13 Best Restaurants To Take Your Grandchildren To

Grandma’s cooking. Everyone loves it, and you love cooking for your family. There is probably something you are famous for that you always have to have, whether it’s something cozy like chicken n’ dumplings, a refreshing drink like the perfect mint tea, or a dessert so good it makes everyone melt. But sometimes it’s fun to go out to eat and let someone else cook. When it’s you and your spouse, you can choose wherever you want to go, but with grandchildren, you may have to do a little more research. Here are some of the best places to dine out with your grandchildren.

Things to Consider Before Dining Out with Grandkids

1. What kind of restaurant do you want to go to?
2. Do the grandkids have any allergies?
3. How expensive will the restaurant be?
4. Does the restaurant offer any specials for kids or have any coupons online?
5. Is the restaurant kid-friendly?
6. Is it a place where other families will dine?
7. How far away is it from home?
8. Will the restaurant cater to everyone’s tastes?
9. Does the restaurant sell alcohol?
10. How noisy will the restaurant be?
11. Will it be appropriate for your special needs grandchild? For example, will lots of noise bother them or will too much stimulation overwhelm their senses?
12. Will there be a long wait time to get a table?
13. If your grandchild has allergies, can the restaurant accommodate those needs?
14. Are you going with someone or alone? If you have several grandkids, take a friend with you. 
15. How will you handle discipline if needed?

Things to Research Before You Go

• Family-friendly restaurants will offer a kids’ menu, high chairs, and sometimes a play area for an enjoyable experience.
• Staff friendliness is everything. Read some reviews online before you go.
• Ask about refills on kids’ drinks because they can inflate the price of your bill. 
• Also, as you are reading reviews of the restaurant, pay attention to see if anyone mentions cleanliness, either pristine or lack thereof. 
• Call and ask if they serve kids drinks with lids and kid-sized cutlery. If not, take your own for a better dining experience.

The Best Restaurants for Grandchildren

Here are the 13 BEST!

Rainforest Cafe

Children will adore this restaurant for its jungle-themed ambiance, complete with animatronic animals, waterfalls, and thunderstorm sounds, creating an immersive and entertaining atmosphere. The kid-friendly menu features beloved items such as chicken nuggets and pizza. The Rainforest Cafe frequently organizes special events and promotions, ensuring dining here is budget-friendly. Altogether, these elements combine to deliver a memorable experience for all visitors.

North American Rainforest Cafe Locations

Planet Hollywood

If your grandkids love movies, this is the place to be. Planet Hollywood is full of memorabilia like props, costumes, and other things from favorite films. There is an interactive atmosphere with large screens that show snippets of movies. It also has a kid-friendly menu with burgers, chicken tenders, etc. The decor, themed like a planetarium, fascinates some kids, and they often host special events.

North American Planet Hollywood Locations

Hard Rock Cafe

Attention all music enthusiasts! The Hard Rock Cafe boasts an atmosphere adorned with music memorabilia, and select locations feature music videos playing on big screens for an immersive experience. The menu offers a variety of children’s favorites with creatively themed names. Given the frequent visits by families, the staff are well-accustomed to catering to children’s needs.

North American Hard Rock Cafe Locations

Red Robin

A favorite of both kids and adults. Red Robin has a lot to offer. The kids’ menu has favorites like chicken tenders and grilled cheese sandwiches. The bright atmosphere is a hit with kids and some locations have visits from Red the Robin. Families also benefit from the reasonably priced menu and obtaining special deals on Wednesdays (contact your local restaurant for details). Kids need to wash up? They have child-sized sinks, making it easier for little ones to wash their hands and saving parents’ and grandparents’ backs. Everyone enjoys bottomless fries and free refills on sodas!

Mellow Mushroom

If your grandkids can get loud when you’re out, this is the place to be. Mellow Mushroom has a playful decor that is pleasing to kids. The menu has kid favorites like French bread pizza and mac n cheese. They have a lively and loud environment which is perfect for children to be themselves without adults worrying that they are too noisy. Mellow Mushroom also offers a variety of food, including gluten-free and vegan choices. 

