Family

5 local restaurants that are great for dining with small children

WRAL contributor Jennifer Zelek shares five great options that are kid-tested and parent-approved!

Posted Updated
Cowfish
By
Jennifer Zelek
, WRAL contributor
RALEIGH, N.C. — Before becoming a parent I was a rabid foodie, and don’t get me wrong, I still LOVE to eat, but I no longer have the regular luxury of dining at the newest hot spots, both because kids aren’t always the greatest dining companions, and because baby-sitters are expensive and hard to come by. I used to blog about restaurants, but a great restaurant has some very different criteria for me these days than it used to, namely kid-friendliness.

Don’t get me wrong, the food still matters, but now it matters just as much if they will have something my picky toddler will actually ingest. I decided to evaluate some local favorites for kid-friendliness based on the following criteria: a good kids' menu, accommodating to special requests for picky eaters, availability of highchairs and booster seats, changing tables in the restroom, short wait times – whether via reservations, call ahead or other (because very few children are equipped with the patience for a long wait,) – accessible parking, staff who are patient and tolerant of little customers and their messes, and oh yeah, let’s make it parent friendly and palatable to adult taste buds too while we’re at it.

Do these unicorn restaurants exist? Yes! Fortunately, they do. In fact we have so many kid-friendly restaurants here in the Triangle, that it was hard to narrow it down to my top five.

Gonza Tacos y Tequila  (Jennifer Zelek)

Gonza Tacos y Tequila (Cary, Wake Forest, Downtown Raleigh, and north Raleigh)

Gonza grabbed my attention because so many of my friends’ kids love it. I was dubious due to the miniscule size of their kids' menu at only three items, but some of its better amenities squeaked it into my top five. Namely, they accept reservations, which are clutch when dining out with hungry children who have the patience of a well, toddler. Lunchtime doesn’t seem to necessitate this however, as we’ve been able to walk right in on multiple occasions. Parking varies considerably by location. There are ample parking spaces in Waverly Place where the Cary location is situated, and a decent sized parking lot in the north Raleigh and Wake Forest locations. Parking in downtown Raleigh is admittedly more of a challenge, as can be getting a table.

My daughter was immediately engaged by the decor of the restaurant. “Lights!” “Stars!” “Hearts!”

Indeed there were distractions everywhere to grab her attention. A coloring page and cup of crayons were provided, as were the requisite chips and salsa that helped to tide over my 2-year-old. The waitstaff kindly brought my daughter over her own salsa as she is a notoriously bad double-dipper. As I previously stated, the menu was small, but they were able to make some adaptations to our order to make it work. Specifically, lose the chicken in favor of a plain cheese quesadilla and refried beans rather than black beans. The girl child ate most of her cheese quesadilla, several chips with salsa and some of the guacamole I ordered her to get her to eat something green. She only played with her rice and beans, however.

My kid loves guacamole, but it may have been a little spicy for her taste although, fortunately, not for mine! Kids meals come with a small cup of ice cream with a topping, and my little one was absolutely delighted by her vanilla ice cream and rainbow sprinkles. It seemed to make her entire experience. The staff was kind enough to pick up some items she dropped on the floor so that the very pregnant woman (me) would not have to do so. The adults enjoyed their meals, and I enjoyed the availability of margaritas for a future visit.

Bathrooms here feature a changing table in the women’s restroom only, which is typical, but a topic for a whole other article. The experience went well and my daughter, friend and I both left happy, however the final price tag here was a bit of a killer at more than $40 for one adult and one child, both drinking only water. The $9 guacamole was largely to blame for that total.

The prime selling point for Gonza is at its Waverly Place location in Cary. It’s situated directly across from both a fenced-in toddler playground and a playground for older children as well. If it’s a nice enough day to eat outside, you can eat a comparatively leisurely meal with other adults while keeping a direct eye on your playing (fenced in!) child. This is the ideal scenario, and I wish more restaurants had this setup.

