We’ve done special birthday dinners from 4 up, although 7 was the first year our oldest had a friend who also was interested in joining for not traditional kids food.

Some of my DD's friends have had birthday celebrations at restaurants. She's 9. In all cases, it has been take some kids to an activity, then have lunch at a restaurant. Some small, some big (one I think had a dozen kids there?!) I kind of felt sorry for other people at the restaurant and the servers because a lot of kids at a restaurant all together is, ummm, not quiet.

I started taking my DS out to dinner for his birthday around age 11 or so. He invites a friend usually. The last two years we went to The Melting Pot.

Well, my 7 year old is having her birthday party in 2 weeks but just told me she wants to go out to dinner on her actual birthday (to a local pizza place) and would like to invite two friends.

So I guess it’s starts earlier these days!?

I remember when I was in middle school (12 or 13), I went to a birthday dinner for a friend at Benihana’s. It was a Japanese hibachi place and I thought it was fancy and the food was good. It was my first time eating Japanese food that I can remember. Then in high school and college, our friends would usually go out to eat to celebrate birthday friend.

Do kids still do this? At what age?