restaurants and toddlers

[Anonymous]

First time parents here.....My DH and I are looking for a family friendly restaurant and tips on how to make the evening more enjoyable for all. We have twin 16 month olds who are very spirited and rarely sit still unless they are eating. We have not been out with the kids to a restaurant since they started walking (we're nervous) but would like to start taking them out. Can you recommend a family friendly restaurant (preferably in MD but I will travel to DC or VA) that will not look at us like we're nuts if the kids try to climb out of the high chairs, scream for attention or anything else that toddlers like to do in public. We would really like to start going out more often with the kids. I don't want to wait until they're 10 to take them to a restaurant.

Also, what tips can you provide: Order bread right away? bring toys? My kids like to put everything in their mouth so I'm not sure they're ready for crayons. They also like to throw stuff on the floor. If given paper and crayons, how to keep the paper on the table?

Can you recommend any table toppers that will STAY on the table? Activity sets?

Lauriol plaza is our favorite restaurant but I don't remember seeing many toddlers running around in there.

We also like to eat Seafood and Italian food.

BTW, I guess I can do a Friendly's or Fridays (which I don't mind) if I have to but I was looking for something a little more upscale.

TIA

[Anonymous]

I would bring food for them. Their favorite snacks like cheerios or whatnot so you don't have to wait for the breadbasket. Their own sippy cups. Food you know they'll like in case they don't like what you order.

Bring some toys that aren't too loud--things that they've never seen before. Oh, like go to a dollar store and get some cheap purses or something so they can open and close the pockets and put little things in and out.

Go at an early hour (5:30ish) so they're not too tired and you won't have a wait time.

I like these dining mats:

http://www.amazon.com/Kiddopotamus-10303-Tinydiner-Placemat-Yellow/dp/B000067PRC

you can get them at babies r us.

And honestly, if you're trying to get them used to eating out, I would stick to friendly's or friday's before going upscale.

And most of all--have fun. I bet one of you will be walking one of the twins around the restaurant at some point, so just accept it, don't stress out and keep thinking "at least I dont have to do the dishes!"

[Anonymous]

You could start with something like Potomac Pizza. We haven't had any 'bad looks' there. Clydes (in Friendship Heights) is also good. They know to get the kids food out early & not too hot.

[Anonymous]

Relax, and bring stuff to keep them busy. Enjoy! Most folks you run into will have already been in your shoes, or will be someday.

[Anonymous]

We also have twins and Red Robin is by far our favorite in terms of being kid friendly. It is so loud in there (and there are so many kids) that no one notices if your kid is being a bit, ahem, loud. Plus there is a lot on the walls to look at. It is a good starting point to learn how to act in a restaurant. I think that parents going out with one child, don't realize how different it is going with two (with one - one parent can eat, while the other is managing the child. With twins, no one eats!)

Also, there was a stage around 18m that we had to stop going to eat. The kids were miserable. We were miserable. Mine are now almost 3 and we still have times when it is hit or miss with how well they will sit, eat, listen, etc. My kids aren't happy sitting there for 30 minutes coloring like some kids -but it has gotten better.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Careful if you order food for them first or bring it for them - they'll be finished eating before you even start!

The good thing is that as the weather gets nicer, you can go almost anywhere with an outdoor table. For a decent restaurant, we like to go to Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda. It's very kid friendly (outside). Though it's not the healthiest choice, we've found that if the kids get something with fries and ketchup, they will sit and eat for hours on end.

2 Amy's is super kid friendly if you go around 6pm. The place is hopping with little ones and the service is VERY FAST.

Also, my kids love Mexican restaurants - Uncle Julios in Bethesda is their favorite. They can walk over to the tortilla maker while they wait for food, and the little one thinks the bull heads on the wall are hilarious (I find them gross, but whatever). The place is really loud - you can't hear each other all that well, but nobody will mind your kids.

At this age, you may find that one of you is always walking around with the kids while the other one sits and waits for the food. It just comes with the territory. It gets so much better when they hit 3-4 years old.

[Anonymous]

I have the best restaurant for you. I just became a member but not sure if there is one in your area...

