Family-Friendly Restaurants In New York City

Baby, it’s cold outside. Who wants to leave home when they can stay in to eat? Here are 13 comforting family-friendly restaurants that make it worth dining-out in blustery weather. Almost all of these destinations have cozy fireplaces and warm seasonal menus that make you embrace the chill.

57 Napoli Pizza e Vino

Can’t go wrong with wood burning pizza! Their most popular pizzas include the Diavola (tomato sauce, spicy sopressata, crushed pepper, black olives, and mozzarella), the San Danielle (arugula, prosciutto, and Parmigiano), and for kids, the Margherita. The comforting fireplace awaits on the second floor. Midtown East, 120 East 57th Street, 212-750-4586. 57napoli.com

Aegean Cove

Among Astoria’s Greek-dining galore, Aegean Cove is a hidden gem. Though you should come back during summer to enjoy the expansive rooftop terrace, right now, the family can get cozy in the equally impressive indoors, fireplace included. Perfect for family-style meals, with creative Greek desserts; the kids (and adults) can enjoy chocolate baklava. 20-01 Steinway Street, Astoria, 718-274-9800. aegeancove.com

Bistro Citron

A classic bistro that offers French comfort food and seasonal options, Bistro Citron is currently serving fall and winter menus for 2012-2013, with new daily specials like Canard à l’Orange (Crisp duck wild rice and vegetables in an orange sauce). The seasonal menu includes hearty stews, pastas, and roasts and though they offer a kids’ menu, the chef is happy to consult and accommodate your little one with a personalized dish. Upper West Side, 473 Columbus Avenue, 212-400-9401. bistrocitronnyc.com

Chan-An

Winter stressing you out? Stay calm and have cup of tea at this Japanese tea house. Chan-An offers 31 tea options and provides a unique cultural opportunity to teach your children about traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. The teahouse also offers a wide range of savory and sweet bites to accompany your hot tea. Current seasonal desserts include green tea or chocolate mochi, zenzai (sweet red bean soup), and sweet potato apple cake. East Village, 230 East 9th Street, 212-228-8030. chaanteahouse.com

Chio

Comforting Italian cuisine can easily warm up a wintry day. Here, potato gnocchi and Margherita pizza are popular with kids and the large fireplace near the bar always garners comments. Lower East Side, 117 Columbia Street, 718-237-4300. chio-restaurant.com

The Chocolate Room

Melt away winter blues with a satisfying cup of hot chocolate at this Brooklyn cafe. This dessert haven offers thick and rich cocoa that’s more like a main dessert than a beverage. Other warm delights include the molten chocolate cake and brownie sundae–a warm, gooey brownie topped with a snowy scoop of ice cream of your choice. Park Slope, 86 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-783-2900 & Cobble Hill, 269 Court Street, Brooklyn, 718-246-2600. thechocolateroombrooklyn.com

The Delta Grill

Can’t expect NOLA in NYC, but the festive atmosphere and menu of this cajun and creole spot is a respectable close. Decorated with themed signs, Mardi Gras and Jazzfest posters, with wood panels similar to a roadhouse, and a fireplace; it’s a kid-friendly French quarter. Come enjoy hot crawfish, overflowing macaroni & cheese, and classic banana foster set ablaze tableside to keep you warm and the kids excited. Midtown West, 700 Ninth Avenue, 212-956-0934. thedeltagrill.com

Faros Restaurant

A Greek-faire destination in Park Slope. Soft lighting, exposed brick, and not one or two, but four fireplaces warm up the homey two-story restaurant. Large portions makes great for sharing. Popular items include fish dishes from their Psaria kai Thalassina (from the sea) choices, Paidakia Skaras (lamb chops), and moussaka baked in clay pots. Kids’ menu favorites include fish and chips and chicken fingers. Park Slope, 84 Seventh Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-623-2767. farosny.com

