If you’re tired of eating at the local diner with the littles, or the grandparents are in town and you all want to go out for a nice brunch, have no fear. There are plenty of upscale restaurants in Manhattan that welcome kids and families with open arms. (We swear!)
“At every level of dining, but especially at the very high-end, hospitality is central to the experience we seek when we dine out,” says Melissa Elders, a Brooklyn mom and founder of Nibble+squeak, a group that gathers families with young children around the table together, and creates a welcoming atmosphere for them (often by arranging to take over an entire restaurant for a special meal or event). “It’s important for restaurants to treat everyone—of all ages, genders, and so forth—equally, but also with civility.”
Of course, when we dine out with kids-in-tow, parents have a responsibility towards the restaurant and other guests, too, which is often difficult to balance, adds Elders. “We’re all basically trying to avoid disaster, which can create a lot of pressure and anxiety for parents!”
Helping to make that dining process easier is just one of the many reasons we love these 12 eateries in Manhattan. Everyone from owners to chefs understands that making kids (and their parents!) feel comfortable is an essential part of the dining experience. After all, exposing your city kid to fancier dining experiences and new types of cuisine is essential—they are the future foodies of NYC.
1. Agern, Midtown East
Aliza Eliazarov
89 E 42nd St
New York, NY
Where: Agern introudces little eaters to a range of flavors (including lots of tasty veggies) with an Icelandic twist. “It’s important to welcome young diners if we want to change eating habits,” says general manager Katie Bell. Exposing little ones to new foods, like the restaurant’s signature pork belly and smoked salmon, helps them become more independent and courageous diners. Keep an eye out for the annual Kids Table event—Agern, along with other area eateries, open their doors to kids only!,
2. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, Midtown West
Del Frisco’s
1221 6th Ave
New York, NY
Where: This midtown steakhouse combines fancy meals with classic kiddie favorites, making the transition from kids’ foods to grownup menu easy. “As a father myself, I know how a special a family dining experience is and how hard it can be to find a restaurant where the entire family can enjoy themselves,” says general manager Orlando Santana. “We pride ourselves on providing families with an incredible meal that will create a lasting memory.” And, trust us, your kiddos will remember the Del Frisco’s prime cheeseburger, wagyu french dip and huge list of sides including lobster mac & cheese and onion rings, long after you’ve paid the bill. (Plus, the restaurant is loud, so nobody cares if your tot throws a bit of a tantrum!),
3. Dirt Candy, Lower East Side
Dirt Candy
86 Allen St
New York, NY
Where: Chef and owner Amanda Cohen admits that brunch isn’t always the best meal of the day to have to work. “Who wants to get up in the morning!” she says. “But one of the things that makes it worthwhile is to look around the dining room and
see so many families having a good time. Call me corny, but it honestly means a
lot to me when I see a family sit down around a table and enjoy a meal
together.” Families even flock to Dirt Candy on Monday nights when the eatery turns into a pop-up Canadian bar. The menu is limited (think cheese fries and nachos), but perfect for little diners. “So far, I can’t
keep kids away from the Moose Ears, which are big flat fresh doughnuts covered in Nutella, Maple Butter, or PB&J.”,
4. Jack’s Wife Freda, West Village and Soho
Mikey Pozarik
224 Lafayette St
New York, NY
Where: Yes, both of these outposts are cozy, but they’re also very accommodating to families with strollers. “I’m
a mom myself with two little boys,” says owner Maya Janelowitz. “It’s challenging enough to push your
stroller down the city streets, let alone walk into a
restaurant with that stroller. So, even if Jack’s Wife Freda looks small and cramped, don’t be scared to come in! We will always make space for strollers.” Everyone on staff is “pro-baby,” adds Janelowitz. “We hand out puzzles, crayons, and
stickers, and we also have a cute kids’ menu called ‘Granny Freda’s Grandkid’s
Menu’ curated by our own kids.” Plenty to keep your kids busy while you take another bite of that Madame Freda, a pressed sandwich with duck prosciutto, cheddar béchamel, gruyere and a sunny side up egg.,
5. Loring Place, West Village
Aliza Eliazarov
21 W 8th St
New York, NY
This new cafe is a great way to introduce your kids to seasonal, locally prepared cuisine. Loring Place’s menu incorporates lots of veggies into its savory dishes—we love the Butternut “Fries” with parmesan dressing and the Wood-Grilled Broccoli Salad. There are also tasty pizzas on the menu, perfect for your kids to share—they’ll especially love the Portobello Mushroom pizza with mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. “We
worked with OXO to obtain really great booster seats and highchairs, and we
always ensure we have colored pencils and coloring materials onsite as well,” says chef, owner and dad of two Dan Kluger. It’s working: Jo G., a Manhattan mom, says the restaurant made her two daughters feel right at home. “They
even have two mocktails called the Georgia and Bella inspired by the
chef’s daughters,” she tells us.
