Family friendly eating in New York & Toronto

[Barbeasty]

We're off soon to New York and Toronto with DD(9) and DS(6) and would love some recommendations for places to eat, preferably ones which won't break the bank.

The DC won't eat anything spicy, but otherwise are fairly adventurous.

Also, if somewhere doesn't have a children's menu, is it the done thing to order a main for them to share?

My kids always enjoy Bubba Gumps in Times Square, they also love nothing better than a hot dog or pretzel from the carts in Central Park.

That looks good, thanks.

Alice’s Tea Cup
Cowgirl
The Meatball Shop
TGI Fridays
Ruby Tuesday
Applebee’s
Olive Garden

Bubba Gumps is expensive and Times Square pretty shit.

We loved Katz deli. We shared a sandwich and the kids had hot dogs. Carmines was lovely. You order dishes to share and they’re huge. We only ordered two and ate the rest the next day. Papaya King for hotdogs was good and so was Joes’s Pizza, the slices were huge and only $ 3 or 4. We loved Juliana’s pizza in Brooklyn which is a bit of a trek but you’d only need a couple of pizzas and they’re lovely. Taco Bell is very cheap and surprisingly reasonable. My kids really like Chick Fil A.

NYC is eye wateringly expensive.

Thanks all. Lots for me to look at now.

I'm expecting expensive, and guess I'm looking for just eye watering, not full on weeping!

One last question, is free tap water a thing there? So 1 juice or whatever and then onto free tap water?

In Toronto, Future Bakeries have a really really wide selection of stuff with an Eastern European twist. There’s a good selection of restaurants along Queen Street West (West Queen West). My DC are really unsophisticated and liked Wendy’s (Canadian Maccy D’s) & Red Lobster (chain seafood place) - wouldn’t necessarily recommend either if I’m honest but they won’t break the bank and are kid friendly! Been 15 years since I’ve been to NYC & can’t remember paying for tap water but that might have changed I guess - the only issue was under tipping as they expect 20%!

Ruba Rosa, lower east side. Great local pizza / pasta restaurant not touristy at all. Pizzas are huge so you will share.