The Best Kid-Friendly East Village Pizza Joints
5 photos
<em>(<a href="http://motorinopizza.com/">Motorino</a>'s website)</em><br/><strong>Motorino:</strong> This pizza joint, arguably one of the best in the city, is not a bad place to go with kids—they've even got paper and crayons ready for them—just get there early as the tight space and occasional waits for food can make little ones grumpy. And grumpy little ones in turn can make for some dirty looks from your co-diners. Meanwhile the pizzas, while often a touch too small for us, seem to be the perfect size for a hungry child.<br/><strong>Tantrum ready?</strong> Not so much. The small space makes piercing children's screams pretty unbearable for everyone else in the room.<br/><em>349 East 12th Street between First and Second Avenues; 212-777-2644</em><br/>
<em>(<a href="http://www.colormekatie.blogspot.com/">Katie Sokoler</a>/Gothamist)</em><br/><strong>Pulino's:</strong> Keith McNally's Bowery pizza joint isn't just absurdly hip, it also turns out to be a great place to bring in the young ones. Why? Because between 5 and 6:30 each weekday any child accompanied by an eating grown-up is entitled to a free personal pizza. And thanks to that very hot oven the pizza's come out in no time. Plus, they've got paper and crayons to keep them occupied while they wait (and you talk to your friends). Just be aware that if you stick around much past the special the crowd quickly switches from the stroller set to the model set...<br/><strong>Tantrum Ready?</strong> Oh yeah. The room's horrible acoustics mean your whining wee one will barely register to the other tables. <br/><em>282 Bowery at Houston; 212-226-1966</em><br/>
<em>(<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/94521907@N00/3957025529/in/photostream/">Tom Gastall</a>'s flickr)</em><br/><strong>Gruppo:</strong> This tiny cash-only pizza joint on Avenue B serves a very, very thin crust pizza. But its a darn good one. And the folks inside are incredibly nice and will make your pizza to whatever your small companions whims are today (as long as they don't object to the thin crust). We've also found the garlic bread goes over quite well with the wee ones. But be warned, that lemonade really isn't sweetened so if the little one orders it they are really going to want some sugar (luckily they've got a bottle of simple syrup if you need it). <br/><strong>Tantrum ready?</strong> To an extent. The small space makes screams an irritant for anyone else in the room, but nobody will give you dirty looks if it happens.<br/><em>186 Avenue B between 11th and 12th Streets; 212-995-2100 </em><br/>
<em>(<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3773480237/in/photostream/">KSheinin</a>'s flickr)</em><br/><strong>Veloce Pizzeria:</strong> If the little one is at all adventurous in their eating, they might very well get a kick out of this Sicilian-only pizzeria from the Bar Veloce folks where the dough is almost focaccia-like in its oily, mushy, awesomeness (which means it does not travel well, alas). There aren't really any things for the kids to play with, but the grown-ups will like the wine list. <br/><strong>Tantrum ready?</strong> Sure. The place doesn't really pick up until later so if the kid needs to make some noise, nobody will really notice.<br/><em>103 1st Avenue betwen 6th and 7th Streets; 212-777-6677</em><br/>
<em>(<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lchance/4918548861/in/photostream/">lchance</a>'s flickr)</em><br/><strong>Two Boots:</strong> Though sadly the original Two Boots Pizzeria on Avenue A and its kid-sized pies are long gone, the remaining outposts of the cornmeal pizza joint are about as kid friendly as a pizzeria can get. So what if the pizza isn't nearly as good as it once was, all those crazy colors and big sturdy slices seem to melt even the iciest child. Unlike the other spots we've listed this one is more for a quick hello meal instead of an actual sit-down dinner. <br/><strong>Tantrum ready?</strong> A tantrum at Two Boots? Happens all the time as far as we can tell.<br/><em><a href="http://www.twoboots.com/">Multiple locations</a></em><br/>