Best Sit-Down Lincoln Center Restaurants for Families

Shun Lee West and Shun Lee Café 

For some class-act Chinese food in a retro setting, the decades-old Shun Lee is one of the city’s standbys. There are two dining options to choose from. Well-behaved kids can enjoy fine dining—and ogle the wraparound glowing dragon on the wall—at the main restaurant, Shun Lee West, where dishes include the intriguing Ants Climb on Tree and Lily in the Wood. For a more casual setting, head to the café for dim sum. Kids love selecting dumplings and other treats from the carts that circle the tables.

Just the right size meal for little hands at Brooklyn Diner. Photo courtesy of the diner

Brooklyn Diner

Conveniently located between Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, this fun, pseudo-classic diner has a Brooklyn sense of humor. The gigantic "15-Bite Hot Dogs" are sure to impress kids (how many bites can they eat it in?), and with other comfort-food choices like sandwiches, pasta, and fajitas, your family will be as happy as the diner's famous "pigs in a blanket."

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This cafe is the classic post-Lincoln Center stop. Don't let the white tablecloths scare you; kids are welcome. Photo by Ralph Daily via Flickr.

Café Fiorello

For lovers of all things pasta and pizza, Café Fiorello, right across from Lincoln Center, is a perfect choice. Another plus: since this is a busy restaurant, noisy kids are no problem. If there's time for dessert, don't miss the café's famous chocolate mousse. Though the food is delicious, the prices can be a bit steep.

P.J. Clarke’s

This outpost of the historic NYC pub can be loud and crowded, but its traditional surf-and-turf menu—and breezy corner location directly across from Lincoln Center—can't be beaten. The mini cheeseburgers and shoestring fries are great for smaller appetites, while older kids will dig into the famous bacon cheeseburger and cast-iron mac and cheese.

Rosa Mexicano

We’re not talking standard taco stand fare at this Lincoln Center favorite. The cuisine is upscale Mexican, but there are plenty of yummy choices for all ages, including a Young Amigos menu (with an activity sheet), and the restaurant is happy to tone down the spices. Kids will delight in watching the fast-fingered waiters manhandling avocados as they whip up the restaurant's famous table-side guacamole.

The Smith

Conveniently located right across the street from Lincoln Center, this spot is spacious and noisy, so you can feel zero guilt about strollers and meltdowns. The atmosphere is causal with crowd-pleasing burgers and mounds of fries. The sidewalk seating is a huge bonus in the warmer months.

Old John's

This old-school diner has been in existence for more than 70 years. All the cool diner features are here, including a semi-circular bar and a classic dessert display. The food is standard diner fare with a kids' menu and lots of sweet treats for dessert, including a 12-layer chocolate cake. Reserve ahead to snag a booth.

Best Quick Eats Near Lincoln Center for Families

Breads Bakery

As its name implies, this bakery churns out delectable breads and pastries from early morning into the evening. This is a great spot to come for a late afternoon tea and treat; the chocolate babka and rugelach are local favorites, but if you're in the mood for something savory, the tuna sandwich and cheese straws are justly famous.

La Traviata Pizza

A hole-in-the-wall is often where you'll find the best NYC slices, and La Traviata is no exception. An off-the-beaten-track Lincoln Center mainstay, it offers the usual pizzeria fare—slices, garlic knots, calzones—for the right price in a no-frills setting. Note: Table seating is limited, but you can teach the kids how to eat pizza on a folded paper plate while walking down the street like a real New Yorker.

Le Pain Quotidien

Tucked just off Broadway's restaurant row, this cozy, casual café features huge wooden family-style tables and organic, Belgian-inspired eats. The affordable bites range from delectable baked goods to soups, quiches, and open-faced "tartine" sandwiches served on boards. Also a great spot for a pre-Nutcracker hot chocolate served in a bowl, naturellement.

Emmy Squared

If your family is a fan of Detroit-style pizza, this spot doesn't disappoint. The pies are cooked perfectly, with a crunch on the crust and the perfect chew in the middle. The cozy ambiance and great service make this a great family pit stop.

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Creamy hummus and fluffy pita make Nanoosh a win with kids (and parents). Photo courtesy of the restaurant

Sweet Treats

Magnolia Bakery's cupcakes are a must-try for all. Photo courtesy of the bakery

Magnolia Bakery

This NYC-founded chain bakery offers up delicious baked goods of all varieties (brownies, cakes, icebox treats), but its cupcakes have become a bit of local mainstay. And what kid will pass up the chance to lick the pastel frosting off of one of these deservedly famous confections? For a more grown-up bite, indulge in the equally celebrated banana pudding.

Levain Bakery

This subterranean bakery's signature gigantic, brownie-like chocolate-chip walnut cookies may be the most decadent in the city (Note: There is no nut-free version).

Rosetta Bakery

Stop here for a variety of upscale but casual food, including sandwiches, pizza, cake, bite-size treats, and coffee. Take your sweet treats to go or grab a seat indoors or al fresco. It does get fairly busy, but the service is quick and friendly, and there is usually no problem getting a place to sit. 

This article was first published in 2009 but has since been updated.