restaurants and toddlers

[Anonymous]

Frankly I stopped going out with my kid between the ages of 15 mo and 3 because it was so stressful and unenjoyable fro me (one of had to chase him around the restaurant while the other one shoved in the food. Then switch) But all kids are different, maybe yours will be easier. That being said, 2 amys, cafe delux, Tara Thai in Bethesda, Nam-Viet in Cleveland Park all seem to be kid friendly places. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

take a DVD player with you. With that wonderful little thing, we enjoy dinner in any restaurant, child friendly or not !

[Anonymous]

OP here! Thank you all so much! These are some great ideas. I can't wait to go visit some of these restaurants. I'm happy to hear there are so many options. I love the suggestion to go at an earlier time. DH and I get off work early so we can be at a restaurant by 5pm. We will probably go during the week, so maybe there will be less of a crowd.

I, like some of the PP agree that kids need to get comfortable with going out to eat at an early age so they can "learn" how to act. However, I don't like to upset others dining experience. The twins are sometimes a handful (depends on the day) but I try my best to be considerate of others (without putting my kids in a straight jacket).

One might try to get out of the highchair as soon as we get there...then the other will follow suit. It's Monkey See, Monkey Do. But I plan to make the most out of it and not to give up easily.

Sorry for all the grammatical errors. Rushing out to lunch.

Thanks again for all your advice!

[Anonymous]

OP here again! Ohhhhhhhh, I love Tara Thai! DH and I went there very often prior to kids (love Pad Thai). Again I don't remember seeing a lot of children in there. Maybe when you don't have kids...you don't pay attention. LOL I'll try there also! Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For 16 months, I agree with bringing food. Our kids were always good in restaurants probably becasue we took them out a lot. We used to go out to restaurants for lunch or dinner at least 2-3 times a week even when they were babies. We stopped to save money.

>Time it right. They should have some physical activity earlier in the day but not be too tired. Stay away from nap and fussy times. 5pm is good because there is more space, fewer people, and farther away from bed time
>Bring some clorax wipes to wipe down the table (if there is no table cloth) and high chair. These don't get cleaned well in restaurants.
>Bring them food and let them try food from your plate unless you know they serve something the kids like to eat. Once they start eating more foods then you can order for them.
>Ask your server to bring the check with your meal and pay early. Be ready to box things up and leave if the kids get fussy.
>Remember it can be great, it can be good and often it can be exhausting Only go to places where you really like the food. If you end up having to leave or it is a struggle, you don't want to have spent $30 on food you didn't really enjoy anyway.

Asian restaurants worked for us. Japanese style kept them interested as they cook in front of you. There was enough variety in the food rice, chicken, tofu that could eat with us. Chinese and Thai also worked. Bring along your own milk to asian restuarants as most don't have it. You can get boxed milk in WF and Giant.

The restaurants in malls are pretty family family. Legal seafood in Montgomery Mall is good. CA Pizza kitchen has a good kids menu. Bertucci's is terrible.

PP, it is great that this worked for you, but it didn't for us. We took both our kids out from birth practically about 2-3 times a week. Both of them went through (and our 20 month old is still going through!) a phase where they just don't like to sit for long periods of time at restaurants no matter what we did/do. So, I really think it depends on the kids and generally they settle down when they are 2.5 or so. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Mi Ranchero in Dwtwn Silver Spring is great-especially the tented area that is heated in winter and open in warm months. Free chips right away, loud as heck, kids everywhere, great Sangria for you and hubby, no kids menu but most order the apps-chicken and cheese quesadilla is my 17 month old DS's fav and single menu orders like one taco or burrito or a side of rice, etc. We took my DS and nephew who is 2 there and had a blast.

[Anonymous]

Rio Grande is great for kids. They get chips, tortilla dough and lots of crayons. I always pack a sippy cup for drinks, a toddler fork, snacks, a little car, extra crayons. If we are quick my son is usually really good and we can make it through a meal!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mi Ranchero in Dwtwn Silver Spring is great-especially the tented area that is heated in winter and open in warm months. Free chips right away, loud as heck, kids everywhere, great Sangria for you and hubby, no kids menu but most order the apps-chicken and cheese quesadilla is my 17 month old DS's fav and single menu orders like one taco or burrito or a side of rice, etc. We took my DS and nephew who is 2 there and had a blast.

I second this recommendation...but I think it's called Mi Rancho.

[Anonymous]

We have stopped going out because he just won't sit still at 18 months and it is not very relaxing to chase him around the restaurant. As someone else mentioned, we found we were shoveling in food to hurry up and get out of there before he caused a scene. I'm going to pick it up again at 3 or during the summer when we can sit outside.

[Anonymous]

BD's Mongolian BBQ in Bethesda. It is loud. Plus you get up to make your food bowl and bring it to the grill for them to cook in front of you. It keeps your kids moving and when the cooks are throwing things around on the grill, it gives them something to look at. Plus, you can make whatever you want for the kids to eat...kids eat free until 5.

We are big fans of quality buffets in general. I like Todai in Fair Oaks Mall. It is a pretty decent sushi buffet (with non-sushi food as well). Another one we like is a Korean BBQ in Alexandria called Heebeen. There is good stuff on the buffet plus meat that is grilled on your table. I used to hate buffets, but now that I know there are actually non-crap buffets out there, I've become a big fan with a 2.5 year old now. You can start eating as soon as you get in, plus toddlers eat free.

[Anonymous]

For the love of God, if I pay for a sitter and have to listen to your screaming kid, I will talk to the manager about something, even if it's never coming back to that restaurant again. No, there is *nothing cute* about it!

[Anonymous]

The best dinner spot we've found for our DC is The Reef, in Adams Morgan. Seriously. If you go early (i.e., out by 7:00 or 7:30), it's practically deserted, so a couple of kids running around really isn't a problem. The food is shockingly good (and largely local and organic), and there are usually a couple of appealing options for the little ones (our DC usually gets the chicken quesadilla). The music is generally at just the right level where you can hear your kids but nobody else can. The floor-to-ceiling windows on the second floor mean that kids can watch traffic from above (which our DC just loves). But what really puts The Reef over the top is its collection of acquariums and fish -- cool for the late-night bar crowd, I'm sure, and pretty darn neat for the little ones, too. (Well, the acquariums and the beer list, if you can walk there or convince DS to drive home!)

[Anonymous]

Diners work well (I know, ugh, diner food, but some are ok--Silver Diner in Rockville has kid's night every Tuesday--face (or hand) painting, magician, balloons, kids running around)
-California Pizza kitchen is pretty kid friendly too
-Austin Grill

[Anonymous]

I would recommend reading the restaurant menus online and then order right when you sit down. That way, you aren't sitting around forever waiting for the server to get back to your table to order. Have them bring the foods for the kids as soon as it is ready even if it is before your meals. Then have them bring dessert for the kids while you are working on your dinners. You will finish around the same time. Ask for the bill right after the desserts come. Take the kids for "walks" around the restaurant. I do this even now w/ my 3 yr old.

[Anonymous]

Get a Babysitter.....