197335 Sun Oct 13 23:12:28 -0700 2002 6 18 Manhattan 0 1053004 I lived in NYC for seven years, but I lived there sans infant; I'm returning during Thanksgiving week with what will then be a three-month-old in tow. What I need now is what I avoided before--baby-friendly dining options. I know all of the eat-early type tips, but does anyone have suggestions for tasty eateries that specifically won't give me cold hard glares for bringing in a small baby? I'm looking primarily for places on near the east 50's and downtown. Sun Oct 13 23:12:28 -0700 2002 0 deb-in-billyburg 1 1053014 Deb, Why don't you check out Zoe (in soho). I haven't been but it's been suggested to me when taking my children in. Your three month old may be too young for the chef's counter, but it certainly sounds like a family welcoming place. Website below. Link: http://www.zoerest.com/ Mon Oct 14 09:28:38 -0700 2002 1053004 0 TR 2 1053747 I definitely second the positive opinion on Bubby's as a children's restaurant. The place seems to specialize in kids, and they even gave my one year old a balloon, which made him very, very happy...also they have a good kids menu, with miniature burgers and the like. Very nice staff--food isn't terrific, but all in all, a suitable place for kids. Haven't been able to coerce my wife to go to Chinatown too often, but will do so soon. Ollie's on the West Side seems to be okay with kids, as do restaurants like Ernie's. Wed Oct 23 05:06:42 -0700 2002 1053014 0 MusicManSeth 2 1053749 I wouldn't recommend Zoe as a place for young kids I've been many times since it opened in the early 90s. This is a high end, somewhat pricey restaurant. Think Jerry's (right across the street, on Prince), or the SoHo Kitchen (Mercer or Greene) are both better for kids. Wed Oct 23 05:09:40 -0700 2002 1053014 0 MusicManSeth 2 1053874 Friends were in this past spring with two little kids and we went to Zoe - the management was fantastic in accommodating us, it's loud enough that kids can be kids, and I seem to recall Zoe even had some kind of child-friendly toy or bib (it's been a while, sorry), which makes me think they get a lot of them. Wed Oct 23 18:53:21 -0700 2002 1053014 0 sweettooth 1 1053067 How about any place in Tribeca AKA Tribaby? Odeon & Bubby's are both very baby friendly. Mon Oct 14 16:15:31 -0700 2002 1053004 0 villagechow 1 1053081 We took our 1-month old baby to Chinatown and 3 years later she's still a regular. She began by consuming soup dumplings in utero and later via breastmilk, and got her own rice bowl by 7 months. Anyway, we have our fave C-town places but most are very baby and kid friendly. We also once took her to El Quijote on a Sat. night where she screamed her head off and the ambient noise level was so high no one heard a thing. So look for noisy, relaxed places. "Tasty" being a relative thing, I will also add that the wooden booths at the East on 44th St are fairly private; you can fit a carseat on the bench, breastfeed discreetly, etc. But don't expect topnotch Japanese food... Mon Oct 14 17:53:51 -0700 2002 1053004 0 marcia