise. And that’s exactly what I found inside Flower Power Moorebank. When a friend suggested we take the kids to lunch and play inside Flower Power, I was somewhat dubious. She was, however, absolutely correct in every way.

The Garden River Cafe, inside Flower Power Moorebank, serves up delicious fresh food for the whole family. They have a daily breakfast and lunch menu, which includes a kids’ menu. The cafe looks out over the garden area, filled with gorgeous leafy plants, so the it’s a peaceful place to stop for a bite and coffee. Attached to the cafe is a fantastic little fenced-in playground, perfect for preschoolers.

We ordered babyccinos as soon as we arrived to satisfy the kids. They came in cute, non-breakable cups with marshmallows on the top. Our hot chocolate and coffee arrived quickly and soon the whole party was revitalised and ready to play.

We visited during the school holidays when Flower Power were running a special family gardening program. Every day between Monday 7th July and Friday 11th July 2014 Flower Power stores in NSW are holding a free gardening class for kids at 11am. Classes are suitable for kids aged three and over (with a parent helper). Each child gets to decorate their own pot and plant a seedling to take home. Our kids were offered the choice of a vegetable or flower to start their own home garden.

The class was run by a sweet, patient staff member. Two of the kids in our group were under three and were still able to participate and enjoy themselves. They were all so proud of their new plants at the end of the class.

Once we’d potted our plants, it was time for lunch in the cafe. We set up at the corner table closest to the playground so the kids could play while we waited for the food to arrive.

All of our meals were beyond what I’d anticipated I’d receive at a gardening shop. My haloumi mediterranean vegetable stack ($16) was absolutely delicious, and I could have gone back for a second one. Excuse the lack of photos, eating was done while chasing the children around the garden. Yes, we’re still working on sitting down at a cafe for lunch …

After another big play session, it was time to go home, with our exhausted, content children. Victory! A successful, fun outing for us all. We will be back.

Last bite: Great food in a casual environment with plenty to entertain the kids.

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

Garden River Cafe
122/124 Newbridge Rd
Moorebank
Phone: (02) 9734 7795
Hours: Daily
Get Directions

Revolver Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Annandale

June 16, 2014 / Annandale, Inner West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

One of the Inner West’s best cafes, Revolver, lives in the historic ‘Craiglea’ building on a quiet street in Annandale. Built in 1893, the Craiglea was originally intended to be a pub, but instead opened as a corner store that traded until 2005. After a three-year refurbishment, the run-down shop reopened as Revolver — a super kid-friendly cafe with absolutely delicious food.

We visited on a quiet weekday, and were surprised to see the majority of tables full. Locals told us that on weekends you can expect to line up for a table.

So what makes Revolver so special? Firstly, the staff. They were so incredibly welcoming and friendly to us, particularly to our smallest diner. When we ordered food for her, they suggested modifications of traditional menu items to suit her better. Secondly, the food. It was so good. Not surprising when we learn that Revolver really focus on fresh, quality ingredients, many of which are free range and organic. They have plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options, and source ingredients from quality suppliers like Feather and Bone, Mirrool Creek Lamb, Morgan’s Handcrafted coffees and Riverina Fresh milk. To be honest, they had me at the Sonoma Sourdough.

As well as their eat-in menu, the cafe offers a great range of locally hand-made pastries, cakes and biscuits.

Lastly, Revolver is very reasonably priced. With all boxes on our list ticked, Revolver is cafe that we will be returning to over and over again.

So on to our visit. After recently returning to Australia from New York, Alec was excited by his flat white ($3.50), which he proclaimed to be as good as the best coffee he was able to get while in New York. The way to this boy’s heart is through a good coffee. Since Missy E enjoys talking coffee with her daddy, we ordered her a Babycino with marshmallow ($1.20). This was the second time we’d tried her with a babycino and this time was a success. She loved the marshmallow and sipping her “coffee” after “cheersing” coffee cups with Daddy.

