No disrespect to Serendipity — I only had its cinnamon fun sundae 100 times growing up in NYC — but now that I’m a parent myself, I’m hoping to introduce my son to broader culinary horizons that still bring the joy of that foot-long hot dog chased with a funhouse mirror level magic.
Ahead, nine restaurants to please tiny tasters.
No chicken nugget dinners here. The idea for the “Young Gourmands Club” experience came after Restaurant Le B.’s chef and proprietor, Angie Mar, recounted her first fine dining experience at age 8 at Seattle’s Canlis to a friend.
Now, for the past year, Mar has replicated that epicurean wonder for pint-sized patrons of her own, introducing children to nuanced flavors and advanced culinary techniques. Whether they’re sinking their deciduous teeth into “Le Burger Mignon” a smaller version of the haunt’s beloved burger or spooning up a banana split with flambéed bananas prepared table-side expect big smiles and satisfied stomachs come meal’s end.
Three courses (an amuse-bouche followed by a choice of main and dessert course) costs $65 for children 12 and under.
283 West 12th St., NYC
It’s the summer — healthy eating rules are out the window on days over 85°F (and on days that end in “y” depending on your youngster’s tantrum level). Of course, summer indulgence doesn’t get more classic than chomping on salt water taffy and fudge amidst a boardwalk stroll down the shore.
No one (arguably) does it better than Shriver’s, a third-generation, family-owned institution after being purchased by four brothers in 1959. The reward for journeying some 130 miles from midtown Manhattan? Everything from chocolate nut and peanut banana fudge to mango, sea salt caramel and peanut butter taffy. (Fun fact: Folklore has it that “salt water taffy” got its name after an Atlantic City’s candy shop’s taffy inventory was soaked in an ocean flood in 1883, but the recipe doesn’t actually contain salt water.)
One pound of assorted salt water taffy sets you back $17 and 1 ¼ pound of gourmet fudge, $23.
E. 9th Street and Boardwalk (852 Boardwalk), Ocean City, NJ
Even if you don’t have Broadway tickets, this is one Times Square staple worth planning a trip around thanks to the eatery’s “Stardusters,” or singing servers.
Opened in 1987, the diner has had many waitstaff members continue on to a fruitful career in showbiz. (Take Marla Mindelle, a former Starduster who is the creator and star of the 2026 Broadway hit, “Titaníque”). Whether you come at 7 a.m. or before midnight closing, munchkins can order off of the classic kids menu with cheeseburgers, spaghetti with butter, mac and cheese and more (all $18), or opt for delights like chillah french toast ($18), confetti pancakes ($20) or Stardust Nachos ($18) off the main menu. The signature shakes ($18; plus $7.50 if mom and dad want to make it boozy) and classic egg cream ($8) are also winners, especially if you can linger over a longer meal here by planning a morning jaunt or bite before 5 p.m. to beat the peak dinner crowds.
Oh! If your kid’s attention span can swing it, a visit to Ellen’s Stardust Theatre (a.k.a. The Iridium) below the diner for its “Mamma Mia!”-inspired brunch featuring performances by Stardusters is well worth the $50 ticket price, and includes entry and entrée, soda, juice, tea and coffee (minus tax and gratuity; check dates online)
1650 Broadway, NYC
Saylor Beach House, the newcomer of hospitality veteran and STK co-founder Celeste Fierro and pop singer Taylor Dayne, is all about the journey and destination.
Journey-wise, the restaurant has partnered with Yacht Hampton so clientele can delight in a dock-to-dine experience by taking a boat from Sag Harbor directly to Claudio’s Marina in Greenport for lunch at SBH and back. Boats run Thursday through Sunday between noon and 4 p.m. for $75 per person each way with advanced reservations required.
Once youngsters get over this wonderful way to arrive at a meal (they won’t, in fact, they’ll probably start asking if you can take a boat to all your meals instead of an Uber stuck on the West Side Highway), they’ll also be treated to excellent, age-appropriate fare like chicken fingers ($16) or pasta with butter, red sauce or grated Parmesan cheese ($16). While grown-ups nosh on local oysters and the catch of the day accompanied by a limoncello spritz, everyone is sure to rejoice in dockside dining done right.
