Perch

Service is AWFUL!  Food is okay, not enough of it, but the service there really makes it difficult to recommend to anyone.

I walked in with two children, ordered brunch and not once was it mentioned that a kid's menu is available.  It's on the back page of the menu in very small letters to ask your waiter. If I could grab her attention I would have.  I did ask her if I could have some more coffee, please - I got no response, so of course, I repeat myself only to have her abruptly tell me she heard me and would get when she had a moment.  She never once offered the kid's menu to us when we ordered we only spotted it on the back when we asked for the menu again because we were still hungry.  Yes, we were still hungry.  I will not go back.

Kid friendly - whatever.

365 5th Ave

btwn 5th & 6th St

Park Slope

718.788.2830

Napoli Bakery

You walk in and you get bread. Nothing fancy, not pastries, a good ole Italian bakery with the most incredible lard bread I have ever had! Proscutto bread, sundried tomato, semolina all fresh, baked on the premises (of course).

This is the place to go for authentic lard bread, if you have never had it or even heard of it - go live the good life and get some.

616 Metroplitan Ave
between Leonard & Lorimer St
Williamsburg
718.384.6945

Fortunato Brothers Caffe and Pasticceria

The gorgeous smell comes at you before you see the place. The sweet smell of pastries that you know will send you over the edge. I went here for the first time, right before Easter and it was packed. The amount of cakes, cookies and Easter Cake that was within one order was astounding.

I took a ticket and stood in line dutifully, while taking in the view of the desserts inside the glass case. Many of them I knew but some I had not seen before. 'Lulu's' for example, never heard of them - so I tried them. They look like an mini-ice cream cone filled with a sweetened fluffy cream. Oh so yummy!! It was soon my turn and I ordered as much as I could carry home on the subway. Pignoli cookies, biscotti, ricotta cookies, ricotta pie, cannolis and chocolate covered strawberries. It was a great Easter feast!

The next time I visited, I sat down and ordered it all over again with cappuccino and gelato. Holy crap - take it easy! Too good to be true. I will never go anywhere else again.

289 Manhattan Ave
at Devoe Street
Williamsburg
718.387.2281

Long Tan Restaurant

I thoroughly enjoyed the food . My favorite place closed in the city (Kin Kao) and now this seems like a great replacement. The Pad Thai was fresh and not greasy, a friend had the yellow curry dish, I had the Vegetarian Jungle Curry - wow! All really good!! We also tried the Samurai Spiked Crab Cakes and they were so DELICIOUS! Crispy on the outside and full with flavor. Service was great!

It's above moderately priced and a bit trendy inside.

Kid friendly - maybe for the older ones - not under 6.

194 5th Ave
Union Street & Berkley Place
Park Slope
718.622.8444

Barrio

It looks like this spot has finally got a tenant that will be there a while.  I was impressed the minute I walked in.  The host was incredibly friendly, the kid's menu had all the needs met for fussy ones and the margaritas looked fabulous. 

Our waiter greeted us with great enthusiasm and soon our delicious drinks were in hand.  We ordered the guacamole, veggie enchiladas, chicken enchiladas, chicken nuggets (kids) and chicken tacos(kids).  Sounds boring but definitely not.  The green sauce is spicy and flavorful on my veggie enchiladas and the chicken enchiladas were in a smoky red sauce that added a lot to the white meat.  The guacamole was very fresh and not salty, which is what i usually find.

The girls had chicken nuggets and they were definitely like at home (translation: Perdue) cuz that's what they were and that's what I buy!  My other daughter had chicken tacos and did not enjoy them at all, so i asked to get the nuggets and they were so kind about it and didn't charge for the new entree.  Very nice.

It's not cheap but it's pretty good and I love the atmosphere.

Kid friendly - yes but bring entertainment for the little ones, i.e., crayons, DS, etc.  

210 7th Ave

at 3rd Street

Park Slope

718.965.4000

Piramide

This has all the makings of a great place. It is located next door to a trendy bar, on a main drag that's busy all the time, BUT......it lacks all the details that could ensure the success that it should have.

Every time I have eaten there, they are out of some very basic needs, i.e., coke or bacon at brunch! (a few examples) The flowers on the tables are all half dead and the water in the vases is murky, they serve coffee and no spoon, each dish comes out separately - often by the time it does, your is ice cold The wait staff try very hard to deal with all these issues but they seem to be part to blame, not their own doing, they just don't seem experienced.

The food, if you order the right dish, on a whole is good. Nothing extraordinary - but on the better side of good. It's expensive though. I say this because we all know what the cost of Mexican food is and if i am going to spend this kind of money on it - it had better be something better than good. Go to Nuevo Mexicano - up the block - a much better deal!

Kid friendly - yes they are - and have a menu especially for them, even if it's over priced.

