Allswell

With its colorful vintage wallpaper, big communal table, and cozy booth seating, casual pub Allswell is a favorite brunch destination for my family. Cinnamon toast, pancakes, and granola: easy sell for my two kids. While there are high chairs, there is no changing table. As with most popular Williamsburg spots, arrive early if the little ones are hungry and you don’t want to wait too long because this spot gets mobbed.

Brooklyn Bowl

Yes, we realize this is a bowling alley, not a restaurant. However, if you're looking for a playful option for weekend brunch, you won't strike out here. Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-5pm are family days. Enjoy a few games and eats by Blue Ribbon. In addition to the finger-food-heavy menu, there are extensive kids' options like burgers, French bread pizza, Blue Ribbon's famous fried chicken, a hummus and veggie platter, shakes, floats, and malteds. For adults, there's also beer on tap. Score! Brooklyn Bowl has boosters and bathroom changing tables.

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Dig in to the gooey macaroni and cheese at Brooklyn Mac. There are a dozen options to choose from! Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Cafe Mogador

Even if your kids aren't into Middle Eastern food, they should find something that satisfies at this spacious Williamsburg outpost of the family-owned East Village mainstay. The lunch, brunch, and dinner menus feature a variety of options, from basic bagels to more lively fare like ful medames, a protein-rich snack of hummus, fava beans, and hard-boiled egg. Main course dishes include variations on grilled chicken and lamb as well as yummy couscous platters. There are high chairs at Cafe Mogador, but no changing table. Sit in the greenhouse-like back room for a cozy family meal.

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Diner

The name may be generic, but this isn't your run-of-the-mill hash house. This restaurant is set in a renovated 1926 dining car next to the Williamsburg Bridge, and the menu changes daily. Selections include pastas, sandwiches, salads, and burgers, plus eggs and pancakes for weekend brunch. Diner does not have high chairs, but it does offer the classic diner booth or counter seating. It gets mobbed for brunch and dinner, so try to visit on the earlier side. Limited outdoor seating during the warmer months is available, too.


Chinese food stars at Kings County Imperial where booths and high chairs add to the family vibe. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Kings County Imperial

With a few roomy booths, larger tables for big groups, and enough space to comfortably seat kids in high chairs, Kings County Imperial offers a laid-back vibe and family-style eats. From the team behind Park Slope brunch-favorite Stone Park Cafe, this spot delivers tasty Chinese food with creative twists, including local ingredients (some from the restaurant’s backyard garden), its own soy sauce, lots of veggie menu options, and an intriguing cocktail menu. As quite a few dishes run spicy, be sure to check with the waitstaff for milder options—unless your family digs serious heat. Also, Kings opens at 6pm and can get pretty busy, so plan accordingly.


OddFellows Ice Cream Co. is a must visit this summer. Photo courtesy of the store.

OddFellows Ice Cream Co.

OddFellows Ice Cream Co. is modeled after old-school ice cream parlors with a cheery vibe, striped walls and lots of knickknacks and curios behind the counter. With a rotating lineup of 14 ice cream and sorbet flavors, a menu of classics like banana splits, floats, milkshakes, and sundaes, my kids are big fans of this place. There’s bar and table seating, high chairs, and a bathroom changing table, which we thank them for providing!


Enjoy outdoor pizza eating at Roberta's. Photo courtesy the restaurant.

Roberta’s

Housed in a former garage, this pizzeria serves up tasty Neapolitan-style pies at big tables in an airy, wood-paneled room. Pizzas include kid-friendly standards like Margherita (tomato, mozzarella and basil), as well as less conventional options such as the Axl Rosenberg (tomato, mozzarella, soppressata, mushroom, garlic and jalapeño) and the Fennel Frontier (Pawlet cheese, pork sausage, fennel, red onion, chili and lemon). Or you can create your own pie from the long list of toppings. There are also calzones and lunchtime sandwiches. If the weather's nice, ask to be seated outdoors on the back patio so you can check out the awesome rusty Mercedes-Benz covered with potted plants.



Van Leeuwen is one of the best spots in the city for a scoop or even a chocolate-sauce laden banana split. Photo by the author.

Van Leeuwen Williamsburg

What started as a simple food truck (albeit a fancy one) has become a mini-empire with trucks and shops here and in L.A., grocery store distribution, and even a cookbook. The Williamsburg location is large and bright, with lots of booth seating, high chairs, and a changing table in the restroom. No-frills decor, but clearly, ice cream parlors should be easy to wipe down; chocolate sauce can be messy. My son swooned for fluffernutter crunch, while we adults worked our way through the house sundaes menu (more rum-soaked cherries, please).

Tips for Dining Out with Kids in Williamsburg

• Go early: Before 6 pm is often more forgiving in NYC restaurants. You’ll avoid the dinner rush and get more flexibility with seating.
• Call ahead and reserve when possible, especially for groups or weekend evenings.
• Scout for stroller-friendly seating, including booths, wider aisles, and space to park the stroller.
• Bring small distractions–a coloring book, stickers, or small toys can smooth over the “waiting for food” phase.
• Scope the bathrooms early on your table run–if there’s no changing table or very small space, you may want to plan accordingly. (Sometimes people use a folding changing pad on the floor.)
• Don’t shy away from outdoor / semi-outdoor spots–places like Tacocina help let kids move a bit without disturbing other diners.
• Mix it up–if a formal sit-down is too much, split your outing: dinner at a calm spot, a walk to a dessert place, then some playground time nearby (Domino Park, McCarren Park, etc.).
• Use dining as part of the outing: pick restaurants near parks, the waterfront, or walking routes so mealtime doesn’t feel disconnected from exploring.

Top image: Housed in a former garage, kids will dig both the atmosphere and eats at Roberta's. Photo courtesy the restaurant.