Spotlight Reviews

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America

9 E. 18th Street
New York, New York
(212) 505-2110

Not so long ago the restaurant America was a night time hot spot on East 18th Street in New York City, just outside of the newly trendy Union Square, catering mostly to young singles. The atmosphere was fun and loud. It might not be the first restaurant a family in search of a good meal might head for.

Then all those people who used to hang out got married and had kids, according to manager Christine Allee.

Without compromising their unusual regional menu, which features characteristic foods from all different parts of the United States, everything from steak to Vinnie’s Veggie Burger, America became one of the most child-friendly restaurants in Manhattan, famous in particular for their weekend family brunches.

From noon until 4:00 on Saturdays and Sundays children can enjoy a vast array of activities, including a balloon artist and a magician that roam from table to table. The center bar area is set up with a child-sized table and chairs on an area rug where kids can read to themselves, or wait for the storyteller who comes at 12:30 and reads books out loud for children ages 2 to 7.

And what about a separate kid’s menu? Well, when macaroni and cheese and fluffernutter sandwiches are already part of the regular menu, it’s not really necessary. If your child prefers, say, Fried Catfish, no problem. America’s chefs are always willing to provide half-sized portions of everything on the menu and even to make things that don’t appear on the menu at all, like grilled cheese sandwiches.

How do waiters and bus boys deal with the massive chaos that results when between fifty and eighty families converge into one space at a time? "We think its fun," says Allee. "When I interview waiters I ask them if they get along with children. We tell them right off the bat that this is a child-friendly restaurant. If that’s a problem for them, they need to work somewhere else!"

Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays between 12:00 and 4:00, and costs $12.95 per person (adults and kids). Reservations are recommended. Crayons, coloring books, changing table and stroller check-in are available at all times.

--Wendy Ponte