Every city has its quaint locations and places with cool outdoor seating, but there are a few chains that I have used city to city that never make me feel like my kids weren’t welcome. I hope that this list can help you find a good place that suits your family!
- BJ’s Brewhouse- They give out a “pre-dinner snack” to kids almost as soon as we sit down and it is a favorite! Sometimes our kiddos eat too much of it and aren’t hungry for their meal, but we appreciate it nonetheless. The smiley face potatoes are soft enough for our 10 month old to enjoy on her own. They have color kits and large dining areas as well which makes it less noticeable if they start getting restless.
- Macaroni Grill- The kids love drawing on the tables! The kids menu is good for picky eaters as well. Our local restaurant is not super busy during the early dinner hour and we usually can get in and out before the dining room fills up.
- Chilis- If your kids are electronics savvy, they have a little tablet with games. Admittedly, we usually come here for happy hour and our kids snack with us which doesn’t corner us into buying a kids meal. It isn’t our healthiest option, but we love it!
- Starbucks- My kids love the parfaits, egg bites and protein boxes. If I forgot their snacks there are also options to buy and give the kids later. Many stores have outdoor options so that the kids can unwind for a minute while I take a phone call, if not, the transient nature of the crowds (post-COVID) has made everyone pretty tolerant of my kids playing musical chairs and touching everything.
I’m sure this list doesn’t cover all the cute mom and pop shops, but when you are in a new city it is nice to have a few familiar menus that will buy you time to eat, collect your thoughts and ask the locals about other kid friendly venues!
