# Kid-Friendly Restaurants in NYC That Won't Glare at Your Stroller *Plenty of New York restaurants will let you in with a stroller and then watch you try to park it. These ten, across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, have something on their own website or menu that points at families, from a priced kids' menu to stroller parking to picnic tables.* By Dan Fitzpatrick, Boroughs & Brood. Updated Monday, October 5, 2026. Canonical: https://boroughsandbrood.com/guides/kid-friendly-restaurants-in-nyc.html Good for: All ages, Mixed costs. **The short answer:** For kid-friendly restaurants in NYC with a checked kids' menu, try Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Harlem, Layla Jones in Cobble Hill (kids' pasta from $9.95), L&B Spumoni Gardens in Brooklyn, or Bareburger in Astoria. Ellen's Stardust Diner in Midtown has stroller parking with free locks, Johnny's Reef on City Island has picnic tables and a $3 hot dog, and Serendipity 3 is the splurge, with kids' meals at $12.95 to $14.95. Checked in early October 2026. Menus and hours change, so each place links to its own page, and that page wins any argument with this one. Kid friendly restaurants NYC lists are everywhere. The hard part is trusting them. Half the city will happily seat a family of four and then watch you try to park a stroller between a radiator and a very large pot plant. So this list is built from what the restaurants themselves say: a kids' menu with prices, stroller parking, picnic tables on the water, a soda fountain. Where a website says nothing about children, I say nothing too, and I tell you to ring ahead. There are ten places here across four boroughs, from a $3 hot dog by the water to a frozen hot chocolate that costs $15.95. Some are famous, and some you will not find on the usual lists. ## Kid friendly restaurants NYC: the quick version - Best kids' menu, checked: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Harlem, Layla Jones in Cobble Hill, L&B Spumoni Gardens in Brooklyn, Bareburger in Astoria and Serendipity 3 all publish one. - Best for strollers: Ellen's Stardust Diner, which says so on its own FAQ page. - Cheapest proper meal: Johnny's Reef on City Island (hot dog $3, hamburger $5) or a Sicilian slice at L&B ($4.50). - Best treat: Serendipity 3 for the frozen hot chocolate, or Brooklyn Farmacy for a sundae in a restored 1920s apothecary. - Best for picky eaters in a group: Essex Market, where everyone can choose their own vendor. - Best on a Saturday night: the Queens Night Market, free to enter, until October 31. > The test I use at six and seven years old: can this place survive someone announcing, mid-meal, that the food is 'too orange'? ## How to eat out with kids in New York A few things that apply almost everywhere. Go early. A table for four at 5pm is a different sport from a table for four at 7:30pm, and children's patience does not improve with a line. If a place takes reservations, make one. If it does not, go before the rush and expect to wait on the sidewalk anyway. Space is the real constraint in this city. Most restaurant interiors were laid out before strollers existed, and a lot of them have steps at the door. None of the restaurant websites I read gives a count of high chairs, so for any sit-down place the honest advice is to ring and ask, and to ask about the stroller while you are at it. A folded stroller beside the table is the usual New York solution, and the staff have seen it all before. Restrooms are a separate negotiation. Many small restaurants have one, and it may be down a staircase. Take the children before you order, not after, and be gracious about it. Tipping is the usual 18 to 20 percent, and with children it is worth leaning toward the top of that after you have rearranged a dining room. Allergies: the sites below mostly offer gluten-free and vegetarian options, but none of them is a substitute for telling the server directly. Say it twice and watch them write it down. ## Manhattan ### Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Harlem (Harlem, Manhattan) A big barbecue place on West 125th Street, near the Hudson. The reason it is on this list is one line on its menu page: each location has "tailored takeout, drink, gluten-free, vegetarian, and kids' menus". The actual kids' items and prices are not on the page, so ask when you sit down. It describes itself as a welcoming spot that blends "classic Dino character with the lively spirit of Harlem". It is a sit-down, smoked-meat, sticky-fingers kind of meal, so pack wet wipes and lower your standards for the tablecloth. It opens at noon every day, so you can get lunch in before the dinner crowd. - Subway: 1 to 125 St (not on the MTA's accessible list), then a walk west toward the river - Stroller: Not stated