If you’re hitting the road this summer you’ll likely be making frequent pit stops at fast-food favorites (if not for the food, at least for the restrooms). However, if you’re like me, you get to the point where just looking up at another hanging fluorescent menu can make your stomach turn. Thank goodness for sit-down family restaurants. Most are kid-friendly, clean and affordable. (My criteria for an acceptable pit stop.) There are some regional and national restaurant chains that are better than others when it comes to catering to families with young children. Here’s a breakdown of some of my family’s favorite places to dine… places where you can take a welcome break from the family vehicle, have a nice meal, and where most kids can eat for less than $5:
Texas Roadhouse
Atmosphere: Casual. If your child is as antsy as mine, this is a great place to eat. There is a rodeo-style atmosphere with upbeat music and line dancing. Your kids can kick up their heels and work up an appetite while they wait for their food to be served. In addition, you’ll be hard pressed to find another restaurant where kids are allowed to throw peanut shells on the floor.
Kids Menu: My daughter loves the free fresh-baked rolls served with cinnamon-honey butter before the meal. Sirloin tips, chicken fingers, hot dogs, cheeseburgers, ribs, and steak. Plus, all meals come with steak fries or mashed potatoes and fresh veggies or baked beans.
Just For Kids: Plastic take-home kids cups.
Old Chicago
Atmosphere: Casual and upbeat.
Kids Menu: Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, chicken salad, chicken sandwiches, cheeseburgers, spaghetti, and macaroni and cheese.
Just For Kids: Kids can get a balloon, play arcade games, color their menus or watch TV while they wait for their meals. Also, the restaurant offers a Root Beer Tour: kids get a punch card and when they try all of the restaurant’s nine different root beer flavors they get a free t-shirt.
Baker’s Square
Atmosphere: Casual family dining.
Kids Menu: Chocolate chip pancakes (served all day), turkey, macaroni and cheese, hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, and sundaes are only 59 cents.
Just for Kids: Coloring pages and crayons to keep your kids busy.
Fazoli’s
Atmosphere: Very casual. Smoke-Free. No wait staff (unless you count the staff members who walk around with the free breadsticks). You have to order off a hanging menu.
Kids Menu: Spaghetti with marinara/meat sauce or meatballs, baked ziti, lasagna, cheese ravioli, cheese and pepperoni pizza.
Just For Kids: Fazoli’s Kids Nights (Tuesdays 5-8 p.m.), children can eat, make crafts, and color in a special section of the restaurant and kids’ meals are 99 cents all day.
Old Country Buffet
Atmosphere: Casual and smoke-free.
Kids Menu: Everything! There are more than 100 buffet items to choose from, including chicken, hot wings, spaghetti, tacos, corn dogs, carved meats and soups. Another favorite: the soft serve sundae bar where kids can build their own ice-cream masterpieces with a variety of toppings. If your kids are picky eaters, this is the place to be.
Just For Kids: Since it’s a buffet there is no waiting. Also, the price is hard to beat. For kid’s ages 2 to 12, meals cost 60 cents times their age.
Do you have a favorite kid-friendly restaurant? Where have you had the best experience?