Dynamic Variation:
Kid-Friendly Restaurants
Where to go with the family in tow
With more than 13,000 restaurants to choose from in the Houston area, it can be daunting trying to find a spot that's kid-tested and parent-approved. While plenty of well-known, national chains dot the city's landscape-Chili's, Rainforest Café, and iHop, among others, are just as many uniquely Houston options that are certain to please. Check out the local spots that score big in H-Town.
BARNABY'S CAFE
Back to Top of ListNot as diverse as the original Fairview location, the roomier River Oaks-set Barnaby's Cafe bustles with people from all walks of life. There's a bit of West Coast influence on the menu —Chicken La Jolla and Petaluma salad, for example-and a coloring placemat menu for the little ones, advertising mac & cheese and corn dog offerings. Pups of all shapes and sizes are welcome on the dog-friendly patio, too, making visits to Barnaby's a true family affair.
DESSERT GALLERY
Back to Top of ListFinally, a great place where you can have your cake and eat it, too. At the Dessert Gallery guests choose from soups, salads, wraps, sandwiches and kid-friendly food like mac and cheese and PB&J sandwiches. Top off the meal with a scrumptious dessert while the kids chow on cupcakes, the super-fun "Design Your Own Cookie Platters" or the "S'mores Pupu Platters." The sweet shop also keeps board games on hand, so no one should be, well, bored.
Mia's Table
Back to Top of ListMia's Table takes family-friendly to a new level with ample green space for kids to run, plenty of favorite menu items and of course, free ice cream. This southern comfort food restaurant serves up meals that taste home-cooked. Chicken-fried chicken, mashed potatoes, delectable green beans, tacos, hearty salads and more are available for moms, dads, aunts, uncles, and single people of all ages. The kids menu offers mac and cheese, chicken tenders, cheeseburgers, corndogs and hotdogs. Mia's table has taken Houston and its suburbs by storm. The two in-town locations are in Upper Kirby and Memorial City.
Downtown Aquarium
Back to Top of ListPart attraction, part restaurant, the 500,000-gallon Downtown Aquarium complex is multi-functional destination boasting a Ferris wheel, an aquatic carousel, Shark Voyage, a white tiger exhibit and a restaurant. The spectacular wall-to-wall aquarium view complements the surf-and-turf menu. Parents can dig into silky lobster bisque and crabmeat-topped Gulf red snapper, while the little ones nosh on popcorn shrimp, ‘sand dollar' pizza and ‘Captain's' grilled cheese. During dinner, keep an eye out for scuba divers feeding fish in the restaurant-set tank.
FUNG'S KITCHEN & OCEAN PALACE
Back to Top of ListGood things come in small packages, at least when it relates to dim sum. Take the family for a cultural experience in Houston's southwest Chinatown area, where places like Fung's Kitchen, and Ocean Palace send around carts filled with an endless variety of steamed dumplings. Note: Some restaurants only offer cart service during lunch on the weekends, call ahead to verify.
Hungry's
Back to Top of ListHungry's has been bringing in Houston families for American fare for more than 35 years. The neighborhood café has locations in Memorial and Rice Village, both of which offer well-priced, heart-healthy dishes like grilled chicken-and-vegetable wraps, salads and soups. Kids' can choose from pasta, sandwich and burger options.
JENNI'S NOODLE HOUSE
Back to Top of ListJenni Tran-Weaver, of Jenni's Noodle House fame, knows how important it is for kids to eat their veggies, which is why the restaurateur sends out all the snow peas, broccoli, carrots and mushroom sides a kid could want with the rice, noodle and soup dishes offered on the kids menu. As an added perk, Jenni's Heights location boasts a fenced-in backyard with sidewalk chalk and a 12,000-lb concrete pipe for little ones to play in.
Jus' Mac
Back to Top of ListMacaroni and cheese finally gets the respect it deserves at Heights-set Jus' Mac. The kid-friendly food is getting plenty of play at the family-friendly outpost. Take the brood for lunch and choose from panini, salads and 18 varieties of the cheesy classic. Little ones will find the 'All American' to be familiar, while parents can branch out with the pan-seared 'Chik Chik' or the spinach, onion and mushroom-mixed 'Popeye.'
The Lake House
Back to Top of ListLocated on the south shore of Kinder Lake, square in the heart of Discovery Green park, The Lake House is a family-friendly, fast-casual concept from the Schiller Del Grande Restaurant Group (of Café Annie fame) that turns out burgers, Kobe beef hot dogs, signature salads and seasonal sips. Take a seat within the contemporary interior, outside, on the shaded veranda, or enjoy a picnic-style meal in the park. After eating, the kids can burn off pent-up energy sailing motorized boats in the lake, playing in the fountains or climbing on the playground.
Niko Niko's
Back to Top of ListNiko Niko's - which first opened in Montrose more than 30 years ago - added a sidewalk-style kiosk for Downtown's on-the-go gyro lovers in late-summer 2010. Expect to find the Greek institution's classic menu with an emphasis on to-go foods-perfect for picnics in Market Square park-as well as a kids' menu with grilled cheese pitas, Jimmy Gyros and Pitza. Bring the family pup to play in one of the park's two dog runs, too.
Pappasito's Cantina
Back to Top of ListMexican restaurants are almost always a sure bet-they're colorful, food comes quickly and everyone is usually able to find something they like to eat. Pappasito's Cantina, which has been around for decades, is a great choice, as is Guadalajara Hacienda. Chuy's, with its hubcap decorations, is also fun, as well as the come-as-you-are Berryhill Baja Grill.
Skeeter's
Back to Top of ListSkeeter's is proud to have served the Houston area since 1988. It is known for pleasing kids and parents alike with its laid-back atmosphere and smoky South Texas fare. They've been hailed as the ultimate after-game spot for sports teams and an ideal lunch place for the business crowd. The wood-burning mesquite grill achieves Skeeter's hallmark flavors on succulent burgers, chicken and beef fajitas, and tacos. Tex-Mex favorites such as enchiladas, as well as large salads and sandwiches, round out the menu. With strong ties to Houston, Skeeter's Mesquite Grill continues to thrive on the principles of fresh food at a reasonable price and great customer service.
George's Pastaria
Back to Top of ListA hidden gem in west Houston, George's Pastaria serves up delicious pasta and pizza in a casual, fun atmosphere. With plenty of pasta options for kids in tow, this family-friendly restaurant is the perfect spot to take kids young and older. Often, they even let the kids pasta cool down before serving it. Moms and dads, you don't have to waste all your breath on blowing on your kids' food here. If you need to get some veggies in, the house salad with creamy parmesan dressing is a must-try.
Check out these kid-friendly restaurants with playgrounds to keep your kids entertained during mealtime.
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