There are kids’ restaurants (hello, Rainforest Cafe) and adults’ restaurants (yes, Alinea) and then there’s the sweet spot—places that welcome children while also serving food that adults love. We’ve assembled a list of restaurants that fit the bill with inventive kids’ menus and friendly service.
Mealtimes are all about connecting with each other and that’s made easier without parents hopping up to refill drinks and clear plates or kids leaving the table to rush to the next thing. Plus, your kids will get to try, and maybe even love, foods they don’t get at home.
For a more enjoyable experience, go out early—you can avoid waits and eat before your kids get tired and cranky. At the first few meals out, order just entrees; appetizers and desserts may take too long and try a younger child’s patience. But, the very first step to fun family night out is choosing the right restaurant, and you can’t go wrong with any of the following choices.
End bickering about which kind of food to go out for. Foodlife has it all—their 14 kitchens serve up everyone’s favorites like burgers, sushi, stir fry, pasta, and barbeque. Kids love the swipe cards they use to “pay” for their choices at the counters and a menu highlighting foods kids like is in the works. Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, 312-335-3663
Photo courtesy of Foodlife.
Meat on a stick! Flaming cheese! There’s a lot for kids to love at Greek Islands. Their menu goes on for days with choices like kids’ kabobs, gyros, burgers, spaghetti and pastichio (a kind of Greek lasagna, pictured). It’s also fun to explore Chicago’s Greektown. 200 S. Halsted, Chicago, 312-782-9855
Photo courtesy of Greek Islands.
“Come for Kevin, stay for the food!” touts the Kevin’s Place website. Kevin is the restaurant’s friendly, funny, fabulous owner and host. He sits at each table to personally take orders, coaxing smiles from even the shyest children. Kids enjoy Mickey or Minnie Mouse pancakes and scrambler quesadillas. 808 Waukegan Road, Deerfield, 847-945-4577
La Casa De Isaac and La Casa De Isaac & Moishe
Brothers Isaac and Moishe offer a delicious introduction to fresh homestyle Mexican cuisine with kids’ tacos and quesadillas. Tortillas keep little hands busy and the menu offers great gluten-free options. For dessert, families can dig into helado frito (fried ice cream) or tres leches cake. 431 Temple Ave., Highland Park, 847-433-5550; 2014 First St., Highland Park, 847-433-7300
The Lantern’s entire menu reads like a kid’s dream but there’s also a separate kids’ menu that becomes 3D with a free app. The atmosphere is festive and fun with a model train circling overhead and year-round holiday lights. On Sundays after 4 p.m., children 11 and under eat free while a balloon artist entertains them. 768 N. Western Ave., Lake Forest, 847-234-9844
From Stephanie Izard of Top Chef and Girl & the Goat fame comes a diner with some creative options. Mom and Dad can try pork belly pancakes with ginger maple dressing while their kids tear into an ooey gooey cinnamon roll (get ‘em early!). The kids’ menu features diner staples like pancakes, mini dogs and sundaes. 820 W. Randolph St., Chicago, 312-888-3455
Photo by Galdones Photography.
Introduce your kids to fish and chips at this seafood restaurant. Shaw’s kids’ menu also has the usual goodies like macaroni and chicken strips. Children 12 and under enjoy their Sunday brunch for free; it features a dessert table that’ll make kids swoon with mini pies, cakes and even cotton candy. 21 E. Hubbard St., Chicago, 312-527-2722
Photo by Anjali Pinto.
Kids will love slurping long, squiggly ramen noodles or eating from bento boxes. Large screens play anime (beautiful Japanese animated films) while children try to master chopsticks with the help of “fun chop” holders. 116 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, 312-464-0466
The chance for kids to create their own fresh stir-fry? Check. The opportunity to watch it being fired up on a giant griddle? Check. The kids’ menu also offers dishes like Ninja Noodles and Shogun Fried Rice along with trivia, games and a chopstick tutorial. Kids 10 and under eat free on Tuesdays and Thursdays after 4 p.m. with the purchase of an adult entree. 1186 Northbrook Court, Northbrook, 847-562-4800
Tweens will appreciate the newly-opened Ten Mile House’s smoked brisket sandwich or wood-fired pizza. A kids’ menu adds to basics like grilled cheese with authentic barbequed ribs and burger sliders. The open kitchen and roaring fire from the pizza oven will pique kids’ interest. 1700 Central St., Evanston, 847-905-0669
Photo by George Pfoertner Photography.
Counter Service Restaurants
When it comes to dining out with kids, sometimes quicker is better. Counter service means you can sit and eat or, if you need a quick exit, pack it up and go without waiting for the check.
Tacos and quesadillas are kid-happy food and the family-owned Antique Taco readily modifies their tasty offerings to please the pickiest eaters. Finish with Abuelita’s pop tart made with Mexican chocolate and marshmallows. The colorful, whimsical restaurant features giant spools as table numbers and free Chiclets gum. 1360 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, 773-687-8697
Photo by Anna Zajac.
Dark wood booths and old-school vinyl tablecloths make this place feel like the pizza joint of your childhood. Barnaby’s serves up Italian specialties like homemade baked mostaccioli, meatball parmigiana and, of course, their crispy cornmeal-crust pizzas. 960 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, 847-498-3900
Their pitch: “Globally inspired, locally prepared.” Kids can try pad thai or an Indonesian peanut saute or stick with more familiar dishes like chicken noodle soup or Wisconsin mac and cheese. Every meal comes comes in adult and kid-sized portions and the self-service drink machine allows for fun endless combinations. Fifty-eight locations in Illinois, including nine in Chicago and these local spots:
- 1209 W. Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove, 847-483-9925
- 110c S. Waukegan Road, Deerfield, 847-559-9172
- 930 Church St., Evanston, 847-733-1200
- 1851 Tower Drive, Glenview, 847-729-5555
- 303 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Bluff, 847-482-1680
- 900 Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire, 847-793-0514
- 510 Touhy, Park Ridge, 847-292-6502
- 700 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills, 847-816-3910
