I'm meeting family @ the Beacon (Broadway at 75th) and will be taking them out to dinner. We'll have a 2 and a half year old with us and so we need a place that, while nice with good food (averaging $20 - $25 entrees), has high chairs. Also 2 of the family are on the Atkins diet, but that shouldn't be too tough.

Any suggestions? I'm flying out early Tuesday.

We stayed at the Beacon last year and will there again next week. We had an early pre-theater dinner at the Shark Bar. a block from the Beacon, 307 Amsterdam bet. 74th & 75th, 874-8500.

At 6:00PM we got right in without reservations, but when we left, the waiting area was packed. Excellent food and service and hopefully we will eat there again this trip. At that early hour, we saw several families with young children. The mac & cheese, side dish choice, was fabulous and might be good for the 2 yr. old.

I live a couple of blocks further uptown, so I can give you some recomendations. With a 2.5 yr old, you are limited to the type of restaurants you can go to.

The most kid-friendly restaurant on the UWS is Time Cafe, located on Broadway @ 85th st. The restaurant is an attractive space, and the food is good, but not gourmet level. Although there are several high-quality restaurants in the area, they are not appropriate for a child of your age.

Ther is a great italian reataurant called Coppollas on 79th st btwn Amsterdam & broadway . It's a nice, cozy place, and the food, veal/chicken parmgiana, lagzana, etc, are of excellent quality. There is a brand new french bistro on 79th & amsterdam called Nice Matin, and it would fir your bill.
Another better restaurant, that might be just what your looking for is also brand new, called, 'Kitchen 82'. They have prix fixe menus from a highly repected chief, in a casual bistro-type setting. Not sure if they have high chairs, they, but you can call them.

Another choice, for latin food, would Calle Ocho, on Columbus Ave & 81st.. Here is another restaurant, that's well recommended, beautiful, lively space, and good food.

Some of the best food in the area (can't comment on highchairs etc.)

Ouest-Broadwat betw 83-84 upscale American
Ocean Grill Columbus betw 78-79 seafood-you can sit outside
Compass 70th betw Amsterdam & West End Amercian $30 prix fixe dinner!

While Ouest is one of the best restaurants in the area, it is not an appropriate place for a 2 1/2 yr old child

Niko's- greek food. priced in your range.
it is fantastic. Appropriate for children. it is also right across the street from your hotel.

Reporting back on my trip & dinner results. We wound up doing our family dinner with the 2 and a half year old at Miss Elle's Homesick Bar & Grill (79th between Broadway & Amsterdam), a GREAT choice. However, although they said on the phone that they had high chairs, in fact it was a booster seat -fine for my niece but not fine for a baby. If one wants to take baby, one should make sure high chair means high chair. The menu was ideal for a family - the little one wanted grilled cheese and, with the "homestyle" selection, of course they had grilled cheese. The dining room was charming, the service cheerful and indulgent and we were very happy. The bill for three adults & the little one (entrees + side dishes which come with, salads, extra sides for the baby, 3 desserts) came to about $78 before tip.

Later in the week I also went to Niko's at 76th & Broadway. It, too, would have been GREAT for a family. As it happened, I was taking my college aged daughter and her friends out, and it was absolutely perfect for that group as well. Modestly priced (for NYC), too - I think our bill for seven of us (entrees and desserts) was about $140 before tip. Not bad and it was FUN and delicious.