I ordered a vanilla malt Old School Thickshake (large $6.6) to share with E. The staff very thoughtfully divided it into a large glass for me and a smaller cup with lid and straw for her. Delicious.

For our late breakfast we ordered Toast (Sonoma Sourdoughs: miche, soy and linseed, currant and apple, or white
Brioche Bakery: Gluten free, $6) for Miss E. It comes with the option of house-made jams, vegemite or peanut butter. We were offered the option of a half-serve (one slice) for our toddler. Again, super thoughtful.

I had the Avo Eggs (Scrambled eggs, avocado, roast tomato, Danish fetta, rocket, salsa verde and sourdough toast, $15.50 ). Every mouthful was like the best thing I’d ever eaten. Flavorful ingredients, and a mix of elements that I wouldn’t have though of myself, but that went together just so well. And the BREAD! The Sonoma Sourdough soy and linseed was dense and chock full of grains.

Alec’s Big Breakfast (Free range bacon, pork and fennel sausage, pork shoulder, baked eggs, roast tomato, roast field mushrooms in beans with sourdough toast, $18) was a hearty meal, all baked in the one pan.

After gorging ourselves on breakfast, we walked to a nearby playground to let E run off some steam. There is a small park on Annandale street, and a larger one in the reserve on adjacent Young street.

Last Bite: Revolver Cafe ticks all the boxes — delicious, affordable food, in a kid-friendly environment.

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

Revolver
291 Annandale St,
Annandale NSW
Phone: (02) 9555 4727
Prices: $$
Hours: Daily 8am-4pm
Get Directions

The Cottage Bar & Kitchen; Kid-Friendly Restaurants Balmain, Sydney

June 12, 2014 / Balmain, Inner West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

The Cottage Bar & Kitchen is a cosy restaurant and wine bar that feels like you’re dining at your granny’s farmhouse. Vintage and kitsch furniture, chalkboards, fresh flowers and old photographs add to the rustic charm. From the front the restaurant looks quite small, but the cottage layout creates an intimate environment, with small rooms spreading back to a newly-opened alfresco courtyard (with heat lamps, of course). The menu features plates to share and pizzas cooked in the huge pizza oven – one of the centre pieces of the venue. Great to show to wiggly kids who won’t stay in their chairs.

We ordered a freshly squeezed orange juice for E, House Cut Chips with the cottage ketchup and aioli ($8), Arancini of tomato, smocked mozzarella and parmesan ($12), Seared Scallops with pear and elderflower puree ($18) and the Margherita wood-fired pizza ($18). All of our food was delicious (I particularly enjoyed the arancini balls and pizza) but, after the juice and chips, there was a long wait for the rest of the food. Epically long. Luckily for us E was in a chilled out mood and enjoyed playing with stickers until it arrived.

While there was nothing particularly “kid-friendly” about the restaurant, the staff could not have been nicer. Our waitress was kind and sweet to our curious toddler and, as we were the first to arrive when they opened, she was able to roam around our small dining room, look out the windows and investigate the curios without bothering anyone.

Last Bite: A long and leisurely lunch awaits.

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

The Cottage Bar & Kitchen
342 Darling St,
Sydney NSW
Phone: 02 8084 8185
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-12am Sun 12pm-10pm
Get Directions

ABC Kitchen; Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Union Square, New York

June 9, 2014 / Manhattan Munchies, New York Food, Union Square / 0 comment

For the husband’s big 40th birthday, I decided to spoil him with lunch at ABC Kitchen. With Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten at the helm, I knew we were going to be in for a great dining experience. The restaurant is situated in the ABC Home store near Union Square. They have a seasonal menu with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients (where possible). Their menu alignes with the farm-to-table movement, and is free of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, insecticides, antibiotics and hormones. All of the food at ABC Kitchen is also GMO-free, and naturally and humanely sourced from regional farmers and fair trade cooperatives. The restaurant celebrates community and the future of the slow food movement.

