Sweet Argentinian — Balvanera

/ Lower East Side (152 Stanton Street)/
Sweet Argentinian — Balvanera

(Lower East Side)

Balvanera

152 Stanton Street, New York, NY 10002

Tel. 212-533-3348

Stroller Parking

This weekend, I insisted to hubs that we had to take the kiddos out for brunch.  Why?  Just the thought of cleaning up after these muchkins after one more meal is making me want to rip my hair our (argggh!!! Just can't). 

I'll be honest, when I launched City Baby Dining more than three years ago, life was very different for this mamma.  We only had one munchkin (who was pretty calm and well behaved overall), and we were able to handle dining out pretty well.  Fast-forward to end of two munchkins at the end of 2016, and life has been a bit more chaotic.  We are just getting back into the hang of things, and we discovered this little gem in our neighborhood called Balvanera.

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Yum Yum Dim Sum in TriBeCa

/ TriBeCa (135 Watts Street)/
Yum Yum Dim Sum in TriBeCa

(TriBeCa)

China Blue

135 Watts Street, New York, NY 10013

Tel. 212-431-0111

High Chair/ Stroller Parking

As you might know, we are big fans of dim sum in this household (see here).  That said, we're not always fans of mega chaos (shocking, I know), usually there's plenty of that around the house that generates on it's own.  As hubby says every time I tell him we're doing dim sum, "it's going to be a shambles," he sighs.

So imagine my delight when a colleague recently informed me about China Blue in TriBeCa!!! The name isn't great (Chinese version is better), but inside is evocative of old world Shanghai, all velvet, red lanterns, drapery, and even a mega saxophone to boot.

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Craftbar – Colicchio Experience with the Littles

/ Gramercy (900 Broadway)/
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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Brunch at Tribeca Grill

/ Tribeca (375 Greenwich Street)/
Brunch at Tribeca Grill

(Tribeca)

Tribeca Grill

375 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013

Tel. 212-941-3900

High Chair/ Stroller Parking

After some time away from the NYC scene (we spent much of the winter in Florida, and then spent much of January catching up and coming to terms with it being 2016) – it is officially time to hit the scene back in New York City!

We caught up with some friends of ours over at the Tribeca Grill, which has been a long-standing establishment in the neighborhood best known for Robert De Niro (who is the co-owner).  For some reason, I’ve never been here (strange but true), so when doing my research (our friends lived in the area), it hit me that this would be the perfect venue for a meet-up.  It’s tucked away on Greenwich Street (arguably one of the prettier streets in Tribeca), and boasts some very impressive personal touches. For starters, the exposed brick walls showcase artwork done by De Niro’s father (since my father is an artist, I have a particular affinity towards these fine details).

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Konditori caffeine fix

/ Lower East Side (182 Allen Street)/
Konditori caffeine fix

(Lower East Side)

Konditori

182 Allen Street, New York, NY 10002

Tel. 646-350-3973

We've always had a fondness for our neighborhood coffee shops, and Konditori on Allen is no exception.  It's a charming little nook to pop by for some delicious coffee and pastry.  Note the word Konitori means café/baked goods & confection in Swedish, pronounced “Khan- da- tor- ree.”  Not “Khan-di-tor-rye,” which was apparently how I pronounced it for the very first time, much to hubby’s ceaseless amusement.

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Perfect Brunch at the Tribeca Grand

/ Tribeca (2 Avenue of the Americas)/
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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Garden Cocktails at the Little Prince

/ Soho (199 Prince Street)/
Garden Cocktails at the Little Prince

(Soho)

Little Prince

199 Prince Street, New York, NY 10012

Tel. 212) 335-0566

Stroller Parking

We swung by the Little Prince (cleverly located on Prince Street) some time ago, right after a fun hour at Baby Disco at La Poisson Rouge (which we recommend that you check out at least once btw!).

I've traditionally had the habit of "cooing" every time I pass by the Little Prince.  Put simply, it’s just got one of these beautiful veneers that draws the ladies in with its “cuteness.”  Perhaps it’s the large open doors, or the white-washed walls, the plants perfectly perched outside, or the staunch commitment to pretty (right down to the clientele).  Whatever the case, I’ve always wanted to venture inside and see what it’s like for myself.

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Retro-Tiki Happiest Hour in the West Village

/ West Village (121 West 10th Street)/
Retro-Tiki Happiest Hour in the West Village

(West Village)

The Happiest Hour

121 West 10th Street, New York, NY 10011

Tel. 212-243-2827

Stroller Parking

Generally speaking, 3-6pm is a big gap to fill for us in the late afternoons… so what better way to occupy the time than with happy hour at the Happiest Hour?  Our friends recommended the new Tulum-inspired cocktail-den/restaurant in the West Village, brought to you by the same folks behind Acme, NoMad, and Pegu Club (aka the dream team).  So off we went – mamma and crew, and I couldn't be happier with our experience there.

