Brooklyn Crab Before dinner (there’s always a wait), parents can belly up to the bar while their kids play minigolf, shoot basketball, clamber around on the restaurant’s playground, and generally have a ball. The food is seafood with some kid-friendly options (like mac n’ cheese), and to get here from Manhattan you take a boat! What could be more fun?
Gyu Kaku and Shabu Tatsu. For older kids who can safely be around flames and hot metal. At the first, a Japanese BBQ chain with a convenient Times Square–area location, the food is simple enough for even the most picky kid to like, and all kids enjoying cooking it themselves over the hot grill. At Shabu Tatsu the meal is cooked by dredging meats and vegetables through boiling water—and eventually creating a delicious noodle soup with the broth.
Serendipity 3 It's hard to resist this whimsical restaurant and ice-cream shop (no matter your age), which serves up a huge menu of American favorites, followed up by colossal ice-cream treats.
Shake Shack Burgers and shakes, consumed outdoors (perhaps in the playground that shares this park)—what could be more tyke-pleasing?
Burger Joint Hidden behind a current in one of the city's swankiest hotels, this, well, burger joint serves up affordable, and very tasty, burgers, crowds and shakes to all comers. It feels like a mirage, which is part of the fun of dining here.
-Pauline Frommer
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
