Does anyone here have any suggestions of good places to eat w/children (Walker? Anne?). I hate going to the chain places, but sometimes end up doing so as a default. Looking for places that have healthy options (vegetarian?), don't cost too much, and a good menu variety (a nice beer menu never hurt, either :lol: ).
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion
Dining Out With Kids?
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Posted 3 years ago #
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this is a topic we discuss DAILY! with three kids two toddlers and a teenager, it's a real bitch. the teenager eats so much! jeez.
we live in lewis center, which sucks for family eating that isn't gross. pizza primo in westerville is awesome and affordable. the kids can get their own mini pizzas for $4.99. and you can eat it there. they have a vegan pizza with almonds too!
whole world is too slow and too crowded for my crew, though the food is awesome.
northstar is good with kids. i like the seating at the clintonville one best.
old bag of nails has great cornbread that the kids love and good beer for mommy. though there's really nothing on the menu that is considered "dinner" that i can eat, the rest of the bunch has a great time with the endless bowl of chilli and cornbread and i get to have a tasty beer and fries.
i'm hoping someone here has some better ideas!!
Posted 3 years ago # -
Posted 3 years ago #
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I know what you mean re: Whole Word. I always feel like we're playing "beat the clock" when we eat out. You know, scarfing down dinner before one of the kids (4 years, 8 months) gets cranky. Our son likes Champp's, basically because it's kind of a sensory overload thing in there (food, noise, tv's etc...).
Wolfgang Puck's in the Lane Ave. Shopping Center has worked well for us, as well as lunch @ the North Market, of course.
Posted 3 years ago # -
AmyD wrote this is a topic we discuss DAILY! with three kids two toddlers and a teenager, it's a real bitch. the teenager eats so much! jeez.
we live in lewis center, which sucks for family eating that isn't gross. pizza primo in westerville is awesome and affordable. the kids can get their own mini pizzas for $4.99. and you can eat it there. they have a vegan pizza with almonds too!
whole world is too slow and too crowded for my crew, though the food is awesome.
northstar is good with kids. i like the seating at the clintonville one best.
old bag of nails has great cornbread that the kids love and good beer for mommy. though there's really nothing on the menu that is considered "dinner" that i can eat, the rest of the bunch has a great time with the endless bowl of chilli and cornbread and i get to have a tasty beer and fries.
i'm hoping someone here has some better ideas!!
Amy, does Primo in Westerville have a "dine-in" optiion? We go to the one on Indianola quite a bit (but still refer to it as "Clintonville Pizza), but only get it to go, as I couldn't see anyone dining there.
Posted 3 years ago # -
There are (maybe) three restaurants in Columbus to which I wouldn't take a child.
There was a lovely couple @ Rosendale's on Sat night w/ an 3 mo old. Our son (now 8) is the terror of tasting menus everywhere after being trained from a tender age.
Go early.
Alana's would love to have you and do vegetarian.
Tip Top/Surly Girl/Betty's - not kidding, great for kids.
Rossi.
Z Cucina.
Figlio's is great for kids.
Big Fat Greek Cucina on 33.
Any Indian restaurant.
Basi, outside would be great.
Ted's Montana Grill (though it is a chain) has the coolest little gimme.
For anyplace you want to go, just call them up.
A.
Posted 3 years ago # -
i agree about the lessner eating extravaganza for kids, but the seating isn't really kid-friendly, except at tip-top. i always think i will bring a small collapsable kid table to use at betty's.
as far as pizza primo in westerville, there's lots of seating and it's super clean too! booths and tables.
Posted 3 years ago # -
oh! and one time my brother took my family to L'Antibes and it was great for kids, surprisingly! he told them we were coming and they bought a high chair the night before! the food was perfect for kids and they really made them feel special. of course, i wasn't paying.
Posted 3 years ago # -
kid eateries:
cheescake factory
TGIFridays
McDonalds
Wendys
Posted 3 years ago # -
figlio and big greek place have tables super close together which i wouldn't think would be great for kids. IMO
since you are in lewis center, have you been to bj's? i would think that place wouldn't be too bad, unless you went on like a friday/sat. busy night.
i love their food.
Posted 3 years ago # -
My daughter loooooves Akai Hana. We have been going there since she was way wee, and they are all super nice to her. If your kid (s) are at all familiar with Japanese food, it's great. And it's not very costly, especially considering how nutritious it is.
You can get a lot of stuff a la carte, and kids from 1-99 have quite the selection of foodstuffs to choose from.
For instance, my kid can get a la carte:
Crab sticks
Rice
Miso Soup
Cucumbers or carrots
Age (fried) tofu in dashi broth
and then maybe a cucumber nori roll.
She also likes the pink ginger, and they have Orangina or milk for her to drink. And ice cream for dessert-- although the waitstaff usually brings her a tiny, non-sugar-coma-inducing free lollipop. :)
We get to have a nice adult meal and even a little sake, and there's lots of other families with kids there so no one gives us the stinkeye.
I think the hushed tones people use in a Japanese restaurant, and the decor, calm her out, too :wink:
Posted 3 years ago # -
I agree with Andrew and think that almost any restaurant can be kid friendly. My daughter grew up eating dinner on the tavern side of Bexley's Monk (back when it was awesome my brother used to bartend there) and other good places. I did not want to be stuck going to the usual kid friendly places. It sounds like Manatee is doing the same thing. With a little planning, some patience, and consistency I think that kids can go almost anywhere if they learn the right manners. I will say my daughter has always been an easy kid and pretty laid back and I know different kids have different temperaments. I will also say that there are kids that really should be left at home if you want to eat somewhere nice. ;)
AmyD, your girls are angels! I bet you could take them anywhere.
Posted 3 years ago # -
We take Max everywhere and have since he was an infant--even Morton's... He enjoys a good steak just like the rest of us. Although, we tend to go to nicer places earlier, as they are not as busy.
Posted 3 years ago # -
they weren't angels today when they were fighting over who got to give their fake baby a bath in their fake shower...which was the couch. it was a smackdown.
Posted 3 years ago # -
lifeliberty wrote kid eateries:
cheescake factory
TGIFridays
McDonalds
Wendys
=====> Obese kids w/ poor taste.
I take my child to Gordon Ramsey's, thanks.
A.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Andrew Hall wrote
lifeliberty wrote kid eateries:
cheescake factory
TGIFridays
McDonalds
Wendys
=====> Obese kids w/ poor taste.
Beat me to it. Kids that are only allowed to eat specific places will more than likely grow up to become adults who only enjoy eating those specific places.
Similarly, kids who aren't taught to behave themselves in slightly more formal setting will have a harder time learning those skills on their own.
Posted 3 years ago # -
i was joking people, sheesh!
i don't care where you take your children as long as it isn't at any restaurant I'm at! :wink:
Posted 3 years ago # -
A.H.'s kid knows more about fine dining than I ever will...it's kind of embarrassing! :lol:
Posted 3 years ago # -
lifeliberty wrote i don't care where you take your children as long as it isn't at any restaurant I'm at!
In the inevitable backlash, I'd appreciate it if this sentiment were not attributed to childless people in general. Thanks.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Bear wrote I'd appreciate it if this sentiment were not attributed to childless people in general. Thanks.
this sentiment is attributed to people with unruly children in restaurants. And they don't even need to be bad, just annoying/loud/messy.
Posted 3 years ago #
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