The Green Table

Located at the Chelsea Market, The Green Table only uses local, sustainable, and family-farmed ingredients. Offers a seasonal menu, that changes weekly, with winter comfort foods like their crowd favorite chicken or mushroom pot pies, and macaroni & cheese made with local cheese and organic pasta. (Families can also take home frozen versions.) This season you’ll find pigs-in-blanket made from all grass-fed beef hot dogs wrapped in puff-pastry. Green Table doesn’t keep a fryer, so parents can avoid the traditional fried food often found on children’s menus and green dining allows parents to expose kids at an early age to the benefits of local foods. Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Avenue, 212-741-6623. cleaverco.com

Killmeyer’s Old Bavaria Inn

A lively, Bavarian destination, with an authentic German menu, buffet feasts, live music, German beer, and rich history–Killmeyer’s is a good ole time. They offer a kids’ menu and kids eat free on Thursday nights, accompanied by an adult. Even without the popular summer beer garden, you can enjoy the interior; they no longer light the stone fireplaces of the 154 year-old building, but the ambiance is still that of a fortified, warm inn. 4254 Arthur Kill Road, Staten Island, 718-984-1202. killmeyers.com

Moran’s Chelsea

For Irish-English cuisine, bring the family to this civil-era themed venue and all the traditional dishes. With fireplaces in every room, and the focal point, a wood-burning one in the main dining room.  Moran’s is great for large events like weddings, family reunions, or just a nice dinner. Chelsea, 146 Tenth Avenue, 212-627-3030, moransrestaurant.com

Rambling House

To satisfy your family’s Irish home-style cravings and more from the Bronx. Warm fireplace included. Popular choices on the kids’ menu include kid’s shepherd pie, chicken tenders, and mini burgers. 4292 Katonah Avenue, Bronx, 718-798-4510. ramblinghouse.com

The Sea Fire Grill

For an elegant seafood and steak dinner that welcomes the kids too! Although they don’t offer a kids’ menu, the chef will make made-to-order dishes, like mini burgers or pasta dishes specially for your little one. Your family will easily find the pleasant modern fireplace in the back and can appreciate Sea Fire’s take on social responsibility and use of seasonally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Midtown East, 158 East 48th Street, 212-935-3785. theseafiregrill.com

 

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Cucu's PlayHouse

<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;">Interactive, live-streaming music and movement class in Spanish for babies, toddlers and preschoolers!<br />Join us every day from Monday through Saturday at 1:30 pm EST to sing, dance and play together while learning Spanish from your home.</div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"> </div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;">This class is part of a Spanish Immersion Program where your child will be introduced to basic concepts like the animals, colors, numbers and letters. All of these through the universal language of Music. Each session is fun, interactive and engaging.<br />A selection of Children Songs in Spanish guides the class from start to finish. Activities are related to the lyrics, in order to familiarize the children with the words and their meanings. Some of the songs encourage the children to dance. Nilda uses puppets, musical instruments, and props to teach children basic vocabulary through action and interaction, rather than through translation.</div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"><br />The classes are streamed on Zoom's webinar platform. Participants (children, parents, nannies) are able to join the video from their homes and interact with us in real-time, it is a fun and engaging experience.</div>

Penguin Coding School

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Penguin Coding School believes that </span><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">anyone can code</span></strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The most compelling motivation for learning to code is that it enables building something kids can call their own. What makes this approach "worth it" for the kids is that at the end of the road, they see that their code actually does things in the real world. Not in some playpen, but in the real Internet where anyone can access it. </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Programs:</span></strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong> </strong>Penguin Coding School </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">provides comprehensive coding education to kids ages 5-18. In-person & Online classes are available in Scratch, Minecraft, Roblox, Python, Javascript, Java, Robotics, and Mobile Apps. Their small class size, award winning teachers and age-appropriate curriculum ensure every child will learn coding with a smile. Penguin Coding has in-person classes and summer camps in Cobble Hill and Park Slope, as well as three Massachusetts locations. </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Trial Classes: </span></strong></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-115c8d0a-7fff-6ffb-9ee2-4fd4aa248c0a"></span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sign up for our award-winning</span><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://penguincodingschool.com/freetrial?utm_campaign=FreeTrials&utm_source=NYF&utm_medium=Directory"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: #1155cc; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #1155cc; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">free trial classes</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. They offer a 60 minute free trial class in Scratch, Python, Roblox, Java, Robotics and much more! Appropriate for absolute beginners as well as those with some experience (trial classes are used to place students in the right level).</span></p>

