Mommy FTW

I’m always on the look out for a kid friendly place to take Cameron for a meal – and when I can find a place that I also enjoy eating it’s a bonus! Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza is perfect for us. There are a few locations, but the one we frequent is in Friendship Heights (4940 Wisconsin Ave). Their pizza is “New Haven Style” – I’m not exactly sure what that means – but having moved to DC from New York (and having eaten a lot of really good pizza) – I can say that “New Haven Style” must mean “tasty.”

It’s a thin crust pie with sophisticated, quality, locally sourced toppings available (don’t worry, they also have peperoni – Cameron’s favorite) like broccoli rabe, roasted while garlic, and sautéed wild mushrooms to name a few. This isn’t Dominos, people! They also have super delicious salads, some pasta dishes (which I admit I’ve never tried) and desserts.

If you head there for lunch, which is what we do, be sure to consider one of the lunch specials – 2 slices of cheese pizza + a fountain drink, or 1 slice of cheese and a small salad + a fountain drink for $5.99 (you can get toppings on your pizza for 25 cents each).

After you order, the food comes out quickly. There’s plenty of places to sit, and it isn’t a huge deal if your kid is a little rambunctious. There are plenty of high chairs and booster seats, they have kids cups with lids, and a bathroom for the all important potty break.

If you are a fan of Pete’s A Pizza like me, be sure to sign up for their email list so you can hear about specials. For example, October’s special is on Tuesdays 25% off your order, all day, all three locations (dine in or take out only). Not bad! You can also follow Pete’s on twitter.

Usually when Cameron and I go out for lunch we end up at 67 Burger.  I can’t deny that we both LOVE their food!  Plus the staff is always so friendly.  But mom and baby can not live on sweet potato fries and burgers alone, so I was in search of somewhere new.  Celia, mom to Claire and fellow Brooklyn blogger (check out her site, Chic Squirt) recommended that I try Il Porto (37 Washington Ave Brooklyn, NY).  I admit my husband and I order pizza delivery from there all the time, but I had never actually been to the restaurant.

Under the BQE and to Il Porto we go!

So, Cameron and I ventured over there one afternoon to check out the scene.  They had plenty of room for my stroller, and also had a few high chairs.  The wait staff was very friendly and made Cameron and I feel welcome.  I ordered the gnocchi right away (per Celia’s recommendation).  I also got some bread for Cameron to snack on.  The pasta came quickly – and it was SO good!  Cameron was suspicious at first (as always) but once he saw me enjoying it, he gave it a try.  Success!

Cameron waits for his gnocchi. Also pictured Skip Hop Plate

So Fort Greene and Clinton Hill mommies (and daddies) if you are looking for something yummy for lunch, try Il Porto – and try the gnocchi – it’s perfect finger food for baby, and mighty tasty for you!

Want more info on Il Porto?  Check out this Lunchtime with Tillie review from Clinton Hill Blog.

This Christmas when we were driving down to DC to visit my family we stopped at Chick Fil A.  My trusty Skip Hop plate was packed away in the trunk, but it didn’t matter!   They gave us a great table topper that stuck to the table – it kept the germs away from Cameron, and made his mess fairly easy to clean up.

Cameron enjoys his Chick Fil A

I checked out Amazon to see if I could find something like this to keep in my diaper bag, and indeed I was able to!

This one comes with a pop up travel case

These toppers (above) have a sesame street theme and come with a pop up travel case – great for diaper bags!  There are other themes too, if your little one isn’t into Sesame Street.

Eating out with a baby is never easy, per say, but this Skip Hop Mate plate certainly does help!  I first saw Celia using it with her daughter Claire and knew I had to get one.  I take it with me every time Cameron and I are eating out now.  It sticks to the table well, and since the edges slope down, its harder for him to toss around than a regular plate.  We even use it sometimes at home in his high chair.  I got mine from Diapers.com (which by the way is having a huge site wide sale now.)  Amazon has it too, so it depends where you are shopping and what else you are buying.  Anyways, it’s a real help and I highly recommend it!

Skip Hop Mate comes in 3 colors - Blue, Orange, and Rasberry

Cameron in action

FYI, the Diapers.com site wide sale is on now thru November 12.

Lately after Music Together class Cameron and I have been stopping in at the Connecticut Muffin on Lafayette for lunch.  They have some tasty sandwiches (Cameron and I share the curry chicken salad sandwich,) as well as bagels and muffins (of course,) both of which Cameron is more than happy to snack on.  Plus they have high chairs and plenty of room for strollers.  Cameron likes to sit up front near the drink cooler because it makes entertaining noises.  Check it out for an affordable lunch out you can share with your little one!