Top ten kid-friendly places to eat
There are lots of fun times and lots of crazy times with little ones in the house. Usually that means a lot of adjustments and concessions to what you really want to do and what you should just do. And one of those things is eating out. Pepper and I could eat Sushi on a regular basis, but that’s rarely ever a toddler-friendly environment. So I feel like we end up cycling through some of the same restaurants whenever we eat out as a family. Here’s our list … maybe you can help add to it & give us some more ideas.
1. Moes - It’s Mexican. It’s quick service. It’s loud. And the kids get a cookie with their meal! All good things for helping us make it through the dinner time hour!
2. Firehouse Subs – Good sandwiches. Quick service (usually). It’s loud. And the kids get Fire Hats to eat with, which keeps them entertained for some reason.
3. The Varsity – This isn’t a regular on our list by any means, but if you live in the Atlanta area then you know it’s got to be visited at least anytime you’re down town! It’s loud & crazy so if you’re kids are that way too, you’ll all fit right in!!
4. Mexican Restaurants – I don’t know what it is about Mexican Restaruants in general, but they’re always a safe bet for us! The music is usually loud. The service is usually quick. And they always seem to have coloring sheets and balloons.
5. Golden Corral - Ok, definitely not on my list of choice, but I must admit if you have kids it’s acutally pretty good. It’s a great way to get actual vegetables (I mean really – there are NEVER vegetables on a kids menu unless Mac & Cheese has become an official vegetable & I missed it!). It’s also a good way to try new things and if they don’t eat it all you don’t have to feel like you wasted a bunch of money. Plus, Evan’s at the age where he likes to pick out his own things so he enjoys walking down the aisle and picking a few things out.
6. Waffle House -Another breakfast stop, but really a little bit of everything. And again it’s usually quick (assuming you pick a good time to go). Evan LOVES their waffles and Megan LOVES eggs in general, so we’re usually good to go!
7. Subway – I’m kind of over Subway, but with the $5 Footlong Promo we can usually get in & out of there at around $10 for the family. Not bad!
8. CiCi’s Pizza – Ok, we actually don’t eat here very often at all. I mean when their slogan is “the best pizza value anyway” … that’s not speaking too much for the actual pizza! But after T-ball practice it’s super convenient and super cheap!! We can start shoving Breadsticks in Megan’s mouth even before we sit down!
9. Cracker Barrel – Another good choice for getting anything from breakfast to dinner with salads & deserts in between. But the best part is, you can play with the little games at the table or if your kids are too crazy like mine often are then you can visit the “store” and play with all the toys while you wait!
10. HELP!!! So this is where I obviously need your help. All of our choices are the same. It’s fine if I want a sandwich, breakfast or mexican. But aren’t I missing some options?? Where do you go with your family that feels like a night out but at a reasonable price with relatively quick service??
- Post linked to Top Ten Tuesday at ohAmanda.
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about 5 months ago
Our grandson’s favorite place is Chick-fil-A. The food is good, inexpensive, and there is an indoor playground for Jay to run off some energy.
If you have a Cheddar’s nearby, you might try that. It is excellent, reasonbly priced, and we always bring home leftovers. Another one of Jay’s favorite places to eat.
Carolyn´s last blog ..The Ides of March
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mandi Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:18 am
You’re right about Chick-fil-a. I guess I use that one for lunch so much though that I try to switch it up for dinner. I don’t think we have Cheddar’s here. I’ve never heard of it.
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about 5 months ago
Well, you KNOW that dad and I would LOVE to keep them whenever you guys want to go eat sushi!! When in the world did you start liking that??!!!!! I forget about the Waffle House – and we have one right down the road!!!
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mandi Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Ok, how bout tonight:) Kidding!
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about 5 months ago
When we have a lot of kids with us…we go to Friendly’s. The prices are reasonable and they have an awesome kids menu.
I also agree with Carolyn on Cheddars…you can easily split your meal with one of your kids and both leave with a full belly.
Ally´s last blog ..Cheap Ways to Childproof Your House
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mandi Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:17 am
I don’t think we have either one of those here but Cheddars has me super curious since two of you mentioned that!
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about 5 months ago
Ben’s favorite place is California Pizza Kitchen, but he also really likes the Cheesecake Factory. I know it seems weird, the second one, but the small plates really work for us as a family and he loves to nibble on the fried cheese.
Beth´s last blog ..Twelve Years Old
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mandi Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:16 am
Forgot about CPK … that’s usually a pretty good choice too! And yes Cheesecake definitely took me by surprise:)
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about 5 months ago
Evan’s doing Tball and soccer? Or am I just behind on the seasons? Anywhoo.
Yeah, CFA.
And uhm…
I don’t know. There’s not much. Really and truly, what’s up with no veggies?
oh amanda´s last blog ..Top Ten {Tuesday}: How To Make A Blogger Happy
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mandi Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:03 am
He’s in T-ball. We let him pick that or soccer since he’s played both & that’s what he chose!
SOO true about the veggie thing … ridiculous!
