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  Finding a good restaurant in midtown Manhattan can be daunting enough--there are so many to pick from, and all of them so expensive--that the added worry of finding a restaurant appropriate for children makes it almost not worthwhile. However, there area few kid-friendly options.
  
  

Mars 2112

• This theme restaurant isn't just kid-friendly, it caters to children. Restaurant patrons are "transported" to Mars (a.k.a. the bi-level dining room) in a mock rocket ship. The entire dining experience is focused on the quality of the fantasy rather than the food, but young children will enjoy the experience, and parents of young children can relax, knowing they are in good company.
  
  Mars 2112
  1633 Broadway (at 51st Street)
  New York, New York 10019
  (212) 582-2112
  mars2112.com/about.html
  
  

Cosmic Diner @ 52

• Located at 52nd and Eighth Avenue, this classic mid-town diner has a kid-friendly menu and is out of the path of heavy tourist traffic, so there is almost never a wait to be seated. Any experienced New Yorker will tell you that even diners can be pretentious in Manhattan, but this diner has a relaxed atmosphere and a great waitstaff.
  
  Cosmic Diner @ 52
  888 8th Ave (at 52nd Street)
  New York NY10019
  (212) 333-5888
  
  

Landmarc

• Located in Columbus Circle Time Warner Center, this slightly more upscale restaurant offers great views of Central Park and a full kid's menu with selections like Pigs in A Blanket and PBJ. This is a nice place to take your children after a walk in the park or a day shopping at the Time Warner Center.
  
  Landmarc Restaurant
  10 Columbus Circle, Third floor
  New York, NY 10019
  (212) 823-6123
  landmarc-restaurant.com/
  
  

Brooklyn Diner

• Another diner, this one in Times Square, has kid-friendly items on the menu and a kid-friendly atmosphere. There is no separate kid's menu, but the restaurant offers kid-sized portions of several of the dishes, and kid's-sized prices to go along (ask the waitress). Good to stop in after a tour of Times Square and a trip to the gigantic Toys-R-Us. It's located on 43rd between Sixth Avenue and Broadway, and there's a second Brooklyn Diner located at 57th street, between Broadway and Seventh Ave.
  
  Brooklyn Diner
  155 W 43rd Street (between 6th Ave. and Broadway)
  New York, NY 10036
  (212) 265-5400
  brooklyndiner.com/