karlth

Good one preferably

Kids are 3 and 5.

Decor and ambiance is of no importance, just that it tastes great. Italian would be nice.

Any ideas?

nyer

NYC is a big place! Even Manhattan is pretty big...
Is there a specific part of town you want to be in? And how much do you want to spend per adult? Are you looking for place that actually has a kids menu?
Many places will be more hospitable to small children earlier in the evening(assuming you are talking about dinner)

nytraveler

Most upscale restaurants are not set up for small children - even if you eat very early.

Frankly I would stick to neighborhood places in areas with lots of families - like the upper wet side. They are more used to seeing kids - and if you eat early you should have no problems.

If you really want to find out if the kids will be welcome you can call and ask if they have child seats - most places won't.

For Italian you could try Isabella's on the upper west side - near the Museum of Natural History and so used to seeing kids. And if you eat before 7 the places should be fairly empty.

Ryan

I agree that a neighborhood guideline would help. Telling you about a place I like in midtown makes no sense if you're planning on being downtown.

shoefly

John's Pizzeria, Times Square - And it's good too!

http://www.johnspizzerianyc.com/index2.htm

curiouser

Celeste on the upper West Side is a friendly neighbourhood place that works with kids.

NewbE

We saw lots of families with kids at Pastis in Meatpacking District--loud, friendly atmosphere, great French bistro food.

mclaurie

Most restaurants would be fine if you don't eat at prime time. NYers eat dinner later than other places, so most places for dinner at 5-6 should be ok with kids, esp. if they're well behaved.

Here's a list of Italian places that are judged to be kid friendly

http://menupages.com/restaurants.asp...=0&ft=9&sort=2

emcash

my dh and I once ate osteria del circo and there were alot of families with children-- most seemed European with very well behaved children, who acted as if dinner at 9 was nothing new to them.

mp

A fun place downtown that's easy for families and has good food is Otto - Mario Batali's pizza restaurant on East 8th Street and 5th Avenue in central Greenwich Village. - big tables, reasonable prices, will adjust the menu for kids, lots of space (for Manhattan).

Take the advice from other posters - dine early, uses neighborhood places, be considerate of other diners and you'll be fine - there are a million kids in NYC - they all eat somewhere . . .

Aduchamp1

Lombardi's pizza on SPring Street. Not only is it the best pizza in the City but they often show the ovens to the small children.

Bubby's downtown. There are more children per table than any other restaurant in the city and occasionally a celeb that lives down there comes in.

Virgil's in the theatre district.

doug_stallings

John's Pizzeria is a very good place for kids. The one in Times Square is big and busy but the lines move quickly, and the pizza is very good.

You could also try Ruby Foo's for Chinese on Broadway at about 49th Street.

Rosa Mexicano, which is a giant Mexican restaurant near Lincoln Center, is an excellent family spot.

Virgil's is good, but I find the food to be increasingly mediocre.

The recommendation to go to neighborhood restaurants is a good one. Many places on the Upper West Die are very family friendly.

Dim Sum is a traditional family meal on weekends, especially in Chinatown, and great fun. There are alot of threads on good dim sum in NYC.

Carmine's does a pretty good job with families, but you should choose the one on the Upper West Side instead of in Times Square.

There's also a family-style Italian restaurant called Osso Buco on University Place in the central Village. I think there's a second restaurant on the Upper East Side.

In the heart of Times Square, Junior's is a pretty good family place and not at all expensive.

I hope these help.

mp

Upper West Die, Doug? a not so subtle dig referencing the decreasing elderly population?

doug_stallings

Sorry ... inadequate typing on my part. While I'm not the biggest fan of the Upper West SIDE, I'd never wish it, or the people who live there, ill.