No Reservations

Oh, the joys of dining out with children. We bring them to a restaurant and expect that every eating rule we’ve ever taught them will be keenly followed (read: the salt is not for arts and crafts). No wonder the restaurant take-out business is thriving. 

You shouldn’t give up on dining out with the kids, though. Our list of child-friendly restaurants is meant to get you comfortably back out there. After all, practice makes perfect. 

The patrons at The Sister, this very casual Parkdale restaurant, love it because it’s got it all going on. From food to art and live music (though the bands don’t usually come on until later in the evening), there is lots of entertainment. On Wednesdays, kids eat free from their menu and enjoy a scoop of ice cream afterwards, when an accompanying adult orders an entrée. Open at 4 pm on weekdays and 10 am on weekends, you don’t need to worry about the occasional loud yell or tantrum. The staff is likely used to such outbursts—from both pint-sized patrons and moody musicians. 

The Burger Cellar is North Toronto’s foray into the gourmet burger/bar world that’s great for a date night but also keeps families in mind. We love that they have healthy choices for kids like the grilled chicken plate, and that they make their ketchup in-house, which means less sugar than conventional brands. Besides the expected burger and grilled-cheese options, they offer Angus, Kobe and local organic meat burgers as well as lamb, turkey and veggie burgers on whole wheat buns. More of a burger bistro than a burger joint, The Burger Cellar still doesn’t take itself too seriously—just like our kids. 

If Anthropologie isn’t enough of a draw to Shops at Don Mills for you, Glow Fresh Grill and Wine Bar, the Pickle Barrel chain’s more glamorous cousin, is a great destination for eating out with the kids, especially in the winter months. With one whole side of the large restaurant looking out over the outdoor Skating Oval that (weather permitting) usually opens from early December to March, it’s a great way to enjoy an upscale dinner out (for those winter special occasions). Watch the crowds on the ice during a meal, or take the kids skating first (bring your skates—no shoes allowed on the ice).

If you find yourself in the downtown core doing some sightseeing, we recommend dining at the newly refurbished Marché restaurant. It makes eating an adventure for kids and doesn’t limit them to a set children’s menu. Instead, they provide child-sized plates and an opportunity to make selections from an endless offering of fresh and delicious food. When is the last time kids got to choose everything (mom-supervised of course) on their plate? A great way to get them thinking about what they eat, the kids meal also comes with a drink and ice cream. To add even more appeal, each month a different surprise is offered from Marché’s mascot, Picky the baby seagull. 

Terroni may still be a great casual-date neighbourhood spot, but diners dealing with diapers can enjoy a relaxed and comfortable meal at several Terroni restaurants in the city. The Queen Street West and Yonge Street (moving soon to Yonge and Summerhill) locations are particularly popular with families for good reason. They offer great options for kids—from garganelli pasta (penne-like noodles with butter) to spaghetti with plain tomato sauce to a kids’ margherita pizza. Terroni has a daily gelato offering and lots of crayons, high chairs and booster seats. Imagine a hip Italian grandmother who loves kids opened a restaurant, and you have Terroni. 

There’s so much that is appealing in the Beaches (or Beach…) and Green Eggplant, which recently opened another location on Eglinton, should be counted as one of the spots to hit if you’re hungry and have kids in tow. With a good kids’ (or as they say, Kidz) menu that includes all-day bacon and eggs (up to 4 pm), a warm and welcoming atmosphere and excellent service, Green Eggplant is clearly used to dealing, serving, and engaging the youngest of customers. If you are at the Beaches location, grab a seat near the big front windows and take the opportunity to enjoy people watching and ‘I spy’ game playing while you wait for your generous portions of food. Good to Know: Line-ups can be expected on weekends, so bring some distractions.

Bon appétit.

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