If you can think of a food, chances are it has its own specialty restaurant in New York. Potatoes? Yup. Rice pudding? Indeed. 24-hour-biscuits? You got it. The trend also extends to some of the most popular foods on kids’ menus, from chicken nuggets to mac & cheese, and even PB&Js. We’ve rounded up six such establishments that specialize in kiddie menu faves, and even add some adult sophistication (think Havarti and truffle oil grilled cheese).
-
Mac & Cheese: S'mac
At S'mac, mac & cheese enthusiasts can choose from regular, multi-grain, or gluten-free elbow macaroni. In addition to the classic American and Cheddar blends, there are also cheeseburger, Indian-spiced Masala, and decadent Alpine (Gruyere and slab bacon) varieties. If you feel like going off-menu, choose cheese, herbs, veggies, and protein to build your own mac creation. 345 East 12th Street and 157 East 33rd Street, smacnyc.com -
Chicken Nuggets: The Nugget Spot
The Nugget Spot menu offers countless possibilities with eight different nugget varieties and 12 different sauces. Try the pretzel-crust covered Twisted nuggets with honey mustard sauce, or the Cheez Louise nuggets--coated in a cheese cracker crunch--with the O.G. Ranch sauce. There are even Captain Crunch-coated nuggets, plus sides like slaw, biscuits, and sprouts for rounding out the meal. 230 East 14th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue, thenuggetspot.com -
Grilled Cheese: Melt Shop
At Melt Shop, grilled cheese is the name of the game. Order a Classic (American on white) or a Wisco (sharp cheddar, brick spread, bacon and sliced tomato) for the kids, and treat yourself to a Truffle Melt featuring Havarti cheese, truffle oil and arugula on sourdough bread. Enjoy with a side of tater tots and polish it all off with a Nutella-fluff shake. Various locations in Manhattan, meltshop.com -
PB&J: Peanut Butter & Co.
At Peanut Butter & Co.'s Greenwich Village shop, PB&J aficionados can select from classics like The Elvis--a panini-style PBJ stuffed with bananas and honey--or go gourmet with options such as the Dark Chocolate Dreams sandwich, described as "PB&J meets black forest cake," and made with dark chocolate peanut butter, cherry jam, and stuffed with shredded coconut. 240 Sullivan Street between West 3rd and Bleecker, ilovepeanutbutter.com/sandwichshop -
Hot Dogs: Bark
Park Slope's Bark isn't just a hot dog joint--chef Joshua Sharkey is committed to serving environmentally-minded food made with local ingredients from upstate and around New England. Enjoy a Chili-Cheese Dog topped with a smoky cheddar sauce and house angus beef chili, or a gooey Cheddar Bratwurst. While Manhattanites wait for the opening of Bark's Bleecker Street outpost, they should check out Crif Dogs, which serves up everything from a Chihuahua (bacon-wrapped dog covered in avocadoes and sour cream) to a Jon-Jon Deragon for the truly adventurous (complete with a cream cheese "schmear," scallions, and everything bagel seeds) with locations in the East and West Village and Williamsburg. Bark: 474 Bergen Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn, barkhotdogs.com. Crif Dogs: crifdogs.com -
Pudding: Puddin'
At Puddin', not only can you order pudding with custom toppings like marshmallow creme as well as cool puddin' pops, but you can enjoy signature creations like the Classic, which combines chocolate and butterscotch puddings with whipped cream and vanilla wafers, and the Cookies & Cream--vanilla pudding, chocowich bits, and whipped cream.102 St. Mark's Place between 1st Avenue and Avenue A, puddinnyc.com