Taking a toddler to a fancy lunch is always risky. I planned this lunch to get wiggly E to nap in her stroller on the way so we could get through at least part of lunch before she woke up. The staff couldn’t have been sweeter, finding us a table that accommodated our sleeping toddler in her stroller, and had a place set for her upon her awakening. In the best birthday gift of all time, E slept right through lunch, waking up when dessert was served. A happy birthday to Daddy indeed!

Since it was his birthday, Alec ordered the Wood Oven Roasted Maine Lobster with Oregano and Lemon-Chili Vinaigrette ($39). It was his first lobster ever, and he proclaimed it delicious. Together, we shared a few smaller dishes: Roasted Kabocha Squash Toast with Fresh Ricotta and Apple Cider Vinegar ($12), Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mustard Vinaigrette ($11) and Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Cipollinis, Cashews and Maple Syrup ($10). The roasted squash toast was probably my favourite – I absolutely love the combination of ricotta and roasted squash. The flavors go together perfectly. I wasn’t a huge fan of the brussels sprouts – I found they were a bit bitter for my liking when paired with the mustard vinaigrette. Alec’s favorite was the roasted sweet potatoes with a hint of heat to them. For my main I had the Housemade Ricotta Ravioli with Herbs and Tomato Sauce ($23). It was absolutely delicious. Big fluffy pillows of pasta stuffed with creamy ricotta, and in a perfect tomato sauce.

For dessert we ordered the special, which, to be honest, I’ve forgotten what it was called (clearly not memorable!), and the Orange “Creamsicle” Tart ($10). The sweet staff put a candle in Alec’s dish and wrote a big “Happy Birthday!” on it in chocolate. With Little E to help him blow out the candle, Alec proclaimed it the perfect birthday lunch.

After eating we adjourned to nearby Union Square for play time.

Last Bite: High-end dining where kids are welcome. Reserve a table in advance so there’s no wait.

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

ABC Kitchen
35 E 18th St,
New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212) 475-5829
Prices: $$$
Hours: Mon-Wed 12pm–3pm, 5:30–10:30pm, Thurs 12pm–3pm, 5:30–11pm, Fri 12pm–3pm, 5:30pm–11:30pm, Saturday 11am–3:30pm, 5:30pm–11:30pm, Sunday 11am–3:30pm, 5:30pm–10pm
Reservations
Get Directions

Jack’s Wife Freda: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, SoHo, New York

May 26, 2014 / Manhattan Munchies, New York Food, SoHo / 0 comment

On what can only be called a crazy whim, we decided to brunch at Jack’s Wife Freda on an early spring morning. The wait for this restaurant is always out of control. We put our name down and went shopping during the hour and a half it took for our table to free up. The restaurant is absolutely tiny, and the tables are small and squished together. Not much room for baby stuff, so pack light and be prepared to leave the stroller outside.

What the restaurant lacks in certain kid-friendly accommodations, it makes up for in its friendly atmosphere: The staff were incredibly friendly (our server was a fellow Aussie!) and obligingly gave Missy E crayons to color in with, as well as a really cool pop out 3D elephant puzzle that entertained her for the majority of the time we were there.

There is a reason people line up for hours to get in: The food is absolutely delicious. The dishes are small, so order a few sides if you’ve been waiting for a while for your table. We ordered the Soft Boiled Eggs with Soldiers ($7) for missy E, Poached Eggs with Grilled Tomato and Haloumi ($12) for the three of us in our our party, and the French Fries ($5). Perfectly cooked eggs, great bread, fragrant tomatoes. Absolutely delicious.

Last Bite: Arrive when it opens for a better chance of a shorter wait, or put your name down and enjoy shopping in Soho. Your brunch will be worth it when you finally get it!

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

Jack’s Wife Freda
224 Lafayette St,
Manhattan, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 510 8550
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-12am Sun 10am-10pm
Reservations.
Get Directions

A Day Trip To The Cloisters, New York

May 22, 2014 / Cheese, Manhattan Munchies, New York Food, Travel, USA, Washington Heights / 0 comment

During the warmer months, a perfect family day trip is just north of the city at The Cloisters.

