I'll be visiting in NY from San Francisco in April and am looking for a place to get together with friends and family early Sunday afternoon for a casual 35th birthday celebration. The group is likely to be about 10-15 adults, several small children, and a couple of babies. I'd like to find someplace kid-friendly, but not kid-centered (a good pizzeria, maybe, but not Chuckie Cheese or its equivalent). I'd prefer very tasty but not fancy eats, and for adults who are so inclined to be able to have a few beers. Something like a covered patio would also be great.

The potential attendees are spread in every direction (Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, NJ), so Manhattan would be ideal, though I'd consider outer boroughs, as well, and will re-post there.

Some thoughts I had were a pizzeria or a biergarten. Any suggestions within these categories, or suggestions not within these categories?

For biergarten type places Zum Schneider and Lederhosen have come up as suggestions. Also, the back garden at DBA (though unless NY winters have changed since I lived there, the weather could easily be terrible in April), and Radegast, in Brooklyn. How well would these places work on a Sunday afternoon with the group I described?

If I were going to be in New Haven, one of the old school pizzeria's-- e.g. Pepe's-- would work; what would be a good equivalent in NYC? Lombardi's and also Arturo's, on Houston, have come up as recommendations. In poking around, I also found Roberta's in Bushwick. I've never been to any of these.

I haven't lived in NYC in 10 years, so my knowledge of places is pretty rusty...

Thoughts?