499 5th Ave
Btwn 12th & 13th St
Park Slope
718-499-0002

Sidecar *****

I don"t know if I can say anything bad about this place. the owners go out of their way to know you, the food is exceptional, burgers are fantastic, drinks are perfect, wait-staff is always available and polite.....let me think.....kids are welcome and encouraged to have fun....and on the other hand great bar scene late at night.... I know....I would like to see more food on the menu and brunch served. But that isn't a bad thing and it will happen soon, John, the owner tells me. I love this place, great people own it.
Recently, they have been on television for their Buttermilk Fried Chicken - really good stuff. Crunchy on the outside, nice flavored batter, juicy and meaty on the inside. They use free range chicken only and it makes a difference. The sides John serves are just as flavorful as the main dish. If you are lucky you will catch a night he serves Jerk Chicken - spicy and satisfying. I loved the red beans and rice accompanying the chicken.

56 5th Ave.

(15th & 16th Sts)

Park Slope

718.369.0077

Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs in Coney Island***

I have a friend who goes here every weekend in the summer, actually as soon as the weather turns nice. It's like no other, it's famous for God's sake! The french fries are great too. The children get the best kid's meal, excellent beach toys sometimes - no Disney crap! I like the soups they have too! Try the dog with the onions and some ketchup or my favorite a dog with mustard and sauerkraut!

Coney Island is one of my favorite places and should be preserved! This is one place that has to stay. I am sorry that we allowed another developer get their dirty, grubby hands on our history.

Let's save Coney Island!

Nuevo Mexico*****

LOVE IT!!!! I don't want anyone to know about it and I don't want to tell you how much I love it. It's dirt cheap and really authentic. Love the enchiladas, taco and beef dishes. Good spice and great margaritas! It better not get to be a hot spot, it's mine a few other 'special' people's secret.

489 5th Ave.

Btwn 11th & 12th Street

Park Slpe

718.832.0050

Mezcal's

Oh no, I am a mexican food LOVER!!! Not consistent here! Oh no! When I crave some good food and need a fix - so not the place to go! But wait - sometimes it's good. You have got to catch it - but with tight budgets these days, no one wants to take a chance, right? The margaritas are not consistent either - but sometimes they ARE good! Oh no! Try and catch it on a good day!

Kid friendly? Sure, they need the biz.

223 5th Ave.

Btwn President & Union St.

Park Slope

718.783.3276

Magnolia

You know what - I really like this place!  I have been going to this restaurant for a while.  I have eaten here for brunch, Thanksgiving, birthdays and just dinner.  The menu is always good, waiters great, food consistent, not glamourous. Not trendy, a good solid place to go.

Kid friendly? Yes, very much so.

486 6th Ave.

at 12th Street

Park Slope

718.369.4814

Kinara

I am a big fan of Indian food.  Let's start there.  Some dishes are good and those are any of them that don't require oil.  Because if it does you are going to get enough to squeeze out and make french fries tomorrow.  The spice that's used is good, especially the Vindaloo.  I like the food but I like grease.

The delivery is a bit slow, best to eat in.  Good priced menu.

Kid friendly?  Sure, but do kids like Indian food?

473 5th Ave.

at 11th Street

Park Slope

718.499.3777

Daisy's Diner

It's diner food.  Good, old fashioned, need to cure the hangover diner food.  They have big portions and great waffles!  Don't expect anything more.    Delivery is touch and go, sometimes good, sometimes REALLY slow, especially when you are starving.

Kid friendly? Absolutely!

452 5th Ave.

at 9th Street

Park Slope

718.788.1438

Cafe Steinhof

First of all, this place is always packed.  The wait-staff are very patient and the food, although not very authentic, a good second.  I have always had a good lunch here.  The weekends are always busy but you could get a table quickly.  Excellent beer selection - Boddington's!!  It's a fun, casual spot, moderately priced.

Kid friendly? - Maybe early, but it's cramped, although the waiters love them!

422 7th Ave

at 14th Street

Park Slope

718.369.7776

Eurotrip

I sent back the burger we ordered. Oh dear, I tried to like it but it is one of those places that you have to be in the mood for the food. The cuisine is Eastern European and very good, if you like that type. I had the baked Camembert with peppers and it was lovely, I drank Pilsner Urquell and then I had another. But then they bragged about the best burger in Brooklyn and I was tempted - so I bit. They really are very good at Eastern European food & beer. But I sent back the burger......and then went to Sidecar.

Kid friendly? - Yes, they welcome them but the menu doesn't.


667 5th Ave
Btwn 19th & 20th St
718-285-9425

Moutarde

I really thought that the food was marvelous.  I had an exceptional meal from start to finish.  The wait staff was very very attentive.

I had most of the menu and it is honestly delicious.  I am surprised they are not busier. The sauces are FAB!  Dessert is scrumptious.

Kid-friendly?  I say not the little ones, but older kids are welcome and attended to quite nicely.

239 5th Ave.

at Carroll

718.623.3600