Kid-Friendly Restaurants Kids Will Love
It isn’t easy eating out with kids. Even if your children have excellent restaurant manners, keep their voices to a quiet whisper, and know which fork to use in an upscale restaurant, you may still get looks from other diners. If you have children who’d rather play drums with their spoons, you know how real the struggle is.
Yet, the best way to teach kids how to behave in restaurants is to eat out frequently. So…what are some of the best restaurants in New York City where kids can (more or less) be kids?
Max Brenner Chocolate Bar Serves Up Chocolate-y Treats You’re never too young to have a love affair with chocolate. Max Brenner may be a “Chocolate Bar,” but all ages are welcome. Located at 841 Broadway in Union Square, Max Brenner serves up delectable chocolate delights, from shakes to sundaes, cakes, and more. Favorites on the children’s dessert menu include the “chocolate shot” that kids can squirt directly into their mouth, and Max’s Palace Famous Chocolate Mess Party made for one or two children. The children’s food menu has a choice of the usual entrées, including pasta, burgers, and mac and cheese, for just $9 each.
Sugar Factory Will Give Your Kids Sweet Dreams The Sugar Factory has a restaurant in New York City – One in the Upper West Side. The Sugar Factory is that rare combination of upscale and kid-friendly. You can order a $1,000 fondue package complete with gold-dusted chocolate bars. But the kids will probably be just as happy with an “insane milkshake” that will only set you back $19. Both adults and kids will want to indulge in a 60 oz. goblet, a sweet signature drink made with or without alcohol. Little Ladies Love American Girl The American Girl Café on the lower level of the flagship store in Rockefeller Plaza isn’t just kid-friendly – it’s made for children (and their dolls). Your child’s American Girl (or American Boy) doll joins the family in a high chair all their own while you dine on moderate portions of simple meals like mac and cheese, pizza, pasta, or a grilled chicken sandwich. Take a Trip to Alice’s Tea Cup Whether you love Alice in Wonderland or just want the experience of high tea in a kid-friendly venue, Alice’s Tea Cup transports you to a magical land. With locations on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, and on East 64th Street at Lexington Ave, when hunger strikes you are never very far from Alice’s Tea Cup. Enjoy a light lunch, or tea for two with a selection of scones, cakes, and your choice of sandwiches. Alice’s Tea Cup is allergy-aware and also offers vegetarian and gluten-free menu items. We’ve intentionally left popular chains like Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock Café, and Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Company off this list. Not because they aren’t great choices, but because they are easy to discover on your own. Children will undoubtedly love the décor, music, and menu selections at these restaurants – and no one will hear your kids over the din. But why not explore the city and embrace lesser-known kid-friendly restaurants to give the entire family a taste of something new?
(Photo by Sugar Factory)