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Bar Primi – Carb Loving on the Bowery

/ Noho (325 Bowery)/
Bar Primi – Carb Loving on the Bowery

(Noho)

Bar Primi

325 Bowery, New York, NY 10003

Tel. 212-220-9100

High Chair

It's hard not to dig Andrew Carmellini’s pasta restaurant on the Bowery.  For one thing, that particular corner is somehow always infused with eclectic energy, complete with boisterous laughter and gorgeous people on a sunny afternoon.  I’ve been a fan of the scene ever since Peels came in.  Though we were sad to learn that the Freemans team has left the building, we were more than thrilled to welcome Bar Primi, the new low-key pasta eatery that opened last year by the “Noho Power trio,” front-lining Andrew Carmelli (the brain force behind the Dutch, Lafayette, and so much more) and serving up delicious Italian fare amidst a family-friendly setting.

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Spicy Sri Lankan with the littles

/ East Village (91 1st Avenue)/
Spicy Sri Lankan with the littles

(East Village)

Sigiri

91 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10003

Tel. 212-614-9333

Sigiri, the Sri Lankan restaurant near and dear to my heart since my early days in NYC remains a hot spot for yours truly, even with the little one in tow.  In fact, he's so much of a regular that even his photo was on the wall at one stage (okay so it was a Christmas card, but I digress).

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The Little Cupcake Shop – A Fondness for Sweets

/ Nolita (30 Prince Street)/
The Little Cupcake Shop – A Fondness for Sweets

(Nolita)

The Little Cupcake Bakeshop

30 Prince Street, New York, NY 10012

Tel. 212-941-9100

I've always had a fondness for the Little Cupcake Bakeshop on 30 Prince Street, as it straddles all of my favorite things in the neighborhood (i.e., McNally and Jackson, Cafe Gitane, Sigerson Morrison, Pinkyotto, just to name a few).  I can't tell you how many times I've strolled past the cupcake shop and went in for a cup of tea (they actually carry Harney & Sons) and some sweets (during the summer time they serve up a mean gelato in-house), and these days they even carry gluten-free cupcakes! (For the health-conscious mammas in all of us).

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Mediterranean Dining at Little Rascal

/ Nolita (163 Elizabeth Street)/
Mediterranean Dining at Little Rascal

(Nolita)

Little Rascal

163 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10012

Tel. 212-966-0446

Now that the weather is finally nice (hurray!), we've been doing lots more walking out and about, re-exploring our neighborhood.  One thing that we always like to do is to walk up and down the quaint little streets of Nolita, check out the local restaurants, cafes, and shops.  This is precisely how we first stumbled upon Little Rascal on 163 Elizabeth Street.

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Russ & Daughters Café: Fishy Magic

/ Lower East Side (127 Orchard Street)/
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

/ NoHo (380 Lafayette Street)/
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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Lazy Afternoon Chills at Whynot Coffee

/ Lower East Side (175 Orchard Street)/
Lazy Afternoon Chills at Whynot Coffee

(Lower East Side)

Whynot Coffee and Wine

175 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002

Tel. 646-682-9065

On the weekends, we like to explore our local neighborhood and just generally laze around post a mid-day family nap. When we're in the zone and craving a cup of good coffee, glass of ice-cold beer, or just a light snack or two, Whynot Coffee on Orchard is our go-to spot.

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Out to Tea – Harney & Sons

/ SoHo (433 Broome Street)/
Out to Tea – Harney & Sons

(SoHo)

Harney & Sons

433 Broome Street, New York, NY 10013

Tel. 212-933-4853

While tea shop Harney & Sons is largely known for its extensive tea selection, a nice little fact (which I’m almost reluctant to share) is that they have a charming café in the back of the massive tea shop, where you have the option to purchase any of their teas, plus some additional drinks (i.e., chai lattes and the like) that are not necessarily sold at the front of the store.  The atmosphere there is chic and classy, without being overly stuffy and slow.

 

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Rustic Chic at Monument Lane

/ West Village (103 Greenwich Ave)/
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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A Dim Sum Baby

/ Chinatown/
A Dim Sum Baby

(Chinatown)

Living in downtown Manhattan, and so close to Chinatown at that, it would be criminal to not do dim sum every once in a while.  Although hubs often gripes about the "zoological experience," I've never walked away from a dim sum experience that I didn't enjoy.

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Dining al fresco at Le Philosophe

/ NoHo (55 Bond Street)/
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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Pastry loving at Dominique Ansel

/ SoHo (189 Spring Street)/
Pastry loving at Dominique Ansel

(Soho)

Dominique Ansel Bakery

189 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012

Tel. 212-219-2773

While the cronut craze may be dying down (we think), delectable puffy pastries from renowned dessert chef Dominique Ansel's eponymous sweets cafe isn't going away anytime soon.

For you busy mamma's on the go, this is a great place to stop for coffee and light sandwiches. We also love it because it's a great place to stop by for an afternoon snack.

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