on the site; ring ahead - Restrooms: Not stated on the site - Cost: Kids' menu prices not published online; adult mains are on the menu page - Time: About 90 minutes for a sit-down meal - Check first: Hours: Mon to Wed 12pm to 9pm, Thu 12pm to 10pm, Fri and Sat 12pm to 11pm, Sun 12pm to 9pm - Website: https://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/locations/harlem/ ### Ellen's Stardust Diner (Midtown, Manhattan) The singing diner on Broadway. The waitstaff, who are called The Stardusters, sing all day from open to close, which means a very loud lunch and a very large chance that a child will want a microphone. Its own FAQ page says "children are welcome" and asks you to keep kids out of the aisles, because "many people are moving quickly around you to make the magic happen". Fair enough. The detail that earns it a spot is the stroller line. The FAQ says stroller parking is available in front of the diner on Broadway, with complimentary locks, though space is limited. The catch is the other half of the FAQ: there are no reservations beyond large private events, and waits vary. Budget for a line on the sidewalk, and keep a snack in your bag for the line. - Subway: 1 to 50 St (not on the MTA's accessible list); C/E to 50 St and N/R/W to 49 St (partly accessible); 57 St-7 Av (N/Q/R/W) is a few blocks north and is accessible - Stroller: Parking out front on Broadway with free locks; space is limited - Restrooms: Not stated on the FAQ - Cost: Menu on the diner's site; the page I read lists no kids' section - Time: About an hour at the table, plus the wait - Check first: Wait times, and the site's note that the diner is wheelchair accessible - Website: https://www.ellensstardustdiner.com/faq/ ### Serendipity 3 (Upper East Side, Manhattan) This is the treat. The famous drink is the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, $15.95 on the menu, which two or three children can share while each insists they are drinking more than their share. There is a proper kids' menu too: cheeseburger with fries $14.95, chicken tenders with fries $14.95, grilled cheese with fries $12.95, mac n' cheese $14.95, and a kids' scoop of ice cream $14.95. Yes, that is a lot for a grilled cheese. It is a splurge place, so treat it as dessert with a side of dinner. The restaurant opened on East 60th Street in 1954 and has a second location in Times Square. - Subway: N/R/W to Lexington Av/59 St, or 4/5/6 to 59 St (neither is on the MTA's accessible list) - Stroller: Not mentioned on the menu page; ring 646-212-1442 (Upper East Side) - Restrooms: Not stated on the site - Cost: Kids' meals $12.95 to $14.95; Frrrozen Hot Chocolate $15.95 - Time: About 90 minutes - Check first: Reservations through Resy; weekend brunch 10am to 1pm at the Upper East Side location - Website: https://www.serendipity3.com/menu ### Essex Market (Lower East Side, Manhattan) A food market with lots of separate vendors under one roof, which is the answer to the table of four people who each want a different dinner. The market's site mentions "year-round community cooking classes, special events" and "family-friendly activities", and does not say anything about strollers or restrooms, so treat those as unknown. It is a lesser-known pick next to the big food halls, and the hours are unusually long for a market: from 8am most days. - Subway: F to Delancey St-Essex St, or M/J/Z to the same complex (not on the MTA's accessible list) - Stroller: Not stated on the site - Restrooms: Not stated on the site - Cost: Varies by vendor - Time: 45 to 60 minutes - Check first: Vendor hours differ from market hours: Mon to Wed 8am to 8pm, Thu to Sat 8am to 9pm, Sun 10am to 6pm - Lesser known: yes - Website: https://www.essexmarket.nyc/ ## Brooklyn ### Layla Jones Pizza & Pasta (Cobble Hill, Brooklyn) A neighborhood pizza place on Court Street with a kids' menu that is both real and cheap by New York standards: kid's rigatoni with butter and Parmesan $9.95, kid's rigatoni marinara $9.95, kid's chicken and mozzarella pressed sandwich $9.95, and kid's spaghetti and meatball $14.95. It is open 11am to 9pm. Mommy Poppins says there are communal picnic tables out back. The restaurant's own site does not mention them, so call before you plan a lunch around the garden. - Subway: F/G to Bergen St (not on the MTA's accessible list); 2/3 to Borough Hall (accessible, check the MTA elevator page first) - Stroller: Not stated on the site - Restrooms: Not stated on the site - Cost: Kids' meals $9.95 to $14.95 - Time: About an hour - Check first: Whether the back tables are open - Lesser known: yes - Website: https://www.laylajonesmenu.com/ ### L&B Spumoni Gardens (Bensonhurst, Brooklyn) The Sicilian square pie place, open since 1939, and a much better family stop than its reputation as a