The Cloisters museum and gardens is the branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to medieval European art and architecture. The building and its gardens are located in Fort Tryon Park, in north Manhattan, just a hop, skip and a jump away on the A train.

The architecture and artistic works at the Cloisters are largely from the Romanesque and Gothic periods. Four reconstructed cloisters, sourced from French monasteries and abbeys, are surrounded by early medieval gardens and a series of indoor chapels and rooms.

Walking inside the Cloisters feels very much like stroll through Medieval European monastic life. This is by very intentional and clever architectural design combined with the five thousand medieval works of art on display from the Mediterranean and Europe, mostly from the 12th to 15th centuries.

To get to the Cloisters, take the subway to 190th Street station at the base of Fort Tryon and walk from there. The walk to the Cloisters takes visitors through an herb and flower garden. It’s a beautiful place to wander through, especially with the Hudson River as a backdrop.

The aren’t a lot of food options in the area. Your easiest options are: 1. Bring a picnic lunch; 2. Buy a pre-made sandwich or salad from the Cloisters cafe; or 3. A sit-down brunch or lunch at New Leaf Restaurant.

We chose New Leaf Restaurant & Bar. Housed in a 1930s cottage, the restaurant serves modern American cuisine. On weekends, brunch is served from 11am-3pm. We were given a table on the bright, airy patio, surrounded by trees. Tres tranquil.

While the restaurant is large, it fills quickly, and by 12:30pm it was at capacity. As New Leaf does not take reservations for brunch, get there early.

The brunch menu is a pre-fixe at $19.95 for an entree, juice and tea or coffee. We ordered a croissant ($5) for missy E while we looked at the menu in more detail. Oddly, the croissant came with chutney. The croissant was absolutely delicious, while on the small side (kid-sized, one might say, except E demanded another, making it the most expensive croissants we had ever ordered). Our group ordered New Leaf Scrambled Eggs (goat cheese, scallions, roasted potatoes, field greens), the Market Omelette (tomatoes, peppers, onions and your choice of cheese, with herbed-roasted potatoes, field greens) and the Hanger Steak Sandwich (with salad and potatoes). The portions for the most part were large by New York standards, and we all struggled to finish our meals.
New Leaf Restaurant, 1 Margaret Corbin Dr, New York, NY, Phone: (212) 568-5323

A short stroll through beautiful Fort Tryon Park takes you to The Cloisters.

My favourite part of the Cloisters was the Unicorn Tapestry collection. These seven individual pieces are among the most beautiful and complex works of art from the late Middle Ages that survive today, woven from fine wool and silk with silver and gilded threads.

Spring is the best time to visit The Cloisters as the gardens are in full bloom. The famous garden you see in all the photographs is filled with bright flowers and a fountain centerpiece.

The lower-level garden is home to plants one would have found in a garden in the middle ages, like herbs and vegetables. Take the time to explore the garden and the different plants on display – many of which you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

The purpose of the plants is explained throughout the garden: medicinal (like St. John’s-Wort, Hollyhock, MarshMallow, Meadow Clary, Liquorice, Comfrey, and Feverfew), magical (such as Bear’s Foot, Ragged-Robin, English Ivy, Cornelian Cherry, and Herb Robert) or for use in the kitchen (herbs like Winter Savory, Leek, Cardoon, Samphire, Chive, Small-Leaved Basil, and Red Valerian). As it was an herb garden and all the plants had such unique scents, we got down close to the gardens and smelled the aromatic plants such as spearmint and lavender.

Tips for taking kids:
We timed our visit so Cheese would nap in the stroller after lunch, so we were able to see most of The Cloisters before she woke up. Which was a good thing, as the museum is not so friendly for smaller kids. Babies in carriers and older children are the ideal candidates for this cultural experience.

There are lots of tiny stairwells and no ramps or elevators. You can’t leave strollers unattended. No food/water anywhere except in the cafe (including the gardens). Within the gallery rooms, keep children close as there are lots of fragile objects around.

