It’s time to step away from the mac and cheese. But going out to dinner as a family nowadays can be an exploration in price. Like, you love your kids, but $100/head and no booze is a bit much. Luckily NYC is a city where you can still find top eats for a surprising value. These are the places to check out for casual eats for kids in the city.
Momosan Ramen Bar
Masaharu Morimoto was the executive chef of Nobu before Nobu was cool, so he sort of knows his stuff. Momosan Lexington is just one of the chef’s 19 restaurants and his first ramen-centered concept. With an expansive, authentic menu, this is the place to get your kids off the Top-Ramen training wheels. There are lots of spice options depending on your kids’ tolerance, and plenty of ways to customize the bowl with ramen add-ons. Beyond ramen, Momosan serves pretty standard Japanese appetizers like bao and spicy wontons, as well as some more fusion dishes, like duck tacos and karaage (Japanese fried chicken).
Stretch Pizza
Stretch Pizza is everything your kid loves about the classic New York slice, but elevated. Opened by two native New Yorkers, Stretch promises that their pizzas honor the important aspects of New York pizza, like the chewy crust and gooey cheese. But they aren’t stopping there. Along with the classic cheese and pepperoni slices, you can expect some highly creative pies from Stretch. One pizza is inspired by flavors of loaded potatoes, while another, is Mexican street corn. And not that your kid cares– but they also have a pretty impressive beverage list, with beers, house cocktails, and wine.
Popup Bagel
“Not famous but known” is Popup Bagels’ current motto, though they might need to edit it soon. The spot started as a backyard pickup window, graduated to popups, and eventually went viral for their ultra-fresh bagels. One thing to know– Popup Bagels is not the place to order a bagel sandwich. They only sell bulk orders, where $42 gets you a dozen bagels and two containers of shmear. There’s also no seating at Popup, so it’s best to take to a nearby park. It may all sound a bit complicated, but trust us when we say it’s worth it. Baked fresh all day long, these are some of the best bagels in the city. Plus, where else can you get cacio e pepe butter?
Superiority Burger
Superiority Burger is kind of like kids’ food at its best. That may not sound like a compliment, but we promise it is. It’s a great place for kids who might not have a gourmet palate yet but are working on it. Best known for its signature veggie burger, SB is serving up creative, comforting diner-ish food. Menu highlights include a cheesy twice-baked potato, a market salad, or pretty much any of their desserts. The all-vegetarian spot has been one of the buzziest in New York for the past few years. And with its brand new, larger location opening in the East Village, it’s probably time you give it a try. If you can get a seat, that is.
