Craftbar – Colicchio Experience with the Littles

Craftbar – Colicchio Experience with the Littles

(Gramercy)

Craftbar

900 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

Tel. 212-461-4300

High Chair/ Stroller Parking

Weekend brunching is always a delicate balance between finding the right spot for littles and seeking the most optimal culinary experience for grown-ups.  Lucky for us establishments for Craftbar exists (e.g., just enough sophistication for grown-ups, but without so much fanfare that you need to worry about toting around a mini-me, or two, or three!!).  For info: there are Craft locations in New York, Dallas, and Los Angeles, and Craftbars in New York and Los Angeles.

As it happened… we were a party of seven (four adults, three little ones under the age of three… yeep! That’s right, there were two two-year olds, and one miniature munchkin who’s just about four months old, nutso right, it’s a wonder we even left the house.

That said, the dining experience at Craftbar, fun by the celebrity-TV chef Tom Colicchio à la Tom Chef struck all of the right notes – the food was the right blend of up-market cuisine creativity suitable for your typical foodie, the ambience was slightly upscale/sophisticated but definitely casual, the space was open and very bright (it helped too that we were seated right next to the windows), and the price point was just suitably affordable so as to not scare away your dining companions (though calibrated much higher it might just turn away some!).

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Perfect Brunch at the Tribeca Grand

Perfect Brunch at the Tribeca Grand

(Tribeca)

Tribeca Grand Hotel

2 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013

Tel. 212-519-6677

High Chair/ Changing Table/ Stroller Parking

A friend and colleague recently asked me for brunch recommendations in Tribeca.  Well I say – as far as options go, you are spoiled for choices! (Tribeca being the most baby-friendly neighborhood in all of downtown Manhattan and all).  However, one place that I would always endorse, as you really cannot go wrong any way you slice it, is Sunday brunch at the Tribeca Grand.  With a well-curated, classic American buffet menu that includes both sweets from Doughnut Plant and lox from Russ & Daughters, plus live jazz and complimentary children’s film screening – it really is foodie heaven for both grown-ups and kiddos alike.

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Russ & Daughters Café: Fishy Magic

Russ & Daughters Café: Fishy Magic

(Lower East Side)

Russ & Daughters Café

127 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002

Tel. 212-475-4881

High Chair

Changing Table

Ever since I moved to NYC back in 2002, I have loved the ritual of going to Russ & Daughters and picking out amazing artfully cut smoky fish treats.  Part of the charm is wending your way to the always packed counter…much less charming when you have a howling impatient toddler in tow.

Sturgeon separation anxiety solved with Russ & Daughters Café! We popped in for an early dinner last week with the monkey.  The café is beautifully decorated down to the wallpaper in the bathroom. It keeps the old school NYC charm of the original shop (signs in the same fonts and an old fashioned counter) with artful twists (marble herringbone pattern tile floors, fruit garnished on the bar in lovely see through mason jars).

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Lafayette – French Bistro Chic

Lafayette – French Bistro Chic

(NoHo)

Lafayette

380 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003
Tel. 212-533-3000

High Chair

Much like DBGB (which we'll get into another time), Lafayette in NoHo is also as close to "having it all" as you're going to get.  It's got a number of things which are key ingredients the modern foodie family

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Rustic Chic at Monument Lane

Rustic Chic at Monument Lane

(West Village)

Monument Lane

103 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10014

Tel. 212-255-0155

High Chair

Monument Lane,  a gastropub set in a "colonial-style" tavern in the West Village serves up one mean Bloody Mary.  In fact, I think you'll be spoiled for choices when it comes to Bloody Marys, as they literally have one section of their brunch cocktail menu dedicated entirely to bespoke Bloody Marys.  The other great thing the restaurant has going for it, apart from delicious comfort food and cute decor, is an incredibly warm and friendly staff that is decidedly baby friendly.

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Dining al fresco at Le Philosophe

Dining al fresco at Le Philosophe

(NoHo)

Le Philosophe

55 Bond Street, New York, NY 10012

Tel. 212-388-0038

High Chair

Now that the weather is getting nicer (finally!), we can start talking about outdoor dining (our favorite topic).  One of my go-to spots in the neighborhood is Le Philsophe on Bond street.  The food is delicious, the service attentive, and the outdoor seating is both low-key and high-brow (a bit of an oxymoron I know, but ‘tis true!).  I also like that they’re not super-duper hyped, so you never find the space to be ultra cramped. 

We had called ahead and inquired whether they had high-chairs.  Yes – they answered.  Score! The one they gave us was of a slightly different variety than your typical box-standard restaurant type (see photos), which did not go unnoticed by the little man.  I think he appreciated the novelty of it all…

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Crosby Street Hotel – High Tea with my Baby

Crosby Street Hotel – High Tea with my Baby

(SoHo)

The Crosby Bar

79 Crosby Street, New York, NY 20012

Tel. 212-226-6400

High Chair

Hubby and I have been coming to the Crosby Bar for quite some time now.  Situated in Soho, it’s a lovely place to visit no matter what the season, and during the summer, the backyard garden is one of the loveliest places to take a break, meet a break, and grab an aperitif (or digestive, depending on your preference).

We actually stumbled upon their afternoon tea quite haphazardly, as we were cruising in the hood for a nice chill place to just sit down and put our feet up with the munchkin.  The Crosby Bar is quite perfect for the following 3 reasons.

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Antique Garage – Lunch and Lounge

Antique Garage – Lunch and Lounge

(SoHo)

Antique Garage

41 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10013

Tel. 212-219-1019

High Chair

Antique Garage, located on 41 Mercer street (between Broome and Grand), is situated in the heart of SoHo and possibly one of my favorite “afternoon lounging” spots. 

My first encounter was with a few girlfriends for a leisurely weekend “bachelorette brunch.”  Suffice to say, it was très packed and très  oh-so-very-very (also, we may have gone there right about noon, which was prime brunch time). 

On the other hand, as I discovered two years later… if you just go a little bit on the later side (say, right after munchkin’s nap time), you’ll find that it’s a fabulous place to bring the little ones! 

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