To get to the Cloisters, take the subway to 190th Street station at the base of Fort Tryon. Directly outside of the station entrance is the Jacob K. Javits Playground, where we let Cheese run off steam before brunch. It’s a nice playground with swings, several climbing structures for children of all ages, and also space for scooting or basketball.

The Cloisters
99 Margaret Corbin Dr,
New York, NY
Hours: Daily, 10am-5:15pm
Prices: Recommended $25 per adult

Not Bread Alone; Kid-Friendly Cafes, Crows Nest, Sydney

April 22, 2014 / Crows Nest, North Shore, Sydney, Sydney Food / 4 Comments

Pre-baby, Not Bread Alone was one of my absolute favourite cafes. It was a pleasant surprise to find they are also super kid-friendly when I dropped by with E and some friends for brunch. Missy E was treated to her first Babycino ($2). I also ordered her some Hot Chips with tomato sauce ($4.50) in case she didn’t like the other food I ordered. I needn’t have wasted the money on the chips, as she devoured most of my meal anyway — lesson learned, the kid has good taste!

The adults in our party ordered: Lamb Shank (with creamy mashed potato, chef’s greens and a tomato and red wine jus, $20.90), Sweet Corn & Chive Fritters (with crispy bacon, baby spinach and oven roasted roma tomato, $16.90), Free Range Eggs (scrambled, poached or fried eggs with your choice of toast, $10.90) with Oven Roasted Roma Tomato ($4) and Baby Spinach ($4). Whenever I visit NBA, I always get the exact same dishes (the fritters or eggs) because they’re just SO DAMN GOOD. So good that I used to drive an hour or so to the cafe just for their breakfast.

On this particular visit, the staff were attentive and kind, especially to squiggly E who was also struggling with jet lag and a bit cranky. When they saw me taking photos of the food, they helpfully turned the plates to show off the meals to their best advantage (“We just had a lesson in food photography!” they told me. How awesome is that?).

The meal always ends on a sweet note — a few Fantails are always given with the bill. My friends didn’t want theirs, so I happily pocked them all for later (score!).

Last Bite: Always a winner for really great food, plus friendly, considerate staff. Outdoor, protected seating means you can make a quick escape or stroll around the block with fussy kids.

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

Not Bread Alone
376 Pacific Hwy,
Crows Nest NSW 2065
Phone: 02 9966 9788
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Sat 7:30am-11pm Sun 7:30am-5pm
Get Directions

Rosebud Cafe: Kid-Friendly Cafes Rozelle, Sydney

April 9, 2014 / Inner West, Rozelle, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Inner west suburb Rozelle is literally jam packed with cute little cafes, all vying for your attention. We picked Rosebud at the suggestion of our friends whom we were dining with that day. Arriving at prime lunch time, we had no problem getting a table for four adults, two toddlers and one baby, plus two strollers. Result!

The friendly staff gave the toddlers a few toys on loan to play with (THANK YOU!) while they waited for their kids smoothies ($3.50). Our food was all spot on — Shoestring Fries ($5.50), Omelette with Spinach, Feta, Mushroom ($16), Free Range Eggs (poached, with sourdough, $9), with Haloumi, Spinach and Tomatoes ($4 each side, or 3 sides for $10), Tuna Nicoise Salad ($16).

Last Bite: The perfect spot for lunch with kid. Easy-going atmosphere, delicious food and friendly staff. We will be back!

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

Rosebud
654 Darling Street,
Rozelle NSW 2039
Phone: 02 9555 8999
Prices: $$
Hours: Sun-Wed 7am-5pm Thur-Sat 7am-10pm
Get Directions

Franny’s: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Park Slope/Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, New York

March 19, 2014 / Brooklyn Bites, New York, New York Food, Park Slope, Prospect Heights / 1 Comment

Franny’s is a firm neighbourhood favorite for families. As well as serving up a great pizza pie, Franny’s is committed to sustainable agriculture. They buy locally grown foods and serve seasonal produce. The vegetables, fruits, eggs, dairy, and fish are largely sourced from local and/or organic producers; all the meats at Franny’s are from sustainable sources, containing no hormones or antibiotics. It’s a place you can go to and feel really good about what you are eating there.

