Dining out tips from seasoned parents

October 6, 2011

Last month we ran a contest in our fall edition of Bellevue Downtown magazine as well as on our Bellevue Local Table Facebook page asking you for your best family dining tips and the winning entries are finally in! Although all participants had great tips and tricks for keeping antsy kids occupied when out for dinner, Myriam P.’s pointers wowed us enough to win our grand prize of a $25 Tap House Grill gift card, a dozen Trophy Cupcakes for her and the kids, as well as a handful of coupons for the best restaurants downtown Bellevue has to offer. Congrats Myriam!

 I know all of you parents are eager to hear Myriam’s best tips for keeping squirmy kids at the table (and not under it!) so here they are!

 - Always keep a few pens and some paper on hand for drawing, writing and playing games.

- Make a “restaurant kit”. Fill a bag with stickers, Play-Doh, pads of paper and slate boards to keep kids busy while the adults finish their meal.

 - Request a “kid dessert”. Many restaurants will give $1 scoops of ice cream to kids upon request.

 - Do a little research and pick a kid friendly restaurant. Restaurants like Monsoon East have a condiment bar—great for picky eaters, while Din Tai Fung allows kids to watch the chefs make dumplings. Boom Noodle goes a step further by offering special bento boxes for kids complete with child-size chopsticks.

 - For young artists, Pogacha allows kids to draw right on the table and the menu is kid approved, says runner up Sharon L.

 - However kid-friendly a restaurant may be, points out fellow runner up Gus C., reinforcing proper restaurant behavior like quiet voices and no throwing food is paramount in having a successful dining out experience with the kids.

 Continue to follow the Bellevue Local Table blog, our Facebook page and Twitter page for upcoming promotions and contests like this one!

 Happy dining in downtown Bellevue! (with our without the kids)

Mission possible – Dining with kids in Downtown Bellevue

November 5, 2009

About 67% of restaurants nationwide cater to kids, according to my latest scientific hunch.  That’s not bad.   Few parents run up a bar tab, plus kids tend to throw stuff, make noise, table dive, and drop utensils by the dozen.

Downtown Bellevue rates highly for its many restaurants welcoming kids at places you’d expect: Red Robin, California Pizza Kitchen, Cheesecake Factory, Maggiano’s, Z’Tejas, Pagliacci Pizza, and Azteca.  The list could go on.

So, how about a taste of adventure with the wee ones?  Perhaps Monsoon East, the new Artisanal Table, Tap House Grill, Boom Noodle, 520 Bar & Grill, O/8 Seafood Grill, or The Melting Pot.  For me, when it’s time to pick a restaurant, two big factors play into the decision: 1) a good past experience, and 2) a friend’s recommendation.

Pretend it’s early evening on a Saturday night.  Your kids, (choose your number) ages 0 to 7, have a look of calm.  You’re game for going out – but not to fast food.  Where do you head?  What do you expect?  What’s your recipe for dining success? 

Here are my top three essentials for kid-friendly dining.

• A cordial greeting from the host and server (genuine or not) upon seeing adorable little faces
• Clean high chairs for baby/toddler if you need one. Nowadays, most restaurants have high chairs.  Some don’t, and that’s just fine.  Not every place is geared for families.
• Changing table in BOTH restrooms

And nice to have:

• Drink cups with lid and straw
• Kid-size and suitable portions, whether it’s on or off the menu
• Some little item (other than salt shakers) for table entertainment
• A quick bread or snack option for hungry kids
• Prompt overall service

Never necessary, but sometimes fun: mascots, balloons, singing and a fish tank.  Or a singing fish mascot who is a balloon artist.  Can fish tie knots?  I know my kids would like that.  The point is to have appropriate expectations for the dining experience.

There’s joy in a successful meal out with the kids.  They learn more about food, conversation and interesting places.  Parents savor the satisfaction of meeting the challenge and a slice of freedom as the children fall blissfully asleep on the drive home.

Courageous parents:your advice is wanted here.  Please share tips and tricks for dining out with kids in Downtown Bellevue.

Dearest restaurants: how do you help out the families among us?

Writer’s note: Patrick and his wife are the ones eating next to you with the two very well-behaved children.

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