Times Square. It’s the center of the world, the center of the theater district and it can seem so overwhelmingly busy, hectic and crazed. But it’s also the New York City neighborhood with some of the most family-friendly restaurants in town—that not only cater to kids but welcome them with open arms. We scoured the streets surrounding the Broadway district to find some of the best spots for pre- and post-theater eats. Read on for our 10 favorites:
Where: 200 W 44th Street, New York, NY
At Carmine’s, big portions to-be-shared have been served to locals for more than 25 years. At this bustling Times Square fave, family-style Italian food such as Chicken Parmigiana and Shrimp Scampi can’t be beat. Do what you can to save room for dessert, too, as Carmine’s mouthwatering Titanic dessert, a gigantic banana split featuring six scoops of ice cream, hot fudge, strawberries, whipped cream, roasted hazelnut, two caramelized bananas and an entire chocolate torta will keep you pleasantly full through the entire performance of Hamilton, should you be lucky enough to score tickets.
Where: 258 W 44th St, New York, NY
A relative newbie to the Times Square scene, Sammy’s House of BBQ is helmed by pit master ‘Big Lou’ Elrose who believes it’s never too early to appreciate good barbecue. To that end, he created the Little Pit Master’s Menu, offering six entrée choices, including the Alabama Junior Chicken (a quarter smoked chicken with white sauce), homemade creamy cheesy classic macaroni and cheese and a slider duo, with choice of Texas brisket, Alabama smoked chicken or Carolina pulled pork). Everyone will walk out stuffed—and happy.
Where: 152 W 44th St., New York, NY
Ever since 1994, Virgil’s Real Barbecue has become one of those go-to BBQ joints you’ll never forget. Walk in and you’ll instantly breathe in the smell of hickory smoked meats, from pork spare ribs to Texas beef brisket. Served in typical southern style, the portions are plentiful and you’ll welcome the extra-absorbent towel at your place setting as you just may need to dab away all that barbecue sauce from the corners of your mouth. Kids under eight can order from the kids’ menu, sampling everything from Memphis ribs to a barbecued quarter chicken and all kids’ meals are served with mac n cheese and vegetable crudité. Need we say more?
Where: 6 Times Square, New York, NY
Should you want to luxuriously dine while still keeping your kids happy, head right over to Charlie Palmer at The Knick, located right in the heart of Times Square. At this fourth floor restaurant, featuring Chef Palmer’s passion for market-driven ingredients that draw upon locally sourced foods, you’ll expand your palate with options like sea bass served with asparagus puree or double ranch filet of beef with lentils and baby spring veggies while your little one gets to pick from such kids’ menu mainstays as fish strips, sliders, penne and, even, peanut butter and jelly on toast.
Where: 150 W 46th St, New York, NY
There’s something very appealing about Le Marais, a vintage feeling French kosher steakhouse with a full refrigerated case stocked with signature meats up front. This cozy restaurant is miraculously serene considering the fact that it’s just a half-block from sidewalks teeming with tourists. And, while there’s no kids’ menu per se, the sliders, steak frites and the croquettes de riz (fried rice balls with mushrooms) are sure to appeal to adventurous eaters in your family.
Where: 1650 Broadway, New York, NY
Step into Ellen’s Stardust Diner and we promise you’ll instantly get in the mood for theater. Between the world-famous singing waitstaff (keep a close eye on your server as he or she might play a starring role on Broadway one day) and the history of Ellen’s (it was once a gathering place for civil servants and politicians including Ed Koch who would come on their birthday and donate as many pies as their age to charity) you might dismiss the place as touristy but it truly isn’t. Kids six or younger can opt for mozzarella triangles and fries or a cheeseburger and fries from the kids’ menu. No matter what they eat, trust us, they’ll be mesmerized by a truly only-in-New-York experience.
Where: 712 9th Ave, New York, NY
Run by a mother-daughter team, Zora’s Café might be an avenue or so off the main theater drag, but with kid-friendly dishes like macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, hushpuppies and made-from-scratch yellow cake with chocolate frosting, your kids will love everything they get to taste here. Two bonuses: Dishes are cooked by co-owner Linda Browne, a retired United States Air Force physician and former caterer, in a healthier manner, with vegetable oil substituted for the traditional lard and there are nearly 10 gluten-free items on the menu to choose from, too.
Where: 155 W 43rd St, New York, NY
If you want yummy food served in a very sleek setting, you can’t go wrong with a diner meal served at the Brooklyn Diner. Kids gravitate, of course, to the grilled cheese and fries but we can bet they’ll also love the 15-bite Brooklyn Diner frankfurter, noodle kugel, three cheese mac-n-cheese and, for a complete sugar rush, Tony Bennett’s Famous Thick-Cut Cinnamon-Raisin & Pecan French Toast.
There’s a reason Havana Central has been churning out tasty Cuban treats for 15 years running. The airy high-ceiling spot, dotted with palm trees and lazily twisting ceiling fans, aims to please little diners, too. We love that the kids’ menu is out of the box, offering chicken and rice (sides include either broccoli, salad or beans) or a quarter roast chicken with sweet potato fries. Reservations are recommended around pre-theater or post-theater time when the crowds begin forming.
Where: 123 W 44th St., New York, NY
Another old-time Times Square fave: Café Un Deux Trois, a French restaurant with sparkly chandeliers and a warm, friendly atmosphere that feels like you’ve just taken a walk through Paris’ sunny streets. Opened in 1977, the restaurant is as kid-friendly as you can get with open stroller parking by the bar and an ample kids’ menu that features a hamburger ‘classique’ or lightly breaded chicken strips with fries. Still the piece de resistance: Dessert is included and it’s not just any sweet treat but a generous portion of vanilla ice cream with homemade hot fudge and a cherry on top. Magnifique!
Photo credits: Carmine’s, Virgil’s, Le Marais, Flickr/Luiyo, Zora’s Cafe, Flickr/Ronny, Flickr/Ryan, Cafe Un Deux Trois
