Jack’s Wife Freda – West Village

A darling hole-in-the wall in the West Village, Jack’s Wife Freda is an American/Mediterranean restaurant with a homey vibe and hipster flair. It’s small and cozy – a pro or con depending on the size of your stroller! There are two locations downtown – we review the one in the West Village here.

Basics:

Kid Friendliness:

The Verdict:

Appropriate for Brunch, Lunch or Dinner.
Good for toddlers and little kids. Not good for infants who stay in the stroller because the restaurant is very small and the tables that can accommodate a stroller beside them are limited.

Sippy Cup Rating:

The truth is, dining out with kids, especially young kids isn’t easy. It can be stressful, exasperating and sometimes embarrassing. Even under the best circumstances at a restaurant with every amenity under the sun, a meltdown can rear it’s ugly head and derail plans. Today was one of those days for Sunny and I.

Fork+Bib has been following the Instagram feed for Jack’s Wife Freda for a few months now and couldn’t wait to try out the food and to hopefully meet fellow mom and one of the owner’s @DeansWifeMaya who’s chic downtown style is often featured on their feed.

Anyway, as we rolled up Sunny decided she was too tired to eat, and to sit, and to play, and to color and to….you get the picture. The only thing she wanted to do was cry, of course without letting me know why or how I could help. Despite the host’s best efforts to cheer her up there was no un-clouding Sunny. I decided to throw in the towel and started walking home. Of course once we were at least 10 blocks away Sunny declared she was feeling better and ready to dine. And so, we turned around and decided to give it another shot.

Luckily the host was able to find a seat in the back for us. I folded up our stroller and stashed it to the side of the bar per his suggestion. [Note – there is no official stroller parking. Most people left their strollers on the sidewalk out front. There is a little room in the back of the restaurant that could accommodate one or maybe two folded strollers but it’s tight.  Overall the best bet is to leave the strollers outside or not bring them at all.

As soon as Sunny and I sat down our cheery waitress came to the table with a sticker game, crayons and a kids coloring menu in tow. It was as if she knew that Sunny was a ticking time bomb! She gave me a knowing look and quickly took our order. Sunny opted for chicken fingers, no surprise there. I got the Mediterranean breakfast which came with two perfectly cooked poached eggs, a fresh israeli chopped salad, pita, avocado and labne.

So…all was good in the hood until Sunny’s chicken fingers came out with a beautiful pile of golden fries. “Nooooo fries!” Sunny screamed. Oh boy, here we go. Irrational meltdown coming, take shelter! Before I could even say a word the busboy returned to the kitchen and came back out with the chicken fingers sitting solo on the plate, and the fries on another. Crisis averted.

The rest of the meal went  smoothly. Sunny loved the chicken fingers which were very crispy and lightly breaded, almost more like schnitzel. She quietly ate and played with her sticker pack. I ate and breathed a sigh of relief.

We packed up our stuff and made our way to survey the potty scene. There are two private unisex bathrooms, unfortunately neither have a changing table. Given how kid-friendly the restaurant is I’m hoping they’ll make this change…..plus it would make Ashton Kutcher, and my husband, reallllllly happy -read why here.

Table fun!

Kiddie Menu

Bonus Points:

• So many options plus a great little kids menu means there is something for everyone
• Incredibly friendly staff

Insider Tips:

• This restaurant is small which is part of it’s charm. Get there early for brunch, as in 8:30AM
• If you are coming with a baby in a stroller ask for the end spot at the communal table. It’s the only spot that can accommodate a stroller near it during busy hours. If you go during an off time there are a few other options.
• No apple juice. If this is a must then bring your own. If you kiddie is adventurous then get them to try the fresh cantaloupe juice which is delish

Inside