pizza pilgrimage suggests. The in-house menu has a children's section: child size pasta with meatball in tomato sauce, chicken finger basket, ravioli and meatball, and macaroni and cheese, all $16.95. A Sicilian slice is $4.50 and a whole Sicilian pie is $35. The spumoni (the namesake ice cream) is a separate thing: its price is not on the menu page I could read. There is a second branch at 46 Old Fulton Street in DUMBO, which is a much easier trip from Manhattan. The original is on 86th Street in Bensonhurst, a long ride out, but you get the full experience. - Subway: Original: D to 25 Av, which sits on 86th St (not on the MTA's accessible list). DUMBO branch: A/C to High St or F to York St (neither on the MTA's accessible list) - Stroller: Not stated on the site - Restrooms: Not stated on the site - Cost: Kids' meals $16.95; Sicilian slice $4.50; Sicilian pie $35 - Time: About an hour - Check first: Hours and which branch you are going to - Website: https://spumonigardens.com/menus/inhouse86th/ ### Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain (Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn) A soda fountain in a restored 1920s apothecary at 513 Henry Street, serving "original ice cream sundaes, house made artisanal sodas and ice cream floats, as well as savory sandwiches and breakfast biscuits". It is a treat stop rather than a full dinner. The menu on the site is a set of images, so I could not read prices or a kids' section; the owners list an email address and an Instagram account for questions. The site says the room is available for private events and birthday parties, which tells you which age group it expects. - Subway: F/G to Carroll St (not on the MTA's accessible list), roughly a 5 to 7 minute walk - Stroller: Not stated on the site - Restrooms: Not stated on the site - Cost: Menu is images on the site; call or check Instagram - Time: 30 to 45 minutes - Check first: Hours, which the site does not list - Lesser known: yes - Website: https://www.brooklynfarmacyandsodafountain.com/ ## Queens ### Bareburger Astoria (Astoria, Queens) A burger place with a kids' menu named for animals: the Grizzly (organic grass-fed beef or Impossible beef, potato bun), the Koala (all-natural hot dog), the Polar (cheddar on Texas toast), and the Panda (five all-natural chicken bites). Each comes with organic kid's juice and fries, and you can swap the fries for sweet fries. Prices are not on the menu page. Mommy Poppins reports a backyard seating area at the Astoria branch. Bareburger's own Astoria page does not mention one, so ask when you book. Hours are noon to 10pm Monday to Saturday and noon to 9pm on Sunday. - Subway: N/W to 30 Av (not on the MTA's accessible list) or Astoria Blvd (accessible, check the elevator status page first) - Stroller: Not stated on the site - Restrooms: Not stated on the site - Cost: Kids' meal prices not published on the menu page - Time: About an hour - Check first: Whether the backyard is open - Website: https://www.bareburger.com/locations/astoria ### Queens Night Market (Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens) A night market of food vendors from all over the world, set behind the New York Hall of Science. It is free to get in (apart from two ticketed preview nights) and described as family friendly, and the FAQ says it is accessible to strollers and wheelchairs, with a warning that some parts are on a grassy field that can be hard going. At the time of writing, the 2026 season runs Saturdays from 4pm to midnight until October 31. The practical catch is cash. The market's FAQ says most vendors "primarily accept cash", and some also take cards and Apple Pay. Bring bills, and go early if the children are small, because midnight is not their friend. - Subway: 7 to 111 St (not on the MTA's accessible list), then walk south 4 blocks under the overpass; the market is behind the Hall of Science - Stroller: Allowed; some areas are grass and can be tough going - Restrooms: Not stated on the FAQ - Cost: Free to enter (except two preview nights); most vendors prefer cash - Time: 90 minutes to 2 hours - Check first: Saturdays only, until October 31; check the market's page for weather changes - Lesser known: yes - Website: https://queensnightmarket.com/faq/ ## The Bronx ### Johnny's Reef (City Island, The Bronx) The cheapest good meal on this list, out on City Island. The restaurant describes an "indoor/outdoor picnic setting" overlooking the water, and the menu has no kids' section, but it does have a $3 hot dog, a $5 hamburger, $14 fried chicken fingers, $18 fried fish sticks and $9 mozzarella sticks. Entrees range from $12 to $40. It is on the water, so hold hands near the edge, and watch your fries because the seagulls have not read the menu either. Getting there is