Friendly’s

Friendly’s is part of my childhood and a great place to go to eat. The kids’ menu has kid-approved offerings that come with fun sides and a drink. They have a casual environment, but the thing they are most known for is their ice cream treats. Our Friendly’s restaurant was in the mall and after a day of shopping, my mom and I would stop in for a mini mint parfait. They have special promotions and some locations offer coloring sheets and crayons for kids while they wait for their meal. 

Crayola Experience Cafe

With its fun, colorful atmosphere, kids will love Crayola Experience Cafe. This restaurant offers an interactive environment because it is part of a larger experience where kids can play and immerse themselves in activities; Meaning they can play for a while and take a break to eat without missing out on anything because it’s all right there. They offer a kid-friendly menu and some locations have live educational shows as well. 

Dave and Busters

This family-friendly restaurant and arcade, Dave and Buster’s, is a fantastic choice for a fun dinner outing with your grandkids. The venue is brimming with arcade games and activities suitable for children of all ages. Their kids’ menu features a delightful selection of appetizers, entrees, and desserts that are sure to please young palates. The welcoming atmosphere ensures a pleasant dining experience for the whole family, and with a plethora of entertainment options for kids, boredom is not a concern while waiting for dinner. I suggest bringing along your spouse, a friend, or another family member so that one person can attend to the table while the others accompany the kids to enjoy the games.

The Old Spaghetti Factory

This restaurant offers kids meals that come with dessert. Who doesn’t love that? They have a fun atmosphere with antique lighting, stained glass displays, and even a trolley car. People know The Old Spaghetti Factory for its affordable family meals. 

Cracker Barrel

This restaurant is great for kids and adults alike. The kids’ menu is full of favorites and kids can play the peg game while waiting for their meal. Someone can also take them to look in the gift shop to keep them entertained. The atmosphere is warm and cozy and the staff is used to children.

IHOP

IHOP is a fantastic restaurant to take the grandkids to. First, they have a “Kids Eat Free Promotion” so kids can enjoy a complimentary meal with the purchase of an adult meal from 4 pm to 10 pm every day. Savings for the win! In addition, they offer a wonderful kid-friendly menu, create a casual and inviting environment, serve breakfast all day, and occasionally provide special deals and promotions. You see this a lot when they partner to promote movies. Several years back, we took my second cousin to IHOP when they were promoting the animated Grinch movie. She loved her Grinch pancakes and green hot chocolate. 

Steak ‘n Shake

Steak ‘n Shake is a fun place for kids with its diner atmosphere and kid-friendly menu. One of the best things is that kids eat free every day with the purchase of an adult meal, which makes it a budget-friendly option (dine-in only, call your local location for details). While waiting for their food, kids get activity books and retro hats to keep them entertained. Another perk is the many milkshakes that they offer and that they have special flavors during different seasons. For example, in the fall they have pumpkin, caramel apple, and s’more shakes. Finally, many locations are open 24/7, which makes it a convenient place to eat at any time of day. 

Chuck E. Cheese

This is a great place to have a family-friendly meal and let the kids burn off energy. Chuck E. Cheese is full of games, rides, and play areas to keep kids entertained. They offer pizzas, salads, and sandwiches. Kids can also enjoy live entertainment as well. This restaurant is famous for organizing kids’ birthday parties. As far as safety, they have a child check-in system which ensures that kids leave with the adult they came with. This combined with entertainment, activities, and great food can give grandparents peace of mind so they can enjoy their grandkids. 

Taking your grandkids out to dinner should be a fun experience. Still, not every restaurant is the best place for kids, which can be stressful. However, this list should help you decide where you want to take your grands for your next enjoyable dining experience. Get ready for splendid memories to be made!

Which restaurant will you try first??

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