Baby Friendly NYC??
 

My husband, 5 month old daughter, and I are going to New York at the end of Sept. We need advice on things to do and especially RESTAURANTS we can go to that are baby friendly. We're expecting the eye rolling, but we'd like to minimize it.

Don't be to worried about the eye rolling. There are plenty of people who live in Manhattan with young kids. If in mid-town, the East 50's, east of 3rd Avenue, has plenty of neighborhood spots that are frequented by young families. The same is true of areas likes Soho, Tribeca and the Village, and the Upper East and West Sides.

We live just across the river in NJ and come into the city all the time with our two young children and have almost never had a problem. The only issue you may encounter is that some places may not allow strollers, for space reasons.

To make things a bit easier, you may want to consider eating eating a bit earlier than you might have sans child. Places will generall be less crowded and more child friendly before the prime hours.

Ryan's advice is great. In addition to eating early (6:30pm) & picking residential neighborhoods, there are places in the theater district that will also be kid-friendly. Any diner or luncheonette will also be fine. If you tell us where you'll be staying, we might be able to offer some specific suggestions.

If the weather is still good, the zoo in Central Park is fun for a stroll. If you're planning to use public transportation, make sure you have a stroller that's easy to collapse & carry.

Happy Holiday:)

We used to take our small and not so small children to Little Italy and Chinatown quite often, they loved the food and the waiters usually love children. There were more families eating there too.
Serendipity serves food and will have many children there at all times of the day and night.
A 5 month old is easy! There are so many places to eat in NYC...Soho, the Village are always good. The Upper West side is good.
You should have an easy time of it..enjoy!!

We'll be staying at the Roosevelt. Would love more restaurant suggestions. Our daughter is better with outdoor restaurants.

We took our daughter at that age. We kept her in a Snugli to keep her close and so we could go anywhere. I'm trying to remember if we stayed upstate or in Jersey that trip. Of course we went to the FAO toy store. During the day all the places to eat seemed very friendly. We didn't stay out late. We have cute photos of her by the Plaza and at Pier 17.

My daughter and her husband are going to a wedding in NYC this weekend, and I'm going along to watch my 9 mo. old granddaughter. We'd all like to go to a "nice" restaurant on Fri. eve., where it would be ok to go with the baby. We will, of course, go early. We'll be in the Murray Hill area but are willing to taxi. Any recommendations? Thank you.

There are TONS of restaurants in the Murray Hill area, all up and down 3rd Ave. There are also alot of cafes where you can sit outside and watch the city go by.

One of my favs is Soto Cinque on 29th and 3rd or a little further up is Rio Grande on 37th and 3rd or in between is the Backyard on 34th and 3rd, but honestly you won't have a problem.

Have a great time while you are here.

I would say the issue for both hhl123 & grandmere is-we've advised you to eat early BUT both Murray Hill & the area around the Roosevelt are business areas where many restaurants get an after work bar crowd that will not be baby friendly.

For Grandmere-for Murray Hill
if you like Mexican, you could try El Parador. This place has been around forever (the late 50's). It's in a strange location (34th betw 1st & 2nd) right near the entrance to the midtown tunnel. The decor is a bit tired, but the food is good (better than El Rio Grande IMO) & the service is VERY accomodating. It's not a scene like Rio Grande. The Madison Bistro on 37th & Madison does a big lunch business but I think is quieter at dinner & I don't think gets an after work bar crowd. It's good bistro food with nice service.

I've had a look in the Zagat guide for "child friendly" places & the nicest (IMO) restaurant they list is Campagna on 21 st betw Broadway & Park-a cab ride for both of you. I don't know why they are saying it's child friendly but I do know the food is EXCELLENT (tuscan) & the decor is lovely.

The Redeye Grill, again a cab ride away for both of you (7th ave & 56th) is also listed as child friendly in Zagats & has excellent American/seafood.

Thank you, wantsomesun and mclaurie; it helps to have some recommendations b/c, IMO, walking in off the street can be hit or miss, regardless of baby issue!

Thanks so much for the suggestions. Someone also said Isabella's... I don't remember it to be that Baby Friendly. What do you think?

I'm definitely willing to taxi anywhere. Are any of the "nice" restaurants baby friendly?

I once went to a touristy restaurant called Mars 2112, on Broadway in the 50's, not too far from Times Square and the Ed Sullivan theatre. The food was so-so and a bit expensive, but the place was definitely kid-friendly. I'd think that most of the chain restaurants around Times Square would be kid-friendly.

Geez, I don't want to go to NYC and eat in a chain. Friends have recommended, not necesssarily for babies: Positano, Isabella's, Bocconcino. Any thoughts about these, re babies?
My flight leaves at 7:45 tomorrow a.m., so I will soon quit obsessing about this! :-)

Popover Cafe on Amsterdam Ave. between 86th and 87th is decorated with teddybears and is not only family friendly but popular with celebrities, too. The first time I ate there, Mandy Patinkin was at the next table. A couple of months later, Tyne Daly was sitting there.

I have been to Isabella's for a weekend brunch & there were kids because it's a neighborhood place. Don't know about dinner.

hhl123, don't know what you mean by "nice" (ie Campagna & Redeye are nice to me). I'd suggest calling whatever restaurant you're interested in & asking them if a 5 month old would be welcome. If she's sleeping in her stroller, there's usually a table where they can accomodate you. My only other piece of advice-if she starts crying, take her outside to calm her down. Have a great trip.

Thanks so much for the suggestions... I guess when I said "nice" I meant famous/popular i.e. Vong, Blue Water Grill, Gramercy, Gotham, etc...

Blue Water Grill has an outdoor balcony, so on a balmy evening, I'd say that would be ok for an early dinner. Vong has a pre-theater prix fixe-that might be ok. Balthazar in Soho is listed on the Zagat child friendly list. As I said, I'd call & ask.

We had a wonderful lunch at Isabella's, and there were many babies/toddlers there. I asked about babies when I made the reservation. It was a lovely place to dine, with the beautiful weather and all the doors open. Great menu and delicious lunch.

The Madison Bistro was along our way from uptown back to our hotel, and it was all boarded up with a note saying that there had been some problem with the building and that they are temporarily closed. I was disappointed b/c the advertisements in the hotel 'zines looked very nice.

So I called Positano on Mulberry in Little Italy, and they assured us it was fine to bring the baby, also. We had a good dinner there; there was lots of activity in the street, so "baby noises" were actually drowned out!

One word of advice re strolling with babies: we walked from Isabella's at lunchtime on Columbus at W. 77 to the stores around the high E.50ies. By late afternoon we were ready to go back to our hotel on Lex. at 37th, and were absolutely unable to get a cab. We ended up walking the entire distance, which ended up being 40 plus blocks, since lunch! We thought of taking a bus, but were told we needed exact change (not bills) and did not have 24 quartersl(banks already closed) So, plan well! (Yes, perhaps we should have considered the subway!)

You had spectacular weather grandmere! Sorry to hear Madison Bistro was closed. I think your cab problem was baby, carriage plus 3 adults. I THINK 2 adults would have been easier.

BTW, you could have stopped in a deli or newstand to buy a metrocard for the bus.

Aha, mclaurie! Never thought of Metro card! I was sure glad I had worn comfy shoes! Bebe slept, and didn't object one bit to the long journey!

Forget to mention: for Sat. lunch we were in the Village and walked in a cafe for lunch; they didn't have a high chair, so we went on to another, Philip Marie, where they were very accommodating. Having/not having a high chair probably a definite statement about baby-friendliness!