Explore MetroWest Boston

<p><span style="white-space: normal;"> </span></p> <h1>Turn Whining into Winning in MetroWest Boston</h1> <p>From beer gardens to corn mazes, state parks to beautiful art, MetroWest Boston is a great destination for a weekend trip! Enjoy <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/get-outside/?imgoing-place=hopkinton-state-park-61a91acef30b531a665ab64d">Hopkinton State Park</a>’s gorgeous foliage while kayaking on the lake or hiking, mountain biking, or snowshoeing on the amazing trails.</p> <p>In the evening, catch a play, musical, concert, art exhibition, dance performance, or immersive theatrical event at <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/culture/?imgoing-place=hopkinton-center-for-the-arts-63c03d7e0d792d753263b4d1">Hopkinton Center for the Arts</a>.</p> <p>Get a great night’s sleep at one of the region’s hotels, such as <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/where-to-stay/?imgoing-place=the-verve-hotel-boston-natick-tapestry-collection-by-hilton-61aa4790f30b531a666119e4">The VERVE</a>, with its fun and funky pop art décor, or <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/where-to-stay/?imgoing-place=aloft-framingham-6216279ccc891d1d0862c8c2">Aloft</a> with their pool tables and lobby games. In the morning, visit the <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/culture/?imgoing-place=danforth-art-school-61a8e11cf30b531a66592d90">Danforth Art Museum</a>, a jewel box housing 3,500+ artworks from three centuries, including groundbreaking sculptures depicting the African and African American experience by Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller.</p> <p>Cross the street to the <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/culture/?imgoing-place=framingham-history-center-61a8e11cf30b531a66592d92">Framingham History Center</a> to explore their new multilingual exhibit that traces the city’s immigration story, from those fleeing the 1690s Salem Witch trials, to the Irish and Italian influx in the 1800-1900s, to the current migration of Brazilians. “Framingham’s Collective Journeys” includes oral histories, interactives, and artifacts.</p> <p>No visit to Framingham is complete without stopping at legendary <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/eat/?imgoing-place=jacks-abby-craft-lagers-61a8e11cf30b531a66592da0">Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers</a>, one of 17 breweries in MetroWest, where you can enjoy a flight with a schnitzel sandwich or their famous Framinghamburger. Afterwards, spend a few hours at <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/activities/?imgoing-place=level99-64a8389c51f92a351a6a3f06">Level99</a> testing each other with 50+ mental and physical escape rooms and challenges.</p> <p>The next day, tour the <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/where-to-stay/?imgoing-place=longfellows-wayside-inn-61aa7aa3f30b531a66621f57">Wayside Inn</a>. The oldest inn in America’s 100-acre property includes the Old Barn, now a farm stand with displays of antique farming tools, the historic Grist Mill, and beautiful grounds containing the Longfellow Memorial Garden, the Redstone Schoolhouse from the poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, the Martha-Mary Chapel, and Josephine's Pond for fishing. Stay for a delicious gourmet meal in their historic dining room.</p> <p>Spend the afternoon at the <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/culture/?imgoing-place=american-heritage-museum-61a92852f30b531a665b17bf">American Heritage Museum</a>. Start your tour in the depths of a WWI trench listening to a nurse’s first-hand account from the Western Front while bombs explode above you and the floor begins to shake. This extraordinary museum features one-of-a-kind historic aircraft, tanks, cars and rare relics from the Revolutionary War to today, in immersive exhibits and living history events. Afterwards, wander the charming shops and boutiques of downtown Hudson.</p> <h3>MetroWest Boston offers these and many other attractions, activities and events for the whole family!</h3>