Carroll Gardens

Good eats
At the edge of Carroll Gardens is Eton (205 Sackett St, 718-222-2999), purveyor of dumplings, hand-pulled noodles, Hawaiian shave ice and bubble tea. (It’s an odd combination, to be sure, but kids will wonder why no one’s thought of it before.) The house dumplings —in chicken, pork or vegetable—are fried, steamed and then fried again. Bring your own container and receive a 25¢ discount. In the spring, try shave ice in one of 16 flavors, including lychee, guava and watermelon. Similar to a Sno-Kone, shave ice is extra fine so the flavoring is absorbed into it rather than sinking to the bottom of the cup.

The rustic bistro Le Petit Café (502 Court St, 718-596-7060) cooks comforting fare in generous portions. Among the tot favorites are a number of egg dishes for breakfast and cornflake-crusted chicken fingers for dinner. In the back garden, a pond filled with goldfish mesmerizes young ones.

Carroll Gardens is a good place to bring an appetite for Italian. Kids can watch pizza being made to order at new brick-oven joint Luna Rossa (522 Court St, 718-875-1384). Or stop by Vinny’s (295 Smith St, 718-875-5600) for chicken parm and good ol’ spaghetti and meatballs.