"Michael King, the executive chef of As You Are in Brooklyn’s Ace Hotel, and the father of two children, is sympathetic to parents dining out. “Eating in a restaurant with your child sucks,” he says. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the bagel shop in the neighborhood or the Smith — or if you dare to take a kid somewhere fancy.” His restaurant offers a kids’ menu of greatest hits like pasta with butter, grilled cheese, sliders with American cheese, and chicken fingers. Instead of fries, kids can get apples and carrots. It also has a drawing of Brooklyn on the back and it comes with Crayons to keep kids occupied. “We can just hand it to the parents so you don’t have to negotiate with the server or with your own children,” he says. Brunch is the meal most attended by children, who may be into it as much for the chocolate chunk cookies and black and white doughnut, King says. Regardless of the time of day, kids’ meals at the hotel are economical for families. “We don’t make money on kids’ food,” he says. “But it’s a big undertaking to take kids out to dinner, so we might as well assist these brave parents.”" - Melissa McCart