111 Main Street Greenport, NY
One Captain Kuni’s Treasure Ship, coming right up. What’s that, you ask? This special kids menu item (available to guests ages 12 and under) is a ship packed with delectable bites for young palates, usually including a mini chirashi bowl ($15). Or, children may enjoy the California Tartar ($35), which features layered snow crab, Ikura (salmon roe), and avocado in a yuzu citrus sauce.
The even bigger draw here is the restaurant’s monthly tuna cutting show, where a whole bluefin tuna is butchered in the dining room. The Japanese call it Shokuiku (“food education”), and we’ll just call it quite the spectacle, competing with an “auction” for lesser-known rare parts of the fish such as eye balls and cheeks, in which winners get the prized pieces cooked for them.
Follow @wokuni_broadway for announcements of upcoming show dates and if you make a reservation, be sure to note that you’re bringing kids so you get the best seats in the house. Also be sure to snag a picture with the “tuna man” doing his rounds and doling out samples of the tuna along the way.
1359 Broadway, NYC
A Tarrytown stronghold since 1981, this Westchester eatery is well worth the 25-mile daytrip from NYC.
For one thing, there are the heavenly “Sleepy Hollow Skins” ($16) — scrambled eggs stuffed inside scooped-out potato skins with broccoli, cheddar cheese and bacon — for another, you’re oh-so-close to the famous Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, the burial site of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” scribe, Washington Irving.
You can almost feel the lore in the dining room as youngsters fill their bellies with hot dogs and fries ($11) or fried flounder with steamed broccoli ($14) off the kids menu. Plus, after the perfect afternoon spent lingering on the outdoor garden patio, you’ll definitely want to miss your MetroNorth train back to the city and wander around the village some more and pay a visit to the Old Dutch Church, a stone church that appears in Irving’s short story.
But first, that kids’ chocolate sundae ($7) and strawberry shortcake ($7) beckons.
94 North Broadway, Tarrytown, NY
As any parent knows, a meal that does double duty as a longer experience (RIP Mars 2112) is a blessing. So hop on the E train or whatever subway gets you there and venture to the restaurant that crowns One World Trade Center.
You’ll need an Observatory ticket (from $44) to eat at One Dine, which grants access to an interactive elevator ride depicting the rise of New York City, tours with ambassadors and entry to the restaurant and gift shop, and more. Located on the 101st floor, when you arrive at ONE Dine kiddos will probably be quiet for at least 60 seconds as they marvel at the jaw-dropping, panoramic views of New York City.
Then, they’ll start clamoring for the cavatappi mac and cheese ($18) or chicken tenders and fries ($15) from the kids’ menu, served with bragging rights of saying you dined at the highest point in the Western Hemisphere.
117 West St, NYC
Connecticut knows pizza. And Randy’s Wooster Street Pizza knows how to please kids.
Decked out in Hot Wheels-inspired decor, the family-owned eatery serves up New Haven-style pizza, like “Olive This Pizza,” a white pie with green and black olives and Havarti dill cheese, and “Kelly’s Concoction,” a white pie with ricotta cheese, old fashioned fresh mozzarella cheese, garlic, olive oil and fresh basil.
Those post-playtime appetites will also savor the hundreds of toy cars, monster trucks and collectibles on display throughout the eatery. Plus, every Saturday, kids can enjoy a hands-on culinary experience as they roll the dough and add their favorite toppings to a pie.
285 E Center St, Manchester, Conn.
Pair the “dessert please” chorus with a trip to the Empire State Building at this superb chocolatier at the base of the iconic skyscraper.
Here, larger-than-life sundaes anointed with toppings like Ghirardelli’s signature hot fudge, whipped cream, chocolate squares await (sundaes cost around $18-$20). We’re also swooning for the newly launched “Dubai Style Chocolate Strawberry Bliss,” comprised of fresh sliced strawberries layered with Ghirardelli’s handmade hot fudge and its signature pistachio butter, kataifi (shredded phyllo dough), white chocolate, and sea salt, finished with whipped cream and ultra-fine chocolate chips.
Or how about a milkshake, hot chocolate to combat AC overload or hitting up the pick-and-mix chocolate station? Eat up, buttercups!
16 W 34th St., NYC