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about 5 months ago
Our favorite place at the moment is Red Robin. Always quick, several choices on the kid’s menu that each one will eat (my kids are 2 & 1), fruit is an option for a side, it’s a fun atmosphere, they love the fries we get when we are first seated, and they get a balloon when we leave. And the price is right, too. Oh, and Hubby and I love their burgers/sandwiches.
Considering I lived on their milkshakes and Gourmet Cheeseburger during both pregnancies I think it’s in their blood!
Anyway – a great spot for lunch or dinner for our family. Cracker Barrel is tops for us for breakfast, btw.
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mandi Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:00 am
We have a Red Robin near us now … I need to check that out!
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about 5 months ago
iHop and Applebee’s are good kid-friendly places to eat. Both are loud, to drown out kid yells and squeals. We love iHop!
Allison´s last blog ..Is This the End or the Beginning? (SAHM Series)
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about 5 months ago
We love Tin Drum. It’s Asian fast food and they have several locations through out the metro area. It’s quick and very inexpensive. My kids can share one kid meal together.
Amy @ Atlanta With Kid´s last blog ..FREE Build & Grow Kids Clinic at Lowe’s –Mar 13th
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mandi Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:31 am
We go there b/c it is quick and easy, but unfortunately my kiddos don’t eat too well. But kids eat free so that’s HUGE plus!!
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about 5 months ago
This is probably not helpful but we like local grills. They have kids-eat-free nights!
We love several on your list though and CFA!
Amy´s last blog ..A Walk with God – In Hardback
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about 5 months ago
We don’t eat out much, but Chick-Fil-A is usually my choice, although says they are too expensive. Hence the reason we don’t eat out much….
Heather @ Not a DIY Life´s last blog ..Mamavation Week #11
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about 5 months ago
RED ROBIN for sure!!!
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about 5 months ago
Chuck E. Cheese? Just kidding that place was spawned by the devil.
My kids love Sonic. We pull up to the place where you order and they come out in roller skates. Then we put down the seats in the back of the minivan and have a “picnic”.
The Diaper Diaries´s last blog ..Top Ten Random Things I Want To Tell You
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mandi Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
HA to Chuck E. Cheese!! Although it does accomplish what I’m trying to accomplish:)
Your Sonic idea is great though … I’m sure your girls love that!
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about 5 months ago
So true about Mexican restaurants… though I’d never thought about it before. Plus, most of them serve chips and salsa when you sit down, so hungry kids don’t have to wait til their dinners come out!

Ashley´s last blog ..Back to SCHOOL!!!
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mandi Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Oh I didn’t even mention the chips & salsa … that’s the best part!! Hungry kids don’t have to wait!
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about 5 months ago
Mediterranean Grill, especially the location at N. Decatur Rd. and Clairmont Rd. near Emory. Hummus is the ultimate kid-friendly food and we’ve found the Grill to be low-key and just right for our family. Likewise, Cafe Istanbul on Lawrenceville Highway is good – what kid doesn’t like sitting on pillows on the floor to eat?
If your kids are at all adventurous, look for Indian restaurants that aren’t too fancy. Sometimes there is belly dancing or other live entertainment, and even picky eaters will probably like naan bread and a mango lassi (call it a milkshake if it makes them happy). My kids will usually eat a mild chicken or chickpeas dish.
I like Doc Chey’s Noodle House for kids too. I do wish there were Bob Evans restaurants handy here – their kids’ menu is actually pretty well-stocked with good choices and we frequently eat there on road trips. You’ve already mentioned breakfast food but IHOP is always a winner with us – breakfast for dinner!
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mandi Reply:
March 17th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Oh goodness! I want to try all those! Especially Cafe Istanbul .. how fun to sit on pillows:) Thanks for all the great suggestions!!
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about 5 months ago
Oh the Varsity. I went there once, in college. I have no restaurant suggestions as the northeast is about as far from Atlanta (geogrphically and culturally) as you can get . . . I find that the places we frequent are b/c they’re kid friendly but the places I like we go infrequently b/c, well, they’re not kid friendly.
sarah´s last blog ..Not Me! Monday
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mandi Reply:
March 17th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
So did you go to school in GA or do you live here now??
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about 5 months ago
We love (LOVE!) Mexican food, and we’ve found that the best part of that kind of restaurant is that chips and salsa come out immediately. So we can entertain our daughter with that. Luckily for us, she LOVES chips and salsa. Not so lucky for us, she’s old enough now to think she has the right to grab her own chips and dip them into OUR salsa!
We haven’t tried Firehouse Subs. We’ll have to do that. Thanks for the suggestion!
Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect´s last blog ..Swagbucks and Amazon.com Giveaway
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mandi Reply:
March 17th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
How dare her dip into “your” salsa:)
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about 5 months ago
This little old Canadian has only been to Subway and Cracker Barrel (on a Florida vacation) from your list soo….no ideas from me but I am longing to try out any of the places from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives…ohhhh and visit a Sonic for a limeade-y drink

Naomi´s last blog ..Top Ten Tuesday: New Baby Tips
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