While not quite as perfect, the north Raleigh location shares a parking lot with Greystone Recreation Center indoor playground. Hit the playground to wear out your tot before or after lunch at Gonza, just be sure to check the playground’s hours first. They are closed at some odd times for cleaning, but at least you know they are regularly cleaned! If your child didn’t already get enough ice cream at Gonza, or you are just jealous, Two Roosters Ice Cream is all too conveniently located right next door.

Anna’s Pizzaria (Fuquay-Varina and Apex)

Pizza and pasta is a sure bet for many tiny gourmands, and Anna’s Pizza is no exception for our little one. The kids' menu at both Triangle locations features several kid friendly pasta options, while pizzas can either be split with the family, or ordered by the slice. I’m a bit of a pizza snob, and in my humble opinion, Anna’s has some of the best in the Triangle. As for the other family friendly criteria, Anna’s features high chairs (although no booster seats), a changing table, coloring sheets and crayons, and a family friendly atmosphere where no one is going to give you the stink eye when you have Cocomelon music coming from your table. Parking is generally okay, although the downtown locations can make it slightly more challenging. The Apex location has street parking and a small parking lot behind the restaurant, while the Fuquay location has street parking and a public parking lot just down and across the street. The primary difficulty with dining out at Anna’s with your wee ones is that they do not accept reservations, so waits can get long, especially during peak times. Try to get there before prime time! If you’re willing to wait it out, this is a great spot for family pizza night!

Cowfish's Bento box (Jennifer Zelek)

Cowfish in Midtown Raleigh

While a restaurant featuring sushi may seem counterintuitive as a best bet for small children, you might think again. Cowfish is equally known for their burgers and their “burgerushi,”an inventive fusion of the sushi filled with classic burger ingredients. While basic sushi rolls are an option on the kids’ menu for your more adventurous eaters, it is by no means the only one. Sliders, grilled cheese, chicken nuggets, and my personal favorite, the peanut butter and jelly rolled into white bread and cut to look like pieces of sushi. Each kid’s meal is served in an adorable Bento box with a choice of two sides ranging from edamame to French fries, and a super cute rice crispy treat made to look like a piece of sushi with a Swedish fish on top.

The kid’s meals come with a temporary tattoo of a fish that my daughter obsessed over until it washed off. The kid appeal is not limited to the awesome kids' menu though. Kids are entertained even as they wait for the table by a large screen featuring a different fish for each party waiting. Kids watch their fish get bigger and bigger in the virtual tank signaling that it’s getting closer to their “turn” for a table.

Cornhole, large stackable blocks and a large fish to sit on also provide helpful distractions outside. While the wait can be long, Cowfish’s app allows you to get on their waiting list once you get within a certain distance of the restaurant, which cuts down your wait time considerably.

The primary attraction for our daughter is the giant fish tank in the center of the restaurant, filled with colorful tropical fish. We can even entice her to get in the car with promises that we are going to “go see the fish.” As for the other stats, Cowfish has highchairs available, a changing table in the bathroom, and a parking garage attached to the same building for reasonably easy access.

Our food took quite a while to come out, but they were at least able to oblige us by bringing out our daughter’s food first. The fish tank and adorable Bento boxes at Cowfish alone make it worth letting the kids tag along on your next sushi date, I would just suggest getting there before your child’s stomach is already on empty as the food could take some time.

Relish (Jennifer Zelek)

Relish Craft Kitchen & Bourbon Bar in North Raleigh

Relish has been a local favorite of mine since long before having children. I’m not sure that I’ve ever eaten anything there that I haven’t liked. The food is so good that I am still willing to eat here with or without children in tow. Relish is situated in a north Raleigh shopping center off of Creedmoor Road. There is a large parking lot, but somehow it always seems to be packed. I’ve always found a spot for the car, but have sometimes had to hoof it from far across the lot. On my last visit with two adults and one child we walked right in with no wait. That isn’t always the case, but Relish thankfully has a virtual waitlist that you can get on before you even arrive at the restaurant. This has been a lifesaver for me in keeping down what could otherwise be a longer wait time. Relish offers both highchairs and booster seats and even a cool sling that you can put your carseat on to avoid waking a napping baby. Kids are provided with a coloring sheet and crayons.