RAINFOREST CAFE.

I have twins as well! 15 months! it's the only place they will actually sit. The look around and amazed by the sounds/sights. It's incredible. And the best part, I can get a glass of wine for a REASONABLE price. With the membership, I get 10% off my meal and preferred seating (which you know is very important for twins!)

Good luck. It's so great to get out again.

[Anonymous]

PP here with twin - my kids were (are) scared to death of Rainforest Cafe!!

[Anonymous]

I would agree with Red Robin. They also have the endless fries, so as soon as you order, you can request a basket of fries which they should bring out immediately. I also sometimes order a small plate of fruit for my DD which they don't usually charge me for. Plus each child will get a balloon to take home. Their menu has lots of options and their burgers are great.

I think you should bring whatever they are really in-to for distraction. My DD has always loved reading books, so I always bring some books with us.

Good luck! I think it is important to start doing this at a young age so your children will know how to behave in a restautant.

[Anonymous]

Any Red Robbins or Rainforest Cafe's or similarly 'fun' places for kids in the DC area?

[Anonymous]

If you are determined to do something more upscale than Friendly's ... please go at 5 p.m., when no one else will be in the place. As an alternative, pick a place that is almost deafeningly loud. Cactus Cantina, on Macomb and Wisc. in DC, fits this bill and is owned by the owners of Lauriol Plaza, so many menu items are identical.

I totally agree with PP that it's good to get the kids used to eating out over a long period of years, beginning with SHORT, low-pressure meals out when they're toddlers.

OTOH, I evidently am in a minority because I don't actually think that every patron at a more upscale place will -- or should -- be sympathetic and suck it up when my kids "scream" during their meal, "climb out of their chairs," and "run around" when they're not "throw(ing) things on the floor."

Truly, this is what Sbarro's is for. Or babysitters.

[Anonymous]

There is a Red Robin in Fair Lakes - about 25-30 minutes west of D.C. on 66. The Rainforest Cafe in Tysons closed a few years ago.

Someone told me about a place on 8th St on the Hill that is very loud and completely child friendly. I think it is a Mexican place?

In Arlington, PieTanza has tons of kids all the time. Joes Place Pizza is also a good place (they are a chain in VA). I also find most Mexican restaurants are pretty loud and child friendly - El Paso Cafe is good in Arlington as well.

We are also going through the same thing with our 20 month old and have pretty much stopped taking him to restaurants because it is just stressful and rushed. I remember going through the same thing at about the same time with our now 3.5 year old, and now he is great at restaurants. So, it will pass. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Also consider trying brunch - Cafe Deluxe in Bethesda is always crawling with kids. Maybe that time of day is easier for your little ones than dinner? Agree with a prior poster that 2 Amy's is kid-friendly, but our 16 month old doesn't like pizza, so it's not a great option for us for the time being. And don't discount Lauriol Plaza yet ... we're there with our little girl about twice a month. Go early (around 5) and try to get a table in the middle of things so there will be a lot to watch. In our experience, the waiters there are - across the board - extremely friendly and accomodating with kids and it's typically loud enough that - short of a total meltdown - a bit of fussing isn't even heard by most people around you. You know your kids, but that's my experience. Also, I would NOT recommend Cafe St. Ex. (Though I personally love the place.) The tables are really small and it's too easy for a toddler to grab and knock things over, where as places with bigger tables you can move stuff to the other side.

[Anonymous]

In the beginning, the twins were just in awe of everything when we ate out. Their heads were constantly turning and they didn't eat nearly as much as they did when at home.

Some recs:
Mia's pizza in Bethesda was very accommodating when we took our then 18 month old twins there. We got there on the earlier side.
Another suggestion is Urban Burger which has a kids room.
First Watch is nice for breakfast/lunch and then the Rockville library for storytime.
Jaleo is good for having lots of food options.
Another vote for 2 Amys, just get there by 5pm to beat the crowds.

What about a magna-doodle nstead of crayons? Books are always good too.

Good luck and I hope yall have some good eats

[Anonymous]

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.