Best Toddler/Kid Friendly Restaurants, Playgrounds Encouraged
Posted by TimeLadyJ@reddit | Dallas | View on Reddit | 50 comments
The previous post on this topic is a few years old and when I was looking up suggestions, more than a couple were permanently closed so I wanted to open up a new thread.
What are your favorite restaurants in the area that you love to take your littles to? I know this is a Dallas sub, but I’ll drive a bit for an easy meal so let’s hear those suburbs too.
Do they have a playground? Maybe the restaurant is next to a park? A great kids menu? A massive patio with space to run? The best coloring sheet in the metroplex? I want to know why you think it’s so great to take your kids, especially the littles who are still learning how to behave in public and sometimes just need to stretch their legs out.
ScarHand69@reddit
Birdies East Side
Chuy’s on Lowest Greenville
Smokey Rose across from the Arboretum
Vector Brewing (Pizza)
gardencafe@reddit
Your appreciation post is archived now so I can't comment there but wanted to say thank you so much for the love and we REALLY appreciate it! Multiple employees brought it up and I want you to know it's not just me/management that sees and appreciates it. It's all of us. Our employee turnover is quite low compared to the industry standard and they absolutely read reviews and look for posts like that because they do truly care. Apologies for not responding to your OP appreciation post earlier. Please do not hesitate to PM me if we ever fall short of what you've come to expect from us for whatever reason.
We are, unfortunately, a good bit behind on okra growing season this year so will have to supplement from other farms, but that dish will be back on the menu very soon anyway and it will still be local okra. Also, our blackberries are going wild right now and will be for about two-three weeks. So if you get anything with blackberries right now those are all from the garden and now is the time to get them! They do have a short season though, they go wild for a couple weeks and then hibernate again when it gets too warm.
ScarHand69@reddit
Aww thanks! We haven’t been there in a minute this must be a sign. My wife loves blackberries!
gardencafe@reddit
Thank YOU!
Expert_Bedroom_544@reddit
Birdies has a separate area where they let kids go absolutely feral. Painting with chalk on the walls, toys, etc.
BlackCatSpooky@reddit
Where is this one? Is it Birdie’s Eastside in downtown Dallas or a different place?
Expert_Bedroom_544@reddit
It is birdies eastside but it’s not in downtown Dallas- it’s just north of Lakewood, by Mockingbird and Skillman.
Rortugal_McDichael@reddit
What's wild is it's just a space apart from the tables, to let kids go feral with their imaginations, no jungle gym or anything.
Delicious_Hand527@reddit
String Bean in Richardson has a play area inside the restaurant.
Nico's Cocina is actually good food, with a nice outdoor play area.
Hat Creek's play areas are awesome, but IMO the food is overpriced and sucks.
irasciblebruja@reddit
Does String Bean have a play area again? I heard it had been removed, and is more a kids seating area now.
Some_Man_Person@reddit
Nico’s Cocina in Carrollton
Fantastic Mexican food with a covered patio and playground
is_that_sarcasm@reddit
I was bummed to find out they cook with lard.
rdt61@reddit
Came here to say this! I like the carnitas and our 2yo loves the playground
hasselteg@reddit
Loooove Nico’s Cocina!
bionica@reddit
If you are willing to go to McKinney The Stix Icehouse is super kid friendly!!!
PlayfulOtterFriend@reddit
Strongly recommend The Stix if you have kids that like to run around. They have an enormous field out back and encourage the kids to play like they were in the country (thus the name).
AwHellNawFetaCheese@reddit
Vector Brewing - place is kid palooza until about 8. Nothing but kids running around yelling it’s great. Food is spectacular.
bkharmony@reddit
Love kids at a bar!!
Keithmonroe69420@reddit
It's not really a bar
bkharmony@reddit
Yes it is.
Keithmonroe69420@reddit
It's a pizza parlor that makes beer. They have no booze and they close at 10. What a wild bar!
vectorbrewing@reddit
We like to be called a brewpub. Pizza is definitely the cherry tomato on top.
slowro@reddit
Last call at 9:45 lol. Nothing good happens after 10!
AwHellNawFetaCheese@reddit
Remind me do most bars serve liquor or just beer and wine?
vectorbrewing@reddit
Well, shucks, we love you, too.
BadLemur@reddit
Was coming to recommend this.