While this is all well and good, the question remains . . . Are their pizzas any good?? We dropped in recently with some hungry friends and proceeded to test out a significant section of their pizza menu, in search of the perfect slice.

Franny’s is a goodly size, with plenty of seating and space. We arrived at peak lunch hour with a party of four adults and two wiggly toddlers and were quickly seated at our table. Missy E was in a particularly squirmy mood since we hadn’t had time to stop at a playground beforehand to wear her out (not the smartest move we’ve ever made, but thank God we had the iPhones). Franny’s was our destination of choice because I was really feeling pizza that day, and our friends were big Franny’s fans. They also have a lot of tables so you’ve always got a pretty good chance of being seated straight away with no wait, even with a party the size of ours (Franny’s only tasks reservations for parties of 8 – 12).

Our umbrella strollers were stored in their stroller and scooter parking space (note — bring a folding stroller only as there is no room for the jumbo ones inside).

The service was adequate but nothing special. Not particularly fast, even though we had two toddlers with us who really did not want to be sitting down for long. We ordered four pies (it seems like a lot, but hey, don’t forget that pizza is a toddler crowd-favorite!). Tomato, Buffalo Mozzarella and Sausage ($17); Tomato, Basil and Buffalo Mozzarella ($16); Wax Peppers, Onions, Olives, Oregano and Provolone Piccante ($17); and Tomato, Buffalo Mozzarella and Meatballs ($17).

The pizzas come as one giant pie, requiring you to cut it up with cutlery yourself. The pies are pretty big — larger than personal, but not as big as family. If you’re particularly hungry and are sharing with a pizza-loving toddler, you and any other adults you dine with may want to order as we did (ahem, one each). The base is soft and pliable, with a crisp bottom (no soggy pizza!) and the high-grade toppings deliciously melt together. I’d prefer the toppings to be closer to the edge of the pizza since I prefer a higher topping-to-crust ratio. The pizza tasted as a great pizza should — mouthfuls of slightly sweet tomato sauce and stringy mozzarella.

Missy E ADORES pizza and was in absolute heaven. With the DIY pizza-slicing, we could cut her pieces into the perfect size for little toddler hands. Luckily I’d remembered her disposable bib, which was absolutely integral to saving the adorable outfit I’d dressed her in that morning. E eats pizza with gusto, shall we say. And in large quantities. Two adult size slices vanished into her tummy like she was a Toddler Pizza Houdini that day. Amazingly she sat still while she was eating — it was literally the only time she sat still for an entire meal. The rest of her time at Franny’s was spent running up and down the bench Alec and I were seated on. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it before — but so far E is a vegetarian like me, so the only pizza she was sampling was mine.

Little E’s friend who was dining with us and her parents is a few months younger. Not quite so active, she’s usually happier to sit rather than stand/run/drive the servers wild like Cheese does. It was the cutest thing to watch the two little pizza fans gorging themselves, and knowing that at least it was a relatively healthy meal (for a pizza, I mean!). Pizza is often my fall-back for Cheese because I know she’s guaranteed to eat it. At Franny’s, at least I don’t feel so lazy for our meal choice, because of the super healthy ingredients.

For dessert, walk a few blocks over to Ample Hills Creamery to complete a day of deliciousness.

Last bite: Great pizza that will cost you a pretty penny but that you can feel really good about. Enjoy easting local, seasonal and organic produce, and give your kids some big chunks of pizza to gnaw on (and enjoy slicing it up yourself).

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

Franny’s
348 Flatbush Ave
New York, NY 11238
Phone: (718) 230-0221
Hours: Sun-Thur 12pm-11pm Fri-Sat 12pm-11:30pm

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