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[title]Angelica Kitchen
300 E 12th St at Second Ave (212-228-2909, angelicakitchen.com). Subway: L to First Ave; N, Q, R, W, 4, 5, 6 to 14th St--Union Sq. Lunch, dinner. Average main course: $10. High chairs. Cash only.
The vegan pioneer has been an East Village mainstay since the 1970s, serving up health-conscious food made with organically grown ingredients from local farms. For palates not yet ready for "dragon bowls" teeming with tofu and sea veggies, the three-bean chili with sweet, Southern-style corn bread is a comforting alternative. Let them wash it down with fresh lemonade.
Back Forty
190 Ave B at 12th St (212-388-1990, backfortynyc.com). Subway: L to First Ave. Dinner, brunch. Average main course: $20. Booster seats.
Cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients has been a priority for Peter Hoffman (Soho's Savoy) since long before it was trendy. At his more casual East Village eatery, parents can sip Long Island--made wine and tuck into lemon-and-coriander-rubbed roast chicken. Steer youngsters toward the juicy grass-fed beef burger, one of the most impressive in town.
Bark Hot Dogs
474 Bergen St at Flatbush Ave, Park Slope, Brooklyn (718-789-1939, barkhotdogs.com). Subway: 2, 3 to Bergen St. Lunch, dinner, brunch. Average hot dog: $5.
Hot dogs from Hartmann's Old World Sausage in Rochester are the main attraction here, but brisket chili, salt-and-pepper fries and peanut butter shakes also make this a kid nirvana. Most ingredients are sourced within New York State.
Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Ave between North 11th and 12th Sts, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-963-3369, brooklynbowl.com). Subway: L to Bedford Ave. Lunch, dinner. Average main course: $14. Average kids' meal price: $10. Kids' menu, booster seats.
Usually, the alleys and eatery at wind-powered Brooklyn Bowl are reserved for those 21 and over. On weekends from noon to 6pm, though, tykes are welcome to slip into bowling shoes and enjoy Blue Ribbon's grease-free grilled chicken nuggets, or French bread pizza with a side of carrot and cucumber sticks. If you want more time to down a made-in-Brooklyn beer, keep the kids distracted with chocolate-chip bread pudding.
Buttermilk Channel
524 Court St at Huntington St, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn (718-852-8490, buttermilkchannelnyc.com). Subway: F, G to Smith--9th Sts. Dinner, brunch. Average main course: $18. Average kids' meal: $10. Kids' menu, high chairs, booster seats, changing tables.
Buttermilk Channel's locavore approach to food extends to the kids' meals. Precocious foodies can choose from a menu of gourmet bites like fresh pasta made at Caputo's down the street and a hanger steak straight from Creekstone Farms. The $10 prix fixe also scores them a clown sundae made with Brooklyn's Van Leeuwen ice cream.
Candle Caf
1307 Third Ave between 74th and 75th Sts (212-472-0970, candlecafe.com). Subway: 6 to 77th St. Lunch, dinner. Average main course: $15. Average kids' meal: $11. Kids' menu, high chairs.
Train budding vegans at this Upper East Side favorite. If they're not quite ready to tackle chipotle baked tofu, suggest the classic grilled seitan burger or Tuscan lasagna with tofu basil ricotta and seitan ragout topped with tomato sauce.
Cookshop
146 Tenth Ave at 20th St (212-924-4440, cookshopny.com). Subway: C, E to 23rd St. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch. Average main course price: $22. High chairs, booster seats.
Locally farmed ingredients and humanely raised animals are the focus of Five Points' sister restaurant. If a pizza laden with wild West Virginia ramps and Sarvecchio and crescenza cheese is too avant-garde for your kids, try winning them over with the fish and chips
Five Points
31 Great Jones St between Bowery and Lafayette St (212-253-5700, fivepointsrestaurant.com). Subway: B, D, F, V to Broadway--Lafayette St; 6 to Bleecker St. Lunch, dinner, brunch. Average main course: $26. High chairs, booster seats.
There's no children's menu here, but upon request, the kitchen can do a simple pasta and butter dish. Open-minded youngsters should find something appealing on the seasonal menu, which tends toward the comforting and wholesome: a pizza topped with golden Yukon potatoes, fontina and white truffle oil, or a grilled flat iron steak with fried potatoes.
The Farm on Adderley
1108 Cortelyou Rd between Stratford and Westminster Rds, Ditmas Park, Brooklyn (718-287-3101, thefarmonadderley.com). Subway: Q to Cortelyou Rd. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch. Average main course: $19. Average kids' meal: $7. Kids' menu, high chairs, booster seats, changing tables.
Ditmas Park families flock here for the cozy simplicity. The owners put a priority on sustainable ingredients, but your kids won't notice—they'll be too busy tucking into a Fleisher's beef hot dog or pasture-raised burger nestled inside an English muffin.
Franny's
295 Flatbush Ave between Prospect Pl and St. Marks Ave, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn (718-230-0221, frannysbrooklyn.com). Subway: B, Q to Seventh Ave; 2, 3 to Bergen St. Lunch (weekends only), dinner. Average main course: $16. Booster seats.
Misshapen pizzas with ingredients sourced from artisanal producers draw families to this eco-friendly hangout, where kitchen grease is converted into biodiesel fuel. Sophisticated toppings like house-made sausage and clams sate adults, while kids opt for the reliably good tomato and buffalo mozzarella version. Save room for dessert, and the chef's ever-changing roster of gelato flavors.