ClaustrophobicMuch@reddit
Hat Creek
Mehdical10@reddit
Wild Acre in Fort Worth has a playground, outdoor jumping trampoline, Pedal Karts + Track and some lawn games. Pretty good food, It is a brewery as well though. But very family friendly
Jwarr@reddit
The answer is not a brewery. They do not have playgrounds. They are not meant for children.
TwerkForJesus420@reddit
I don't have kids, but I enjoy breweries. I recognize that in order for my favorite breweries to survive this craft beer bubble burst, they're going to make themselves family friendly. This is why you see breweries host events like Easter egg hunts and do free activities for all ages like bingo, they count on families to bring their kids, buy food for the kids and the parents to continue to buy beer. I get that its frustrating when there's kids not behaving, but just talk to brewery staff about it, the parents should be held accountable for teaching their kids on how to behave in public.
TimeLadyJ@reddit (OP)
The best place I’ve taken my toddler was a brewery in Philadelphia that had a giant indoor pirate playground!
Jwarr@reddit
Great, have at in Philadelphia! Don't bring them to the breweries here.
TimeLadyJ@reddit (OP)
For sure!! I definitely won't go places that are designated as child-free. If they're child friendly, we'll for sure be there. Usually the facility sets that distinction.
Mazer_Rackem@reddit
Ignore this guy. Every DFW brewery would have to shut their taphouses if they didn't let kiddos and families in. Bring the tots and enjoy yourself, I'll be right there with you. Lakewood brewing and community are especially kid friendly.
Atomicgreenpea@reddit
That’s not exactly true. There are breweries with kids play spaces, like Lakewood Brewery, so obviously the owners made a choice to include them.
Starbuckzloverz@reddit
We love to eat at Celebration with our kids! They have a great kids menu and the service is generally pretty fast. They also bring out bread, then fruit/salads/soup and then main course and sides. No child is getting cranky waiting for something to snack on. Not a place to let your kids run wild or anything but my kids love going there and ask to go!
marvintran76@reddit
Hat Creek Burger on Walnut Hill has a nice playground and outdoor seating area
TimeLadyJ@reddit (OP)
We love that place but were disappointed with the food. We'll go often, but when we are going out with family, we'd rather it be a bit nicer.
TheSpivack@reddit
Yes, my kids love hat creek. And they do have multiple locations around the Metro Plex, all of which have a playground
poptartheart@reddit
yup! def a classic meetup spot now for when we get together with the cousins
Party_Design3432@reddit
For me this is a list of places to avoid at all costs. Places like Hat Creek are hell on earth,
MountainBlitz@reddit
Lots of libraries have kid friendly spaces and free programs
TimeLadyJ@reddit (OP)
Looking for restaurants. Lots of places are kid friendly but don’t have food - soft play, museums, actual playgrounds, etc.
FuturePath6357@reddit
Chucky Cheese
evermottle@reddit
One place we’ve had good luck with is restaurants that have a big patio or outdoor space where kids can move around a bit without bothering other guests. It makes the whole meal less stressful because toddlers don’t have to sit still the entire time. I’ve noticed that spots near parks or with a small play area nearby are usually the easiest option for families.
nickgomez@reddit
RIP the lot
danistaf@reddit
Always happy to find a Hat Creek whenever I’m needing to eat but get some energy out for my kiddo. Mostly look for them when I’m traveling across the metroplex (which is often) but there should be a few in the DFW metro.
Lakewood brewery has an amazing outdoor space for kiddos. Featuring a fenced in play area if you are looking for some adult time without worrying about runners 😅 but really, their food and drink choices are also top notch.
Will always promote Cafe Brazil when you have kids because it’s so casual, it’s 24/7, and sometimes you need a bucket of coffee when your toddler wakes you up at 6 am during daylight savings. Bring your own crayons because sometimes they run out.
nimjaa@reddit
Babe’s is super family friendly. Central market in Plano has a playground. I know it’s a grocery store and not a restaurant but their kitchen/take out is super good.
grandmapants12@reddit
Anywhere in hillcrest village.
By an indoor playground. Huge field/play area by a TON of great places to eat.
It’s a great spot.
Tricky-Bandicoot-769@reddit
The Zoli’s pizza in Fort Worth has a decent playground at it.
Cibo Divno and Cenzos in Oak Cliff both have small green spaces where there are always kids.