Photo: Bill Bettencourt

Sarabeth’s. Popover Cafe. Balthazar. The list of city brunch spots with hour-plus waits could go on and on. And while it may be okay to make brunch your main weekend activity now and then, standing with your kids outside a restaurant is just a big waste of time (no matter how good the food inside is). No worries: We scoured the city and found a handful of hot spots where a table is usually available.

107 West
Nestled in the no-man’s-land between Columbia University and the Upper West Side, this Southwestern eatery seems to escape the notice of both areas’ brunch-seeking hordes: students and families. Within seconds of arriving, we were digging into a complimentary basket of warm muffins and scones. Nearly all the entrées—from several variations on eggs Benedict to Southern-style French toast (dipped in cornflakes and served with sweet strawberry butter)—come with fruit salad and a heap of tiny home fries. The potatoes are just right for small mouths, but adults will gobble them up too. 2787 Broadway at 107th St (212-864-1555, 107west.com).H S

Telephone Bar & Grill
Steering kids beyond the door here is a challenge: The old-fashioned telephone booth outside tempts tots to climb in for a make-believe call. Brunch is prix fixe, which means little ones can guzzle fresh-squeezed orange juice and devour poppy-seed muffins for no extra charge. The hearty country breakfast of buckwheat pecan pancakes, eggs and bacon is shareable between sibs, but we liked the “green” eggs and ham (spinach, ham, scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese on an English muffin); the name will inevitably fuel plenty of premeal giggling. 149 Second Ave between 9th and 10th Sts (212-529-5000, telebar.com).H B S

Geronimo
Swarms of youngsters call the Yorkville and Carnegie Hill sections of the Upper East Side home, so it’s no surprise that scoring a table for brunch in these parts tends to be hard. Geronimo, which is relatively new to the nabe, is an exception. Not only did we get a table immediately, but the dining area is so roomy that we could push our stroller all the way to our seats. Plus, with plenty of space between the 30 or so tables, older kids can drift inconspicuously around without causing traffic pileups. A kids’ menu ($7) offers the norm—chicken fingers, pasta, quesadillas—while the prix-fixe brunch menu for adults includes a Mexican-style omelette and a Cobb salad. A Bloody Mary or margarita is included for the over-21 crowd—sorry, kids. 1600 Third Ave between 89th and 90th Sts (212-369-0808).H B S

Vynl
A staple in Hell’s Kitchen for years, this retro diner recently opened a location in the brunch epicenter of Manhattan, the Upper West Side. Snagging a seat in the midtown outpost is nearly impossible on weekends, but it’s easier to get one uptown (at least until locals catch on). Kids will love the Vynl egg sandwich—a pile of scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese on a buttermilk biscuit—and the supercreamy oatmeal (ask for the walnuts and dried cranberries to top). Little rockers will also dig the music memorabilia—record albums double as menu covers, and Kiss and ’N Sync dolls line the shelves. 507 Columbus Ave between 84th and 85th Sts (212-362-1107, vynl-nyc.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.