Kids’ Cuisine

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To eat out and avoid the mess, or to eat out and have your children humiliate you in a room full of strangers? That is the parenting dilemma of the day.

The key to eating out with children is to go early and be realistic about the destination. Think 11:30 am for lunch and 5:00 pm for dinner. That’s when you’ll get faster, better service. Next, choose your eatery with care. Even though you may love to order a glass of Burgundy and nosh on Cassoulet Grillé de Toulouse at Fleur de Sel on 4th Street, the ‘French Dog’ at Le Chien Chaud right next door may be a better option. So with that in mind, we found a few dog and pizza destinations that the kids are sure to love. 

There is nothing wrong with Le Chien Chaud. In fact, there is a whole lot of ‘right’ when it comes to dining with your kids. Bar tables, self-serve condiments and a picture menu means no reading required. The hot dogs are served on fresh baguettes (yum) and come with a vast array of toppings, including Dijon mustard, sautéed mushrooms (in Herbes de Provence), and gruyere cheese. The dogs are large enough to fill an adult belly, and come in vegetarian, all-beef, pork/beef and locally-supplied buffalo and bratwurst varieties, as well as the standard wiener.

Another wiener-y worth a visit is Spolumbos Fine Foods & Deli in Inglewood (adjacent to the back door Zoo entrance). With Italian sausage, meatballs and paninis on the menu, it’s a kid-friendly (and loud) delight with adult options, too. Inglewood is also home to Kane’s Harley Diner (where dogs are also on the menu). A family-friendly biker joint, the décor alone is enough to distract little eaters.

If ‘za’ is the easy meal option for your family, try Una Pizza + Wine on 17th Avenue. It serves up delicious thin-crust pizzas, has a gluten-free option and offers real espresso and good wine (for those who will have more than 20 minutes to enjoy the meal).

In Kensington, we love Pulcinella, for the authentic Napoletana Pizza. The décor is slick and the pizza kitchen sits mid-restaurant, so if you catch the chefs with some time to spare, your kids can go behind the counter to watch their pizza prep in person. Keep it simple and order the Margherita pizza followed by the Saltinbocca (dessert pizza with Nutella).

Then go home to a clean and tidy kitchen. No dishes required.

Tested by Emmet F., (6) Calgary