Family Restaurants Near Prospect Park Zoo
Planning a family day at Prospect Park Zoo? Once you’ve said hello to the sea lions, watched the kids race from exhibit to exhibit, and worked up an appetite exploring Prospect Park, there’s one question every parent eventually hears: “Can we get something to eat?”
If you’re looking for family restaurants near Prospect Park Zoo, head to Harlem Shake® in Park Slope. Our Brooklyn location at 119 5th Avenue at Sterling Place serves smashed burgers, fried chicken, hot dogs, crispy fries, kids’ favorites, plant-based options, and thick, hand-spun shakes in a casual old-school setting that doesn’t require your kids to sit perfectly still through a three-course meal.
In other words: exactly the kind of place that works after a day at the zoo.
Key Takeaways
- Harlem Shake®‘s Brooklyn restaurant is located at 119 5th Avenue at Sterling Place in Park Slope.
- The casual counter-service format makes it an easy choice for lunch or dinner with kids.
- The menu includes smashed burgers, chicken tenders, fried chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, fries, salads, plant-based choices, and a dedicated kids’ menu.
- Kids can choose from family favorites such as mini burgers and grilled cheese.
- Harlem Shake®‘s signature organic milkshakes make an especially fun treat after visiting Prospect Park Zoo.
- The restaurant is a convenient option for families spending the day around Prospect Park and Park Slope.
Make Lunch Part of Your Prospect Park Family Day
Prospect Park can easily turn into an entire day out with the kids.
There’s the zoo, playgrounds, open space, walking paths, and plenty to explore throughout Brooklyn’s backyard. By the time lunch or dinner rolls around, you probably aren’t looking for anything complicated.
You want somewhere casual. Somewhere kids will actually enjoy. Somewhere the adults can order something they’re excited about, too. That’s where Harlem Shake® comes in.
Our Park Slope restaurant combines the nostalgic fun of a classic burger-and-shake joint with plenty of Brooklyn personality. It’s casual, colorful, family-friendly, and built for the kind of meal where everyone can find their own favorite. No fancy dress code. No whispering at the table. Just good food and good times.
What’s on the Menu for Families?
Kids can be brutally honest restaurant critics. Luckily, our menu starts with some pretty convincing arguments.
Harlem Shake® is best known for smashed burgers made with a Pat LaFrieda beef blend, griddled to create crispy edges and served on soft Martin’s Potato Rolls. The Harlem Classic keeps things simple with beef, American cheese, homemade pickles, onions, and special sauce.
Adults looking for something with a little more attitude can go for the Hot Mess, which adds pickled cherry pepper and bacon relish plus smoky chipotle mayo. And burgers are only the beginning.
Kid-Friendly Food That Actually Gets Eaten
When you’re searching for kid-friendly restaurants near Prospect Park Zoo, an impressive menu doesn’t mean much if your child won’t touch anything on it.
Harlem Shake® keeps things easy. Our menu includes kid-friendly options such as the Mini Burger and Kid’s Grilled Cheese, along with chicken tenders, fries, hot dogs, and other familiar favorites.
Have an adventurous eater? Great. Have a kid who has decided that today they only eat foods that are beige? We can work with that, too. That makes Harlem Shake® especially convenient when you’ve got multiple kids with completely different opinions about what constitutes lunch.
Burgers for the Grown-Ups
Parents shouldn’t have to settle for whatever the kids are eating. Our burger menu gives adults plenty to explore, starting with the Harlem Classic and moving into specialties like the Hot Mess.
If beef isn’t what you’re after, Harlem Shake® also offers Impossible and veggie options.
That means one person can order a classic smashed burger, someone else can go plant-based, and the kids can stick with their favorites without turning lunch into a negotiation worthy of the United Nations.
Fried Chicken, Hot Dogs & More
Not everyone wants a burger, even at a burger joint. Our chicken menu includes buttermilk-brined fried chicken sandwiches, including the Classic Fried Chicken Sandwich with pickles and creamy slaw.
Want something with more kick? Check out options like the Jerk Chicken Sandwich or Hot Honey Chick. There are also all-beef hot dogs, including the Classic Hot Dog, plus salads and sides when you’re looking to mix things up. It’s the kind of menu that works particularly well for families and groups because everyone doesn’t have to order some version of the same thing.
Fries Worth Sharing — In Theory
Then there are the fries. Harlem Shake® offers classic fries along with options such as Curly Fries, Jerk Fries, Sweet Yam Fries, Cheese Fries, and DarDra’s Parmesan Truffle Fries. Order a few for the table if you’re feeling generous. Just know that “I’ll only have one” is rarely how this story ends.
The Post-Zoo Milkshake Is Practically Mandatory
You took the kids to see the animals. Everyone walked a lot. Memories were made. You’ve earned the shake.
Harlem Shake® serves a lineup of organic milkshakes, including vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cookies & cream, salted caramel, peanut butter, and other rotating and specialty flavors. Then there’s our signature Harlem Shake®. It’s a red velvet milkshake made with Blue Marble ice cream and red velvet cake from Harlem bakery Make My Cake.
