New York City Family Restaurants

Try family-style Italian at the famous Carmine's -- two floors of convivial crowds, vintage black-and-white photos, and huge platters of pasta for sharing.

At Ellen's Stardust Diner, the diner-food may not be memorable, but the singing waiters and model train that encircles the place will make an impression.

Brooklyn's famous Junior's Restaurant now has an outpost in the Theater District. Think cheesecake.

Families love Ruby Foo's for its soaring over-the-top decor and Asian fusion food.

For a sweet splurge take the kids to Serendipity 3. The cozy cafe and emporium has a reputation for celebrity-spotting and boast's the Guiness Book of World Records' most expensive dessert on earth, the "Golden Opulence Sundae," served in a baccarat crystal goblet with an 18-karat gold spoon. It's a great PR stunt and has the effect of making the more popular $8.50 Frozen Hot Chocolate will seem like a steal in comparison.

Downtown in Greenwich Village, even the humble PB&J sandwich takes a star turn at The Peanut Butter & Co. Sandwich Shop. Standards include the Peanut Butter Cup (with Nutella), the "Fluffernutter" (gobs of marshmallow) and there's even an unlikely sounding peanut butter BLT.

Virgil's BBQ is a wood-burning, hickory-smelling, inviting BBQ joint in the Theater District. And one of the only places in New York where you actually might hear someone say "Ya'll."