Recently, the topic of local kid-friendly restaurants came up in conversation, and I realized that I knew almost nothing about the topic. (Obviously, I’m not a parent.) Since we have a number of forum users with children, I thought I’d throw the topic out there, and see if what sort of list comes together.

Some starting points:

What is your favorite local kid-friendly restaurant, and why?

What makes a restaurant kid-friendly in the first place?

What easy steps could other restaurants make to become more kid-and-family friendly?

Some favorites:

Asheville Pizza and Brewing Co. (I can feed my kid, entertain him, send him off to the video games, AND suck down delicious beers!)

Rosetta’s (I can read the paper and not talk to my kid, as he is entertained cool-people watching. Maybe not a good place for little kids, though).

Barley’s (its loud and very casual- my son is a musician, so enjoys live music when it is there...also, good beer)

Early Girl (kind of a bustling joint, and the paper on the tables keeps kids busy drawing...and I can read the paper or do a crossword...sip my coffee)

Can’t really think of others that are kid friendly- usually, if we go out to dinner, it is to escape from our kid ( and, especially, other people’s kids) for a bit ;0)

A kid friendly place would be:

*A place that is kinda noisy- so that if your kid gets noisy, or you are yelling at your kid, no one notices.

*A place where other adults don’t go to have quiet, romantic meals.

*A place that offers some kind of activity for kids- games, drawing, etc.)

* A casual dining atmosphere- nicer places have servers carrying large trays- and servers with large trays and children out of their seats are a terrible mix.

* A place that has a kids menu- or a kid-friendly menu.

Places not to take your kids:

Restaurants that have a happy hour crowd that smokes and cusses alot. A great example of this would be ABC on Coxe. Why do people bring their little kids there on Friday evenings?

Late shows at APBC-

Definitely, Asheville Pizza!

Also, Marco’s, Urban Burrito, and believe it or not, Jack of the Wood.

Edgy Mama - 08 March 2008 12:38 PM

Definitely, Asheville Pizza! Also, Marco’s, Urban Burrito, and believe it or not, Jack of the Wood.

JOTW? Really? It seems like all the drinking and noodling around on banjos would be detrimental to a child’s psychological development. Do they do anything special for kids? Coloring books or whatever?

Cici’s pizza, definitely. So loud that a few more kids making noise won’t even be noticed and so cheap that you can feed the whole family for under a sawbuck.

The Asiana restaurants....loud, packed, busy- lots of different fun food-

Steve Shanafelt - 10 March 2008 10:27 AM

Edgy Mama - 08 March 2008 12:38 PM

Definitely, Asheville Pizza! Also, Marco’s, Urban Burrito, and believe it or not, Jack of the Wood.

JOTW? Really? It seems like all the drinking and noodling around on banjos would be detrimental to a child’s psychological development. Do they do anything special for kids? Coloring books or whatever?

Well, we tend to eat with kids at 5:30 or 6:00, at the latest. So no banjo noodling at that time. We also bring our own coloring books. But JOTW has big tables, Sprite on tap, a kid’s quesadilla (my daughter says it’s better than the Mexi places), and a high threshold for noise!

Also, Steve, I took my son to JOTW after a dentist appointment (bribery) for the acoustic lunch set, and he loved the music! Music soothes the savage kid…

We’ll have to try JOTW-I would never have guessed!  I love Asheville Pizza & Brewing, best deal in town and our fave.  I heard they are closing the Merrimon one soon-I hope it’s not true!  Urban Burrito, Mela lunch buffet, Sunnypoint (neat kids’ menu)-all good places.  My daughter adores Papa’s and Beer, I guess because it’s so lively-yummy tortas.  APB is definitely tops, though, for us-the good beer and cheap movies help-$1 popcorn too! We go to the one on Coxe Ave during Bele Chere and People-watch outside while the kids play beanbag toss.

There’s a new-ish joint out there called “growing young cafe” on Tunnel Road. 

While not a restaurant proper, it’s a decent spot for a fresh chai, latte or snack for grown-ups (organic juice/milk boxes and muffins/bagels/ other nibbles available, inexpensively, for littles)...free wi-fi, very nice staff. 

For $3 they will set your little ‘un up with play-doh, paints, markers, all that....all day if you like.  Thought I’d mention it, since the thread came up.  Could end up being a nice spot for “mom’s/dad’s morning out” and such.” They close early though, so, at least so far, not an option for dinner.

Ok - just found their website here:  http://www.growingyoungcafe.com/home

Other spots that I’ve been able to manage my toddler, and even eat an actual dinner, without too much trouble are:  Early Girl; Mamacitas; Asiana; the Mojo Cafe place on Merrimon; and several “mom-n-pop” diners on Merrimon.  I’m sure there’s a few more that I’m forgetting to mention.  When all else fails, IHOP also has sufficed.

Steve Shanafelt - 10 March 2008 10:27 AM

JOTW? Really? It seems like all the drinking and noodling around on banjos would be detrimental to a child’s psychological development. Do they do anything special for kids? Coloring books or whatever?

Whatchoo got against banjers, mister?

I have to second, third, and fourth Asheville Pizza.  Many a night I’ve taken the little buggers down there so they can run around in the game room and I can sit with my wife and actually talk uninterrupted for 5 minutes at a time, albeit a little noisy.  The kids love it because they know how to get the candy grabbing machine to give them unlimited turns with one quarter.

Another favorite kid-friendly spot is Mamacita’s.  The boys love the free tattoos, and they can get a little rambunctious without concern over disturbing other eaters.

Others we enjoy are Cats and Dawgs in the Grove Arcade (they actually have little play tables with toys), O’ Naturals out on H’ville rd (another toy/play area there), and Earth Fare.