Kids see dessert. Adults see a completely reasonable reward for successfully completing a family outing without losing a water bottle. Everybody wins.
A Casual Restaurant for Kids Near Prospect Park
The food matters, but parents know the atmosphere matters just as much.
Harlem Shake® is fast-casual and counter-service, so you don’t need to commit to a long formal meal after spending hours exploring Brooklyn with the kids.
Order what everyone wants, find a spot, relax, and enjoy.
Our Brooklyn restaurant brings Harlem Shake®’s old-school diner personality to Park Slope with a lively, nostalgic atmosphere that feels fun rather than fussy. That makes it work for a quick family lunch, an early dinner, or the all-important post-zoo burger-and-shake stop.
Vegetarian & Plant-Based Options for the Family
Families don’t always have the same dietary preferences, and we’ve built options into the menu accordingly.
Harlem Shake® offers Impossible burger choices as well as a house veggie burger, giving plant-based diners alternatives to our traditional beef burgers. Salads are also available for anyone looking for something lighter after a day in the park. If someone in your family has an allergy or specific dietary requirement, talk with our team before ordering so we can help you understand current ingredients and preparation.
Turn Prospect Park Into a Full Family Day
One of the best things about visiting Prospect Park Zoo is that the zoo doesn’t have to be the entire outing. You’re already in one of Brooklyn’s best areas for spending time together.
Explore Prospect Park. Let the kids burn off some energy. Visit the zoo. Then head into Park Slope and make lunch or dinner part of the adventure. Harlem Shake®’s Brooklyn location at 119 5th Avenue at Sterling Place puts burgers, fries, chicken, and shakes on the agenda when everyone’s ready to refuel. And unlike packing lunch for an entire family, nobody has to remember the sandwiches.
Looking for a Family Restaurant Near Prospect Park Zoo?
When families search for restaurants near Prospect Park Zoo, they’re usually looking for more than proximity. You need a menu that works for adults and kids. You need a casual environment. You need enough choices for picky eaters and adventurous eaters. And ideally, you need dessert powerful enough to motivate everyone through the last part of the walk.
Harlem Shake® checks those boxes. Our Park Slope location serves the food families actually want after a Brooklyn adventure: smashed burgers, chicken, hot dogs, fries, veggie options, kids’ meals, and shakes.
Stop by Harlem Shake® in Park Slope
Make Harlem Shake® part of your next Prospect Park family day.
Visit us at:
Harlem Shake® Brooklyn
119 5th Avenue at Sterling Place
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(877) 71-SHAKE
Come for lunch before the zoo, stop in afterward for dinner, or make a signature shake the grand finale. Animals first. Burgers next. We like that itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Restaurants Near Prospect Park Zoo
Where can families eat near Prospect Park Zoo?
Harlem Shake® in Park Slope is a casual family-friendly restaurant at 119 5th Avenue at Sterling Place. The menu includes smashed burgers, chicken, hot dogs, fries, vegetarian and plant-based options, kids’ choices, and milkshakes.
Is Harlem Shake® good for kids?
Yes. Harlem Shake®’s casual counter-service format and dedicated children’s menu make it a convenient option for families. Kids can choose from options such as mini burgers and grilled cheese, along with other familiar menu items.
Does Harlem Shake® have a kids’ menu?
Yes. Harlem Shake®’s Brooklyn menu includes a children’s section with kid-friendly options. Families can also choose from fries, chicken tenders, hot dogs, shakes, and other items on the larger menu.
Where can I get burgers near Prospect Park Zoo?
Harlem Shake®’s Park Slope location at 119 5th Avenue specializes in smashed burgers, including the Harlem Classic and Hot Mess, along with Impossible and veggie alternatives.
Are there vegetarian options near Prospect Park Zoo?
Harlem Shake® offers plant-based and vegetarian choices, including Impossible burger options and a house veggie burger. Guests with specific dietary requirements should speak with the restaurant about current ingredients and food preparation.
Can we get milkshakes near Prospect Park Zoo?
Yes. Harlem Shake® serves organic milkshakes in classic and specialty flavors. Its signature Harlem Shake® is a red velvet shake made with Blue Marble ice cream and red velvet cake from Make My Cake.
Is Harlem Shake® a good place for lunch after Prospect Park Zoo?
Yes. Harlem Shake® is a casual counter-service restaurant in Park Slope with options for adults and children, making it an easy choice for a family lunch or meal as part of a day around Prospect Park.
Does Harlem Shake® have food besides burgers?
Yes. The menu also includes fried and grilled chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, hot dogs, salads, fries and sides, vegetarian options, and milkshakes.
Where is the Brooklyn Harlem Shake®?
Harlem Shake® Brooklyn is located at 119 5th Avenue at Sterling Place in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY 11217.
What are some good kid-friendly foods at Harlem Shake®?
Popular family-friendly choices include mini burgers, grilled cheese, chicken tenders, hot dogs, fries, and milkshakes. Parents and older kids can also choose from Harlem Shake®’s full burger, chicken, salad, and sides menus.