Relish, open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, specializes in southern favorites, with amazing pimento cheese, macaroni and cheese skillets, a variety of specialty grilled cheese sandwiches, salads, soups, creative burgers, barbecue, shrimp and grits, sweet potato breakfast biscuits, banana pudding and fresh mini donuts. Unlike the vast adults' menu, the kids' menu isn’t huge, but it is crowd pleasing.

Children under 12 can choose from a burger, grilled cheese, grilled chicken breast, chicken fingers, fried or grilled cod', or our daughter’s personal favorite, the macaroni and cheese. There are a ton of sides to choose from, anything from sweet potato fries and fresh green beans, to applesauce. On our most recent visit, my mini-me devoured her entire plate of macaroni and cheese and steak fries. Please don’t judge me for letting my child carb-load. She comes by it honestly, even though my favorite go-to at Relish is the creamy tomato basil soup and goat cheese salad combo. I crave it on the regular.

Our waitstaff was kind and tolerant of my daughter’s habit of picking dried cranberries off my salad and then tossing them on the floor, but didn’t go out of their way in any special regard. I’m happy to go to Relish anytime with or without children.  With a full bar featuring bourbon and food that caters just as well to adult taste buds as it does to kids, it’s an easy win. Plus did I mention bourbon?

Elmo's (Jennifer Zelek)

Elmo’s Diner (Durham)

By virtue of their casual atmosphere and Americana fare, diners are inherently pretty kid friendly, so it’s not surprising that one made the top of this list. Elmo’s Diner is a haven for families dining with small children. Elmo’s serves both breakfast and lunch options, with lots of rotating specials, and a massive (one page!) kid’s menu sure to have something to please for every palate. Parking was convenient as the restaurant has its own private lot. We were told the wait for a party of three would be 15 to 20 minutes, and wound up waiting 26. Honestly, I had been expecting worse during prime brunch time on a Sunday though.

A highchair and mug full of crayons and a couple of different coloring pages were promptly provided. Unfortunately, our daughter was more interested in drinking out of the syrup canister. Our super-friendly waiter was swift to take it away to be replaced. He just smiled and said that stuff like that happens all the time.

Our food came out in a reasonable amount of time, and anything else we asked for in the way of condiments or refills, was either brought out quickly or anticipated in advance. I really enjoyed the breakfast bowl special of cornbread fritters, mashed sweet potatoes, eggs, beans, avocado, feta cheese, cilantro, and a zesty sauce. I found this, and some of Elmo’s options, to be more unique than just your standard diner fare.

Despite the large quantity of options on the kids' menu, our daughter went a bit more traditional with her order of pancakes, scrambled eggs (add the cheese!), sausage and a fruit cup. She literally cleaned her plate, and it wasn’t for a lack of food.  Very high praise for a toddler!

The bathroom had the requisite changing table for our potty needs. The prices for three here were perfectly reasonable, so my chief complaint would be their lack of reservations or call ahead seating. Despite that, Elmo’s Diner is absolutely a top contender for where to dine out with your wee ones.

Bonus picks

I would be remiss not to mention a couple of favorites that almost made the list, but didn’t by virtue of being large national chain restaurants, and to avoid over-representing one area of the Triangle.

Metro Diner and Chuy’s, both in north Raleigh, were exceptionally child-friendly, with great kids' menus, friendly and accommodating waitstaff happy to replace tantrum-inducing spilled ice cream, changing tables, and even a coveted family restroom in Chuy’s case! Not to mention, my daughter and her friends ran around both establishments like banshees while the staff just laughed and said it was the best entertainment they’d had all day.
Other great options are these five WRAL Voters' Choice Award finalists for best family dining:
  • The Redneck BBQ Lab and The BBQ Lab (locations in Benson and Raleigh)
  • Ruckus Pizza, Pasta and Spirits (Raleigh and Cary)
  • Carolina Ale House (Across the Triangle)
  • Boricua Soul (Durham)
  • Local 22 (Durham)

Don’t be shy, take your kids out to eat with you. Yes, they may cry, run laps around the restaurant, and ultimately make you hand over your cell phone, but we’re fortunate to live in the Triangle where we have these and so many other fabulous family-friendly options.

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