Category: Things to do with kids: Kid-friendly Eats

Yes, a hundred other places in the city serve pizza and they all claim to make the best in town, but Two Boots has an innovative Cajun angle, a fusion of Italy and Louisiana that its name connotes. The spicy tomato sauce will make you sweat, and the eclectic ingredients on pizzas named after pop-culture icons like, Mrs. Peel, Cleopatra Jones, and Mr. Pink, will have you and your childen spending more time deciding than actually eating. Since the neighborhood joint is adamantly “kid friendly,” there are milder dishes for their delicate palates. Any moody patrons will be given a “pizza face,” with toppings arranged in a not-so-flattering food portrait.

Contact no: (212) 505-2276

Location: 37 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009

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After running hither and yon through the crowded streets of Chinatown, you might want a little quiet time. You can’t do better than a traditional Chinese tea ceremony at Ten Ren, the best-known shop for premium herbal tea. Have an elaborate tea ceremony with your children, or just relax and enjoy some green tea and conversation.

Contact no: (212) 349-2286

Location: 75 Mott Street, New York, NY 10013

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Shamefully, many American children grow to adulthood without tasting blackeye peas. For this problem Sylvia’s is the perfect solution. Tourists come from around the world in big buses just for a taste of Silvia’s delicious soul food, which if not the best in the world, is definitely the best in the city. The ribs are spicy, the chicken is expertly fried to crispy nirvana, the pork chops are smothered, and the potato pie is almost as sweet as your childrens’ satisfied smiles.

Contact no: (212) 996-0660

Location: 328 Lenox Avenue, New York, NY 10027

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Sugar Sweet Sunshine, in the heart of the revitalized Lower East Side, offers up a wide variety of handmade treats made with only the highest quality ingredients. Their cupcakes get the most attention, but we think their best items are the perfectly chewy oatmeal cookie, and their incomparable banana cream pudding. Kids don’t live on vegetables alone, so it’s up to you to provide a memorable alternative.

Contact no: (212) 995-1960

Location: 126 Rivington Street, New York, NY 10002

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Kids usually aren’t that adventurous when trying new foods, and in this case, that’s okay. This outdoor eatery in Madison Park specializes in ultra high-quality versions of burgers, fries and shakes, and they make what have to be considered the Platonic ideals of all three. Since the Shake Shack is only open during warmer seasons, people come out in droves as soon as the metal shutters roll open. Although the lines can be long on the weekends, Madison Square Park offers enough distractions in the form of live bands and other public performances that make the queue time fly by, preventing any antsy whining from your children or your spouse.

Contact no: (212) 889-6600

Location: 23rd Street and Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010

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With its original Tiffany lamps, lavender walls, Victorian mirrors, and beaux-artes furniture, this place is ridiculously cute. The ambience mimics Alice’s jaunt through Wonderland and the menu is chock full of everything from caviar omelets to country meatloaf, but it’s the frozen hot chocolate and drugstore sundaes that will warrant the wait in line. The self described “coffee-shop boutique” has a deep New York history, prime Upper East Side location, and unforgettable desserts which all contribute to its massive popularity. It’s possible to get a table without waiting during the week.

Contact no: (212) 838-3531

Location: 225 East 60th Street, New York, NY 10022

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Only in New York could there be a restaurant devoted entirely to mac and cheese. S’mac Specializes in the kid food staple, only dressed up and fancied up in various ways, making it almost as good as your homemade variety. From the standard all-American to the spicy Cajun, they do it all. Since some kids won’t eat anything but mac and cheese, this is a tricky way to get some mushrooms, cauliflower or spinach into their diets. Dishes come in three sizes, from medium to far-too-much.

Contact no: (212) 358-7912

Location: 345 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10003

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If you’re dining with kids, you’ll need to ask for extra napkins at this Kansas City-style Barbecue Spot in Chelsea. Although the sauce can be quite messy, no kid should be denied the joy of eating smoked ribs off the bone. It’s rare to be able to find barbecue of this quality in a big city, and urban children with rural family roots should be taken here to learn what real food tastes like.

Contact no: (212) 524-4300

Location: 208 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011

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We’ve never met a child who didn’t like french fries. The idea that any such kid could exist seems farfetched, especially after a trip here. Pommes Frites, in the East Village, makes Belgian style french fries and serves them in a paper cone, just as they do in Brussels. They’re just perfect; salty, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Keeping with authenticity, condiments include mayonnaise, peanut sauce, mustard and various curries. For more cautious children, yes, they have ketchup.

Contact no: (212) 674-1234

Location: 123 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003

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There are dozens of theme restaurants in New York of varying degrees of quality. Most are crowded, overpriced and generally unpleasant. Ninja New York is a rare exception to the rule. Labyrinthine, torch-lit dining rooms decorated to look like an ancient ninja castle will dazzle young diners so much they’ll forget they don’t like sushi. Excellent steaks are available however, in the case that spicy tuna roll is still out of the question. Food is served by ninjas, who drop from the ceiling without warning to display their swordsmanship and serve your food.

Contact no: (212) 274-8500

Location:  25 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013

Learn more here.