Juventino
370 Fifth Ave between 5th and 6th Sts, Park Slope, Brooklyn (718-360-8469, juventinonyc.com). Subway: F, M, R to Fourth Ave--9th St; M, R to Union St. Dinner, brunch. Average main course: $22. High chairs.
What started as a market devoted to semi-ready gourmet meals has evolved into a full-service eatery. The menu changes frequently; dinner depends on which ingredients are in season at the local farms. Kids with gourmet predilections might gravitate toward a dish like roasted chicken with cripsed sage and veggies, or a Berkshire pork chop.
Green Table
Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave at 16th St (212-741-9174, cleaverco.com). Subway: A, C, E to 14th St; L to Eighth Ave. Lunch, dinner, brunch (Sundays only). Average main course: $24. High chairs.
The dimly lit organic resto and wine bar is a perfect place for parents to relax with a pinot noir sans sprats, but well-behaved children are also welcome to tag along. Little ones can dig into grilled cheese and chicken pot pie while watching Chelsea Market bustle just outside.
Gusto Organics
519 Sixth Ave at 14th St (212-242-5800, gustorganics.com). Subway: F, V to 14th St; L to Sixth Ave. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch. Average main course: $22. Average kids' meal: $9. Kids' menu, high chairs, changing tables.
This airy eatery is 100 percent organic, down to the cocktails. Kids can choose from dishes like margherita pizza with grilled veggies and lean turkey meatballs. For parents, options include Argentine-style empanadas, risotto with grass-fed tenderloin beef, sweet corn, green peas, carrots—and dulce de leche martinis.
Habana Outpost
757 Fulton St at S Portland Ave, Fort Greene, Brooklyn (718-858-9500, habanaoutpost.com). Subway: C to Lafayette Ave; G to Fulton St. Lunch, dinner, brunch. Average main course: $7.50. High chairs, changing tables. Cash only.
Open just a few months out of the year (beginning April 14), solar-powered Habana Outpost is unlike any other restaurant in NYC: Its initiatives include rainwater flush toilets, and the use of sugarcane and corn utensils. While the food is reason enough for a visit anytime—well-executed rice and beans, Mexican grilled cheese quesadillas—if you come by on the weekends, little ones can get hands-on with supervised, eco-friendly projects.
Roberta's
261 Moore St between Bogart and White Sts, Bushwick, Brooklyn (718-417-1118, robertaspizza.com). Subway: L to Morgan Ave. Lunch, dinner, brunch. Average pizza: $16. High chairs, booster seats. Cash only.
In season, this green oasis located on an industrial Brooklyn block grows much of its own produce. The herbs and veggies find their way into hearty salads like the Travisano with miner's lettuce, roasted walnuts and dried cherry vinaigrette, and Neapolitan-style pizzas inventively topped with duck prosciutto and sweet potato. Simple Margherita pies come to the rescue for more finicky palates.
Rouge Tomate
10 E 60th Street between Fifth and Madison Aves (646-237-8977, rougetomatenyc.com). Subway: N, R, W to Fifth Ave--59th St. Lunch, dinner. Average main course: $29. High chairs, booster seats.
At this elegant Belgian import, locally sourced ingredients are transformed into dishes approved by the restaurant's in-house nutritionist, like the seasonal toasts served with wild mushrooms or heirloom cauliflower. Young diners may have a tough time keeping their eyes on their plates, rather than on the mesmerizing fresh juice bar.
Ronnybrook Milk Bar
Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave at 16th St (212-741-6455). Subway: A, C, E to 14th St; L to Eighth Ave. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Average main course: $10. High chairs.
Shakes are the star here, and with good reason: The creatively flavored drinks—think blueberry-pomegranate and chocolate orange peel—are made with milk from the renowned upstate dairy. Before they focus on dessert, kids can nosh on an avocado and fresh mozzarella sandwich, or house-made waffles.
Sage General Store
24-20 Jackson Ave between Pearson St and 45th Ave, Long Island City, Queens (718-361-0707, sagegeneralstore.com). Subway: E, V to 23rd St--Ely Ave; G to Long Island City--Court Sq; 7 to 45th Rd--Court House Sq. Breakfast, lunch. Average main course: $15. High chairs.
The owners of this inviting nook located near P.S. 1 are parents themselves, and are happy to create special meals for picky eaters. But with a roster of dishes like mac and cheese, tomato-basil soup and grilled cheese combos (crafted from locally farmed ingredients), there are plenty of choices for all but the pickiest eaters. If all else fails, point out the selection of house-made cupcakes and brownies.
Vesta
21-02 30th Ave at 21st St, Astoria, Queens (718-545-5550, vestavino.com). Subway: N, W to 30th Ave. Dinner, brunch. Average main course: $20. Booster seats.
Chef Michelle Vido's homey Italian menu stands out from those of other neighborhood trattorias thanks to her love of Greenmarket ingredients. Start kids off with a crispy Margherita pizza—go for the whole wheat crust version—then let them get their dose of veggies in the form of roasted asparagus. Reward good behavior with a slice of the signature baby Jesus cake (dense date spongecake finished with caramel sauce and unsweetened whipped cream), and you'll score more time to enjoy a flight of wine shots. If you linger too long, come back for the weekend brunch's fried-egg-topped hangover pizza.