Hot on HuffPost Parents:
Zoe Armstrong: Five Ways to Fake a Break and Avoid Parenting Burnout
Lianne Castelino and Andrea Howick: How Do You Deal With Nightmare…
Restaurants made just for families
Filed under: Places To Go
I'm all too familiar with adult-only restaurants: establishments that welcome only people who do not poop their pants or spit out their unwanted food on the windowsill. And I firmly believe that these places have their right to exist, but I've occasionally felt wistful about the lack of ability to dine out with my son, in a place where the food doesn't come wrapped in yellow paper.So when my friend Libby invited Nolan and I to join her and her family for brunch at a kid-friendly restaurant downtown, I was intrigued. Apparently, the restaurant served delicious food and had a play area with a mini-kitchen for toddlers to create their own culinary art. What an awesome idea! Why hadn't I invented it?
Nolan and I thoroughly enjoyed Little Nest. Nobody rolled their eyes when Nolan dragged a plastic phone from the play area to the till, and though there was the minor mishap of Nolan rolling on Libby's son (I don't know either) Food was laid out helpfully on a giant chalkboard, and orders for fare like banana-ricotta french toast and goat cheese frittata with root vegetables could be paid for right at the counter. This is perfect: often I find we need to make a quick exit and taking care of the bill first ensures that we could bolt (as inevitably, we needed to do.)
I'll be back there next weekend, and maybe the weekend after. I wish there were more establishments like this. Admittedly the atmosphere was chaotic: if you don't have kids you probably wouldn't want to go near this place. But I think every city should have at least one.
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
Recently Asked
- Discuss Derian douglas hickman's answer to: 01/16/2013 Order Sua Sponte to/for: Entered 2 day's before initial scheduling conference 01/16/2013
- Is this legal
- My daughter (14 yrs) was just kicked out of her Girl Scout Cadettes troop. Her offense? Having ADD (not hyperactive) and she wasn't picking up on a tr...
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
Benihana Birthday Party: Ninja Family Meal
Daddy Clay shares his birthday idea to host a kids birthday party at a teppanyaki Japanese restaurant. These Benihana style restaurants provide the perfect birthday places to have a great birthday party for kids. Japanese steakhouses, Mongolian BBQ, and hibachi grills make great family dining, and are guaranteed to provide memorable kids birthday parties.
-
Bringing Your Children to a Fancy Restaurant
Taking the family out for dinner at a restaurant can be a fun activity for parents and kids. But what about taking your kids out to fancy restaurants for fine dining? In this episode of The Lab, Daddy Clay talks with Shawn Cirkiel, chef and owner of Parkside, located on Sixth Street in Austin, Texas. Also a dad, he tells us why going to a gourmet restaurant is great for your children, and he shares his philosophy of cooking. Learn what kind of food and menu he recommends for other dads.
-
Restaurant Rescue for Parents
Many times, going out to a restaurant as a family means the kids may end up causing a scene. Find out how you can prepare your entire family for a fun-filled, tantrum-free night out.
-
How to Eat Out With a Family
In this episode, E. Parce Ainsworth explains how having kids does not mean you must sacrifice the restaurant experience. Watch this video to learn how to eat out with your kids.
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
11-11-2007 @ 7:14PM
Melissa said...I so had this idea two weeks ago. I can't believe these people stole my idea and opened up a restaurant in that little time! ;)
Reply
11-11-2007 @ 8:04PM
Kelsey said...For thoose living in Austin, Texas there is the wonderful Waterloo Ice House on Burnett Road(Correct me if I am wrong) The resturant has playground out back to occupy children and a good assortment of food (though nothing extraordinary.) The greatest part of it however is that bringing your children along is the norm. No matter what your kid is doing, you have three different parents equally has exasperated.
Reply
11-11-2007 @ 8:58PM
Eva said...Huh, my friends and I don't have a problem taking our little ones to restaurants. We just choose very casual, very loud places, usually Mexican or places like that.
Reply
11-11-2007 @ 11:04PM
Lauren said...There is a restaurant here in Portland, OR that is the same idea. It is called Peanut Butter & Ellie's, and I have heard really wonderful things about it.
We have not ventured out there yet, but it is on the list for the rainy, yucky winter. I agree it is a great idea!
Reply
11-12-2007 @ 12:12AM
Wendy Cardoza said...In Sacramento CA there is(or was, I no longer live there) a small restaurant called The Family Room with an etch-a-sketch on the tables, toys in the corner, and menu items such as the toddler graze. It also happily served great adult fare that was special enough for a date. The prices were reasonable and they seemed to stay pretty busy. I thought it was fabulous!!! Wish there were more like that too.
Reply
11-12-2007 @ 1:27AM
Tamyu said...There is a place near here which does it beautifully. They have a huge padded play area, with little low walled islands that contain tables. The kids can run around the play area (which has a high wall with a gate to prevent escapes) while the parents enjoy their meal on their personal "island". The tables themselves are a work of art too, as they are designed to not spill the food outside the little island, and are the easiest things to wipe down. The seats are very low, and the area for your feet is indented. No chair or table legs for kids to crawl under.
Plus, they give you a set of sterilized wash cloths to wipe down your child, and whatever they spill.
Did I mention that their food was great?
I love the place.
Reply
11-12-2007 @ 10:51AM
Elizabeth said...We have a restaurant called My Friend's Place here that not only emphasizes healthy food (no deep frying) that tastes really good but they have an area with toys and a dvd player where kids can eat, all within view of the "grown-up" tables. They also have a nursing room and very clean, well stocked changing tables. We're talking diapers, wipes, all of it! Also, the owner has children and simply laughs off any mishaps.
Reply
11-12-2007 @ 11:45AM
Chelsea said...Thanks for the info, what a great idea and in Vancouver too! I'm going to check it out. There are only so many pirate packs one person can order before we need to find something else.
Reply