The July issue of Parents magazine, which hits newsstands today, features the results of an in-depth survey of family-friendly chain restaurants. The survey covers a wide range of factors that affect the family dining experience, from healthy menu options (including accommodation of children with food allergies) to changing tables in the bathrooms.
Here's the Top Ten list, in order of ranking:
- Legal Sea Foods
- Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes
- Mimi’s Café
- Uno Chicago Grill
- Chili’s Grill & Bar
- Red Robin
- The Old Spaghetti Factory
- P.F. Chang’s China Bistro
- Denny’s
- Claim Jumper
It has been a few years since I've had personal experience with crayons and changing tables, so I thought I'd ask all you parents of young children out there: How does this list stack up against with your experience?
Comments
My experience?
Mon, 07/21/2008 - 13:07 — fbogusMy experience is that I try to avoid restaurants like the above listed like the plague. The *last* thing I want is my 6-year-old ordering off a "children's menu." When was the last time you saw a children's menu that wasn't mainly hamburger, cheeseburger, chicken fingers, hot dog (all the above with fries), and maybe one other item? That is not why I take my child out to eat.
That said, we like The Federal in Durham for casual family dining. We try to go at slightly off hours and we don't bring the offspring on weekend nights.
Kudos to any restaurant that welcomes children and doesn't assume that they all eat deep-dried, pre-frozen fast food.
great for the fam
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 07:41 — Anonymous (not verified)California Pizza Kitchen
Tylers Tap Room in Durham (for lunch)
sitting outside at City Beverage
Ooh - I don't know about
Fri, 06/20/2008 - 10:07 — Anonymous (not verified)Ooh - I don't know about Bahama Breeze, Dana. Last time I went (and when I decided not to return), I recall being astounded at the lack of interesting food on the kids menu. It was the same old stuff. No fish or shrimp --- nothing that resembled anything on the menu. What a missed opportunity, I thought.
Our favorite is Firebirds. Not only is a steak one of the choices (cooked medium rare if that's what your little girl wants!), they all come with your choice of two very nice sides. The service is great --- they're very nice and respectful of families. It's also *just* noisy enough...
The Q-Shack is also very good - with a wonderful kids menu.
Bear Rock Rocks for us and the Grandkids
Fri, 06/20/2008 - 08:57 — Gary (not verified)$.99 kids menu on Sundays and a great menu for the adults, at the one betwee the Wal-Mart and Harris-Teeter in Cary. Not your average menu for a Bear Rock at this location, it seems.
Local for Families
Thu, 06/19/2008 - 12:37 — AGS (not verified)Three I'd like to add, that are favorites of my 10 year old daughter:
Panzanella
The General Store Cafe (okay, that's Pittsboro, but close enough!).
Lucky 32
I guess I'm lucky enough that my daughter really likes good food and has often asked me why kids menus are always chicken fingers, burgers, and macaroni and cheese. She's loved feeling grown up at Panzanella, where she always orders off the adult menu. She loves the fact that she can order salmon on a kids menu at Lucky 32, and the hummus and the artichoke dip at General Store Cafe have been declared "yummiest!"
Thanks for a story that
Wed, 06/18/2008 - 15:59 — Dana (not verified)Thanks for a story that actually doesn't bash chains. I have to scratch my head about two of the items on the list: Uno Chicago Grill and Denny's. Even if I didn't adore the original Uno's Pizza, I'd think this chain served bad food with an uninspiring menu. It's an abomination of a Windy City gem. I can't say I've ever had a good meal at Denny's.
I think I'd put Fuddruckers and Cheesecake Factory on there instead. Honorable Mention to Golden Corral, Bahama Breeze, and Mellow Mushroom. Maybe even Macaroni Grill, too!?