Where can you take small children out to eat without leaving in shame? On several occasions our two little ones made such a mess in a restaurant that we felt obliged to leave a 50% tip. However there are some kid-friendly restaurants in our area where you can have a decent meal too. If your electricity on the fritz or you're still in summer vacation mode, here is a list of places to go where high chairs and strollers are welcome. If you have restaurants you frequent with young children, share your favorites in the comments section below:

Old Reliables
The Scarsdale Metro Restaurant: 878 Scarsdale Avenue, Scarsdale 914-713-0309

Scarsdale Metro Deli: 4 Palmer Ave, Scarsdale 914-472-4760

For many families in Scarsdale the Metro Diners are a staple in your diet. In my house we refer to it as the one up-the-hill (Palmer Ave) or the one down-the-hill (Scarsdale Avenue). These places are beyond kid-friendly and the wait staff seems to know your kids and have unending patience with them. They are also incredibly amenable to strange food requests. Where else can you order three silver dollar pancakes with a side of broccoli?

Metro Restaurant has a more varied menu with a bigger selection of salads, wraps and entrees for the grown-ups, while the Deli has a terrific selection of desserts next door so you can entice (bribe) your kids to finish their meals.

Cons: It can get a bit crowded and waiting with a young child can be trying. Also, there are all these kids running around. Oh, wait, they’re yours.

Burgers
Johnny Rockets: 777 White Plains Rd. Scarsdale/Eastchester 914-723-3303

This place is great for the kids. Modeled on a 1950's burger joint, families can feast on burgers, fries and ice cream while the waiters and waitresses dance accompanied by a Doo-Wop soundtrack. Even though the Bee Gee's 'Staying Alive'-- a Johnny Rockets wait staff dance routine staple, wasn’t released until 1977, the atmosphere is fun and keeps the kids amused. The burgers are pretty good too and they have a liquor license so you can have some a grown-up drink while kids enjoy their shakes.

Cons: Do not go if Mommy has a headache. Also, it is quite likely that the caloric intake for one meal is equal to your total daily calorie allowance so look at the counts on the menu.

Five Guys Burger and Fries: 240 Main Street, White Plains, NY 914-422-3483

These burgers are awesome! This fast food chain worked its way up the middle Atlantic and has finally landed in White Plains. The burgers are fresh and made to order. There are free refills on soft drinks and they offer mini-burgers for little mouths or for the diet conscious. Located right next to the City Center shopping center, this could be a good place to go after shopping at Target or Shop-Rite, or after catching a movie.

Cons: If you or your child has even the slightest hint of a nut allergy stay away!!! They use peanut oil for their french fries and have bags of free peanuts to snack on while you wait for your burger. Also, seating is a bit limited.

The Brazen Fox: 175 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains: (914) 358-5911

Burgers don't necessarily mean fast food. This nice, cavernous two-story pub in White Plains is surprisingly kid-friendly. You can watch the game and have a salad, appetizers or entrees while the kids color and eat some noodles, sliders or chicken fingers. The staff seems to know to put large parties with kids away from the regular patrons as well.

Cons: If you go later in the evening it can become a bit more of a bar scene, and you may feel a bit awkward (or even a tad uncool) hanging out with the kids in tow.

Chinese:

Seven Woks: Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center, Scarsdale (914) 472-4774

Seven Woks is a favorite in town partly because it sticks to a traditional Chinese fare, has fast service and a family-friendly attitude. Little kids will be amused by the mirror on the ceiling and noodles on the table. Older kids will look forward to walking over to All Good Things- formerly Last Licks- after dinner.

Cons: Rice can get everywhere and Chinese food may not be every kid's favorite food. If your kids make a scene, you can be sure you will see someone you know.

Mexican:

Tomatillo: 13 Cedar Street, Dobbs Ferry (914) 478-2300

This Mexican restaurant is great for the kids with healthy options, fresh food and friendly service. You will like having your burrito exactly the way you want it and the kids can nosh on chips while you enjoy a beer on tap from one of several small microbreweries.

Cons: Seating can get cramped and the wait can be long. They don’t usually take reservations.

Wings:
Hurricane Grill and Wings:149-151 South Central Park Ave. Hartsdale (914) 397-9464

You may be all hurricaned out by now, but this pub place has solid pub food with a specialty of wings and offers a kids menu from which even the pickiest of eaters will find something they like. If you are having people over to your house, this place also can handle large take out orders.

Cons: Spicy food may not be everyone's thing and it could get messy.

Pizza:

Scarsdale has a big selection of pizza places including Amore, Italian Village, Pizza Station, and Villa Roma. However, a couple of notables are:

California Pizza Kitchen: 365 Central Park Avenue, Scarsdale: (914) 722-0600. This chain has a wide selection of salads and regular dinner fare for the adults and the kids’ meals come with a free drink and dessert.

Serafina: 199 Main Street, White Plains: (914) 288-9300

You'll feel like you're back in the city once you see the yellow awning of this NYC chain. The thin crust pizza and cool atmosphere will remind you a bit of your life before you moved here. Your older kids may even think it's kind of cool too.

Bellizzi: 1272 Boston Post Rd. Larchmont (914) 833-5800

This Larchmont Italian restaurant has lots of space and a game room that will make this top on your kids' favorite restaurant list. Solid food, and a convenient location- next to Trader Joes- may make this one of your favorites as well. They also have a gluten-free menu.

Cons: As with any place with an arcade, the cost runs up as do squabbles between siblings and friends. Plus, if you don't live near Larchmont, it may feel like schlep for some pizza and a video game.

Chop, Chop:

Hibachi can be a big thrill for big and little kids and luckily there are a few hibachi restaurants near Scarsdale.

Fuji Mountain Restaurant: 2375 Boston Post Road., Larchmont (914) 833-3838

Noda: 200 Hamilton Avenue, White Plains (914)949-0990

Banzai Steak House: 95 South Central Avenue, Hartsdale (914)997-7888

The kids will be mesmerized by the slicing, dicing and flames at the hibachi table.. A free dessert is often included in the meal as well (usually ice cream).

Cons: Kids, especially the younger ones, could be tricky. They may love hibachi one time and freak out the next. The flames and knife tossing can be scary. Also, not all children will appreciate the novelty of watching the chef cook dinner.

Jen is a freelance journalist who has covered the economy and markets for over a decade at a major financial news outlet. She lives in Scarsdale with her husband and 2 children. Jen has yet to bake a successful batch of cookies.