half the trip: the Bx29 bus runs from Pelham Bay Park (the end of the 6 line) over to City Island. - Subway: 6 to Pelham Bay Park (accessible, check the MTA elevator status page first), then the Bx29 bus to City Island - Stroller: Picnic table seating; not otherwise stated on the site - Restrooms: Not stated on the site - Cost: Hot dog $3, hamburger $5, chicken fingers $14, fish sticks $18; entrees $12 to $40 - Time: About an hour, plus the bus ride - Check first: Hours: Sun to Thu 11:30am to 9:30pm, Fri and Sat 11:30am to 10:30pm; payment methods are not on the site, so bring cash and a card - Lesser known: yes - Website: https://www.johnnysreefrestaurant.com/menu ## What a meal costs at these places - Under $10 a head: the $3 hot dog and $5 hamburger at Johnny's Reef, a Sicilian slice at L&B ($4.50), or free entry to the Queens Night Market plus whatever the stalls charge. - Around $10 to $17 a head for kids: Layla Jones' kids' pasta ($9.95 to $14.95) or L&B's children's plates ($16.95). - The treat: Serendipity 3, where a kids' meal is $12.95 to $14.95 and the frozen hot chocolate is $15.95. Prices are from each restaurant's own menu page and were read in early October 2026. Where a kids' price is not on the page, I have not guessed. ## Questions people ask **What are the best kid-friendly restaurants in NYC?** Restaurants that publish a kids' menu are a good start: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Harlem, Layla Jones in Cobble Hill (kids' pasta from $9.95), L&B Spumoni Gardens in Brooklyn ($16.95 children's plates), Bareburger in Astoria, and Serendipity 3 on the Upper East Side ($12.95 to $14.95). **Can you take a stroller into a restaurant in NYC?** Usually, but space is tight. Ellen's Stardust Diner says it has stroller parking on Broadway with free locks, though space is limited. For anywhere else, ring ahead and be ready to fold the stroller. **Do NYC restaurants have high chairs?** Many sit-down restaurants do, but none of the websites for the places on this page says how many. Ask when you reserve. **What is the cheapest kid-friendly meal in NYC?** At Johnny's Reef on City Island a hot dog is $3 and a hamburger $5, and a Sicilian slice at L&B Spumoni Gardens is $4.50. The Queens Night Market is free to enter, though food prices vary by stall. **Do I need a reservation for dinner with kids in New York?** Serendipity 3 takes reservations through Resy. Ellen's Stardust Diner does not take them except for large private events, so expect a wait. At others, go early, around 5pm, to avoid a line. **Is there a place with a kids' menu in Brooklyn?** Layla Jones in Cobble Hill lists four kid's dishes from $9.95 to $14.95, and L&B Spumoni Gardens lists four children's plates at $16.95. **Where can kids eat for cheap in Queens?** The Queens Night Market is free to enter on Saturdays until October 31, 2026, mostly cash, and the Astoria Bareburger has a kids' meal with juice and fries. ## Sources - Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Harlem location: https://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/locations/harlem/ - Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, menu page (kids' menus line): https://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/menu - Ellen's Stardust Diner FAQ (strollers, children, reservations): https://www.ellensstardustdiner.com/faq/ - Serendipity 3: https://www.serendipity3.com/ - Serendipity 3 menu (kids' menu, Frrrozen Hot Chocolate): https://www.serendipity3.com/menu - Essex Market: https://www.essexmarket.nyc/ - Layla Jones Pizza & Pasta: https://www.laylajonesmenu.com/ - L&B Spumoni Gardens: https://spumonigardens.com/ - L&B Spumoni Gardens: 86th St in-house menu: https://spumonigardens.com/menus/inhouse86th/ - Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain: https://www.brooklynfarmacyandsodafountain.com/ - Bareburger menu (kids' menu): https://www.bareburger.com/menu - Bareburger Astoria location page: https://www.bareburger.com/locations/astoria - Queens Night Market: https://queensnightmarket.com/ - Queens Night Market FAQ: https://queensnightmarket.com/faq/ - Johnny's Reef Restaurant: https://www.johnnysreefrestaurant.com/ - Johnny's Reef Restaurant menu: https://www.johnnysreefrestaurant.com/menu - City Island, Bronx (Wikipedia): Bx29 bus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Island,_Bronx - Mommy Poppins: Queens restaurants with family friendly backyards: https://mommypoppins.com/kids/queens-restaurants-outdoor-dining-family-friendly-backyards - Mommy Poppins: Brooklyn kid-friendly outdoor dining: https://mommypoppins.com/new-york-city-kids/restaurants/best-outdoor-dining-in-brooklyn-kid-friendly-restaurants-with - MTA: station accessibility and elevator status: https://www.mta.info/accessibility/stations