6. Ristorante Morini, Upper East Side
Ristorante Morini
1167 Madison Ave
New York, NY
Where: “We opened Ristorante Morini
as an Upper East Side neighborhood restaurant, with the expectation that
families would make it their local and regular favorite spot,” says Ahmass Fakahany, CEO and owner of the Altamarea Group. And, good news: They’ve more than succeeded! With pastas like spaghetti and rigatoni to hearty entrees like chicken
and flank steak, this uptown eatery is the perfect fine dining experience.,
7. NoMad, Flatiron
Daniel Krieger
1170 Broadway
New York, NY
Where: NoMad’s space is elegant yet approachable, and will make your little ones feel like “big kids.” Their menu items incorporate fancy ingredients with meals your kids are familiar with like the Chicken Burger with a black truffle mayo, pickles and fries on the side (tasty!), and the Roast Chicken for two, perfect to share with your little ones. It’s a great place to dine before or after a trip to Madison Square Park.,
8. Rosemary’s, Greenwich Village
Rosemary’s
18 Greenwich Avenue
New York, NY
Where: Located in the heart of Greenwich Village, Rosemary’s is a delicious Italian restaurant that introduces kids to fresh herbs and produce from their very own rooftop farm. (Too cool!) This spot makes their pastas in-house—we highly suggest the fresh penne with marinara. The kids’ menu has great options for hungry eaters like fresh tomato soup with grilled cheese, and gelato for dessert. Plus, there’s even child-sized silverware for the youngest patrons. “We love having multiple generations break bread with us—even if some of
it ends up on the floor!,” says owner Carlos Suarez.,
9. Sant Ambroeus, Upper East Side
Sant Ambroeus Hospitality
1000 Madison Ave
New York, NY
Where: Sant Ambroeus on the UES is kid-friendly by nature thanks its simple Italian food, gelato and cookies. There’s also an espresso bar where parents can get their caffeine fix. “We have customers who used to
come in as children and now come in as adults with their kids,” says brand ambassador Alireza Niroomand. The restaurant also has locations in the West Village and Soho (one local mom tells us that the owner at the Soho branch even held her friend’s baby while they got settled at the table…talk about being baby-friendly!).,
10. Untitled, Meatpacking District
Tim Schenck
99 Gansevoort St
New York, NY
Where: Museum dining sure has gotten an upgrade. Conveniently located in the Whitney Museum of Art, Untitled is a favorite with families visiting the art institution. “It’s
only natural that Untitled would welcome families given
that it’s adjacent to a cultural institution that does the same,” says general manager Gia SanAngelo. Here, all members of the family can enjoy seasonal food prepared in unique yet simple ways (think burgers, flatbreads, salads and fried chicken). “We do offer a kids’ menu,” adds SanAngelo, “but we often find little ones like to try
items from our regular menu!”,
11. Vaucluse, Upper East Side
Vaucluse
100 E 63rd St
New York, NY
Where: Parents can enjoy a selection of French dishes, like oysters and Boeuf Bourguignon, from Chef Michael White’s menu, while little foodies chow down on Vaucluse’s house-made pasta. Kids will especially like the brunch menu, which includes fresh pastries like chocolate croissants, apple turnovers and honey cakes. (It’s like dessert for breakfast!),
12. Landmarc, Tribeca and Columbus Circle
10 Columbus Circle
New York, NY
179 W Broadway
New York, NY
Landmarc is fancy enough for an
adults-only meal, yet also incredibly family-friendly (if the long
line of parked strollers out front of its Time Warner Center location is
any indication). Kids can choose from a wide selection of menu items, including
pizza, chicken burgers and pigs in a blanket. The MyPlate Specials dishes follow the new USDA dietary guidelines and include a whole wheat quesadilla and grilled chicken with farro. The best part—the
cotton candy and homemade caramels at the end of the meal! Adults, on the other hand, will want to try the salmon, lamb shank or filet mignon.
Note: While all restaurants have high chairs, only Landmarc and Untitled have changing tables.
