Fruit-filled crêpe at Alice’s Tea Cup

Photo: Bill Bettencourt

1 Dizzy’s
Park Slope residents have flocked to this “finer diner” ever since it opened in 1998 for its retro-kitsch decor (vintage bar stools, black-and-white tiled floors) and comfort foods like “Dad’s Favorite” meat loaf with garlic-mashed potatoes. While the joint dishes out solid savories (make-your-own omelettes with thick wheat toast), the best thing about Dizzy’s is its over-the-top sweets. Go for the golden buttermilk flapjacks layered with fresh strawberries or bananas, or the daily French toast special (the day we visited, it was stuffed with Hershey’s chocolate syrup). The owners go the extra mile with über-kid-friendly touches including straw-fed sippy cups, a dinosaur ride (25¢), and the requisite coloring paper and crayons.
Signature dish: Pistachio-encrusted challah French toast stuffed with bananas ($9). The balance of savory pistachios and sweet bananas is right on the money.
511 9th St at Eighth Ave, Park Slope, Brooklyn (718-499-1966, dizzys.com).H S

2 Kitchenette
One glance at Kitchenette’s homey stamped-tin ceilings and polka-dot painted windows, and you just know that mouthwatering, fresh-baked goods must be close at hand. While some customers love the thick-as-a-brick cherry-studded vanilla French toast, others swear by the Lumberjack breakfast: two slices of bacon, two eggs and two pancakes. Keep waiting kids happy by ordering them a chocolate milk—it’s served in a mason jar. On your way out, pick up a red velvet cake or a fruit pie at the to-go counter. You’ll need it when the sugar crash finally hits.
Signature dish: Fruit pancakes topped with fresh strawberries ($9). These amoeba-shaped, rustic buttermilk babies are chock-full of moist blackberries and blueberries. What a great way to sneak fruit into your carb-crazy kid’s diet.
156 Chambers St at Greenwich St (212-267-6740).
1272 Amsterdam Ave at 123rd St (212-531-7600).H S

3 Alice’s Tea Cup
Beloved by brides-to-be and Disney-adoring children, this magical spot offers much more than $9 pots of tea. The brunch menu is fit for royalty, with Alice’s Curious French Toast (it’s drenched in fruit coulis, vanilla crème anglaise and syrup) and scones in scrumptious flavors like blueberry and pumpkin. Special occasion? Outfit your fairy-princess-in-training with a pair of glittery wings, available for purchase at the store’s gift shop. And don’t worry if there’s a line. Alice’s has an interior waiting area with reading material for parents and assorted furry figures, including a grinning Cheshire cat, for kids to play with.
Signature dish: Mixed fresh-fruit crêpe with Alice’s vanilla crème anglaise ($9). Parents and kids can also choose peanut butter, walnuts and chocolate for their thin crêpes, but we prefer this lighter pairing.
102 W 73rd St at Columbus Ave (212-799-3066, alicesteacup.com). Check website for other locations.H S

4 Penelope
A welcome addition to café-starved Curry Hill, this midtown eatery transcends its urban address to deliver a country-kitchen feel. The robin’s-egg-blue walls are hung with vintage photos, and the waitresses wear old-fashioned aprons. Kids may be put off by the wait (we won’t lie; it can take 30 minutes to be seated), but the whining’s sure to stop once the food arrives. The Sweet Blue, blueberry waffles served with orange butter and fresh papaya, is big enough to split. Or try Mabel’s Homemade Granola, a mix of toasted, honey-sweetened oats, yogurt and dried cranberries. All dishes come with coffee and either juice or a mimosa (for Mom and Dad). Nice!
Signature dish: Nutella French toast served with fresh blueberries, strawberries and melon ($13). This three-piecer is way above average, managing to be sweet (we’re talking about Nutella here!) but not cloying.
159 Lexington Ave at 30th St (212-481-3800, penelopenyc.com).H B S

5 Good
Formerly the Latino cantina Campo, Good’s past Mexican life is evident in the Wooden Pig sculpture (a good-luck charm) and chef-owner Steven Picker’s brunch menu, which includes smooth cheddar-jalapeño grits and sugar-dusted orange–sour cream doughnuts. Banquette seating makes this a convenient place to bring kids, but here it’s more about the treats than the crayons. Tykes will take a liking to the banana-and-cream-cheese-stuffed French toast topped with brown sugar and the yummy basket of fresh breads including buttermilk biscuits, corn bread and a to-die-for pear-pecan crumb cake. Be sure to arrive early—Good opens at 11am on Saturdays and 10am on Sundays—to avoid a wait outdoors. Better yet, take advantage of its new weekday breakfast (Tuesday to Friday), which features many of the same specials from the weekend.
Signature dish: Lemon ricotta pancakes with strawberries and maple syrup ($12). The ricotta-cheese batter makes these cakes deliciously fluffy and rich.
89 Greenwich Ave at Bank St (212-691-8080, goodrestaurantnyc.com).H S

Look for these icons throughout our Brunch special to help you plan your outing:
H = High chairs, B = Booster seats, S = Stroller-friendly

In this issue:

• The breakfast club
• Sugar shock: Back in the day, a bowl of Franken Berry made your morning. Here’s where to indulge your kid’s more sophisticated sweet tooth.
• Egg hunt: Pizza for breakfast? Woo-hoo! Wean your kids off pancakes at these five savory spots.
• High noon: Waiting lists, long lines: Fuhgeddaboudit. Here are your best bets for a speedy midday nosh.
• Top of the morning: Sometimes only the best will do. Like when you’re hauling three littles ones and all their attendant gear—it better be worth it, right? Here are our Lucky Seven: superior brunch experiences for diners big and small.