Dinner with a Side of Crayons

Once in a while even a SavvyMom doesn’t feel like cooking. Sometimes she doesn’t want take-out either.

She wants to keep the kitchen clean and drink a glass of Pinot Grigio without having to open the bottle herself. And unless she has a stable full of babysitters on speed dial, in these situations you need to know where to go with the kids in tow.

If you’ve already tried the SavvyMom recommended kid-friendly restos, pizza parlours and other eateries, then be sure to scope out some of these favourite places to help Mom avoid a meltdown.

Habit Lounge, the hip joint on Main Street, has embraced the fact that their loyal clientele started having kids and bringing them to dinner. Parents and their kids rave about their menu for the 10 and under set—$5.95 for a main and one side. They only use aged white cheddar in their grilled cheese sandwiches and buttered pasta, and how good does the tuna casserole made with seared albacore tuna and shaved parmesan sound? Future foodies are welcome here.

With inventive rolls that represent up to all four food groups, Kamei Royale, the massive 200-seat restaurant, also has an abundance of tatami rooms so kids can roam or have chopstick sword fights without disturbing the other patrons while Mom has her spicy tuna roll.

With five big and noisy locations all around Vancouver, you should be able to get a table at Milestones in no time flat. The booths are big and the aisles are wide for stroller parking. Kids under 12 can eat, drink and enjoy gelato for $8.99. And while they’re waiting for their sliders, kids can play tic-tac-toe, solve riddles and do word puzzles printed on the placemats. (Plus, kids love to collect those little plastic safari animals that come with Mom’s Bellini.)

Although you won’t find high chairs or a kids’ menu at any of their seven locations in Vancouver, Cactus Club Cafe still makes the list because it’s loud, dark and has a plethora of booths; the game is always on; and their Etch A Sketch loaners quiet down even the loudest kids. They also have the best chicken tenders in the Greater Vancouver Area.

Bon appétit! Or shall we say bottoms up? Tested by Nancy C., Vancouver

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