The kids’ tray at bartaco. Courtesy of bartaco
Westchester’s littlest foodies need not resort to chicken fingers and fries at these eateries, which offer gourmet options for kids.
Nobody will argue that there’s a list of reasons why chicken tenders and buttered pasta are the standard on kids’ menus. Most parents (even foodies) will sneak a bite of a salty tender or a few spoonfuls of their offshoot’s buttered pasta, but there are a few Westchester restaurants that understand that customers who enjoy chef-inspired food may also be parents who want their children to share in the experience (without having to dip into their college funds).
Not only is bartaco always delicious, it offers up an ambience of pure vacation.
Well loved for a variety of reasons, bartaco in Port Chester (and 22 other locations) is many people’s go-to for delicious, consistent, and affordable international flavors in taco form. Not only is bartaco always delicious, it offers up an ambience of pure vacation. Everyone has their favorite, including the seasonal “secret taco,” and let’s not forget their handcrafted margaritas, served up at a fraction of the cost of most restaurants nearby. If there ever was a restaurant that doesn’t really need a kids’ menu, it is this one, yet they’ve managed to create one that makes both grown-ups’ and kids’ mouths water. Of course, a child can delight in some straightforward chicken, beef, or veggie tacos, but maybe they feel like enjoying some juicy roast chicken, a crunchy fish taco, or caramelized quesadilla corners. When it comes to sides, your foodie-in-training can choose from adorable bowls of bright steamed broccoli, corn pinwheels, cucumber slices, or a fresh-fruit skewer. But as tasty as all of this sounds, most kids are just working their way toward churros with chocolate sauce and ice cream cones.
Greca Mediterranean Kitchen + Bar may be the newest Greek kid on the block in White Plains, but the food and vibe are welcoming and familiar. The owner, Dino Kolitsas, proved his concept and has won awards in New Milford, alongside Chef Kosta Ndreu, before landing in Westchester. Their food is rooted in tradition yet feels bright and new. Kolitsas’ passion for “ingredients over anything” doesn’t stop short of sexy, hand-crafted cocktails fashioned by his right-hand mixologist, Frankie Rodriguez (2022 winner of WM’s Wine & Food Bartender Shake Off). As for the kids’ menu, Kolitsas didn’t grow up eating tenders, so he designed a kids’ menu that reflects the food he was raised on: kalamakia (pork or chicken skewers served with tomatoes, red onions, and tzatziki), sout-zoukakia (Smyrna-style meatballs served over buttered pasta), lamb chops, and some not-so-traditional items, like grilled skirt steak and Faroe Island salmon. And don’t worry: Fries are a very Greek thing, so you can still steal them from your kids here.
Nordstrom Café is one of Westchester’s best-kept secrets for people who want to enjoy a delicious meal in a mellow, hype-free atmosphere. In addition to a varied and chef-driven menu, the White Plains restaurant located in The Westchester has an impressive kids’ menu. For a relaxed date-night with your child, you can enjoy the famous skirt steak with chimichurri (and don’t forget a little sack of hand-cut potato chips) or one of the deliciously layered seasonal salads with a signature soup while your favorite kid-of-the-day chooses between organic, wholegrain-bread grilled cheese and soup, roasted chicken with green beans and potatoes, cheese tortellini, or seared wild salmon. You rarely need to ask a kid to leave room for dessert, but just in case, leave room for dessert, as they are all yummy and made in-house.
Heritage 147 in Larchmont is the restaurant that happens when two seasoned chefs get together to build their dream. Their menu tells a story of carefully chosen, ingredient-driven dishes that will make you feel like you’ve road-tripped the States and hopped through a few continents. Inspiration and quality are the main themes, and these don’t wane when it comes to their kids’ menu. Of course, you will find some tenders and pasta on the playlist, but the tenders are organic and hand-dipped, and the pasta is not only organic but also the same cut found on the main menu. In addition to the standards, a discerning junior foodie can enjoy a local grass-fed strip steak, grass-fed burger, and a not-so-standard mac ’n’ cheese enrobed in a Jasper Hill Farm cheese sauce. If this isn’t enough to make you take your kids just so you can steal their food, Heritage offers a mocktail called the Heritage Fizz, a nod to a Shirley Temple but using house-made grenadine, citrus, and soda water. Note: They have a special brunch menu for kids too.
One would never guess that the modern and airy yet relaxed One Twenty One has been a mainstay in North Salem since 2000. What’s even harder to believe is that its executive chef, Beck Bolender, began working there when he was in his teens. He left for a stint in the middle to expand his skills at Jean-Georges in New York City, but he returned in 2014 to spearhead a major redesign of the restaurant, with an emphasis on global flavors using Hudson Valley ingredients. The kids’ menu is straightforward but boasts a few surprise guests, such as a Caesar salad and pan-seared salmon with mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach. This is a perfect place to have an affordable, yet upscale, family dinner.
