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Brooklyn
Diner USA
212 W. 57th St., near Seventh Ave.
212-977-2280
thefiremangroup.com
It’s comfort-food heaven: Big, brash, Brooklyn-size
portions of exuberantly non-diet Americana like pigs-in-a-blanket
and too-rich-to-finish macaroni and cheese. Dodgers memorabilia
dominates the atmosphere. (M)
Brother
Jimmy’s BBQ
1644 Third Ave., at 92nd St.
212-426-2020
1485 Second Ave., near 77th St.
212-288-0999
428 Amsterdam Ave., near 80th St.
212-501-7515
brotherjimmys.com
Children under 12 eat free off the kids’ menu at these
surprisingly good southern BBQ restaurants, where huge portions
reign and postcollegiate frat boys come to prolong their glory
days. For better or worse, the bar and TV scene is so loud
that you can’t hear your own kids scream. (I–M)
Bubba
Gump Shrimp Co.
1501 Broadway, at 44th St. 212-391-7100 You gotta try this
place once. It’s loud, it’s huge, and it’s
definitely Times Square. The food is a combination of Cajun
and seafood (do you remember what Bubba loved to catch?).
There’s a good children’s menu; you signal the
waitress with a “Stop, Forrest, Stop” sign; and
don’t even ask what happens if they find out you’ve
never seen the movie. It’s best to ask for Mama Gump’s
private room so you can have a little sanity. (M)
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| The comfort food at Bubby's is a perennial
family favorite. (Photo Credit: Kristine Larsen) |
Bubby’s
Pie Co.
120 Hudson St., at N. Moore St.
212-219-0666
1 Main St., at Plymouth St., Dumbo, Brooklyn
718-222-0666
bubbys.com
The kitchen at Bubby’s is slowly becoming more sophisticated,
but what this Tribeca favorite still does best is simple food.
Grown-ups and kids love the salads, potato pancakes, and the
fluffy buttermilk biscuits, not to mention the mac and cheese,
fries, and chicken fingers. The restaurant’s origin
as an actual pie company means the desserts are fabulous.
A giant new Dumbo location extends the franchise to Brooklyn.
(M)
Cafe
Con Leche
726 Amsterdam Ave., near 96th St.
212-678-7000
424 Amsterdam Ave., near 81st St.
212-595-7000
The kids love the fried plantains, the waitresses love the
kids, and you’ll love the caipirinhas, mojitos, and
yummy batidas. Insiders’ tip: Paella for two is enough
to feed one adult and two kids, and it’s saffron-free,
so even finicky kids will actually eat it. (I–M)
Café
Un Deux Trois
123 W. 44th St., near Sixth Ave.
212-354-4148
cafeundeuxtrois.biz
Always a safe bet for a pre- or post-theater family outing,
Café Un Deux Trois serves predictable French favorites
like French onion soup, salade niçoise, and steak-frites,
with a side order of butcher paper and crayons for the little
ones. (M–E)
Capsouto
Frères
451 Washington St., at Watts St.
212-966-4900
capsoutofreres.com
This downtown bistro is a tryst magnet and might not seem
like a family spot, but if you’re looking to introduce
your kids to fine dining, this is the place to do it. The
setting is lovely, the service accommodating, and the soufflés
legendary. They’ll even make special dishes for children.
(M–E)
Carmine’s
2450 Broadway, near 90th St.
212-362-2200
200 W. 44th St., near Broadway
212-221-3800
carminesnyc.com
Great for an entire New York family (and, judging by the tourist
load, every other family from here to the boondocks), Carmine’s
serves up heaping platters of red-sauced, family-style pastas
and parmigianas at bargain prices. No one leaves without a
doggie bag. (I–M)
Carnegie
Deli
854 Seventh Ave., at 55th St.
212-757-2245
carnegiedeli.com
Your child’s New York education isn’t complete
until he or she has tried to finish a Carnegie sandwich. A
local icon where many a kid has been introduced to his or
her first corned-beef and pastrami. (M)
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