GUIDES
DINING OUT WITH THE FAMILY
Your Easy, Everyday Guide to Eating Out as a Family
When it comes to eating out as a family you may well be feeling a mixture of excitement and apprehension! Often parents find themselves under the scrutiny of fellow diners when their little ones begin to behave, well, like typical children. Here, misbehaviour is not the issue – rather, it is a child’s natural way of exploring and interacting with their surroundings. By choosing family restaurants, all worries can be put to one side.
We’ve made it easy for you by pulling together our perfect guide to eating out as a family. Read on to find out our top things to look out for in child-friendly restaurants, why timing is key to a great dining experience and why food should always come first when it comes to restaurants with kids’ menus.
3) ACTIVITIES
You’ll find the best family-friendly restaurants entertain the children for you, leaving you to browse the menu. Cue, activity sheets and colouring-in menus. Some restaurants offer even a window seat to watch the world go by. Because sometimes you can’t beat a little bit of eye spy to keep the kids happy.
1) SERVICE
Let’s start with service. This is crucial – get it right and everyone is happy, get it wrong and it will end in tears, most likely yours! Child-friendly restaurants should be all big smiles, warm welcomes and friendly staff, poised ready to help. Quick seating, fast ordering and meals that don’t take ages to arrive should come as standard. Look for restaurants that add those extra little touches such as child-sized cutlery and food served on cooler plates. Here at ASK, kids are number one and we serve their meals first to keep rumbling tummies at bay.
2) SPACE
No one wants to feel squashed like sardines just because they have children in tow. Family dining restaurants should be a relaxed affair and so opt for places that have plenty of space for prams and high chairs. Wide aisles, roomy tables and seating that works for families make a huge difference.
We’ve got plenty of room for your buggies at ASK Italian and the majority of our restaurants have accessible toilets with baby changing facilities available.
3) ACTIVITIES
You’ll find the best family-friendly restaurants entertain the children for you, leaving you to browse the menu. Cue, activity sheets and colouring-in menus. Some restaurants offer even a window seat to watch the world go by. Because sometimes you can’t beat a little bit of eye spy to keep the kids happy.
1) SERVICE
Let’s start with service. This is crucial – get it right and everyone is happy, get it wrong and it will end in tears, most likely yours! Child-friendly restaurants should be all big smiles, warm welcomes and friendly staff, poised ready to help. Quick seating, fast ordering and meals that don’t take ages to arrive should come as standard. Look for restaurants that add those extra little touches such as child-sized cutlery and food served on cooler plates. Here at ASK, kids are number one and we serve their meals first to keep rumbling tummies at bay.
IT'S ALL IN THE TIMING...
Timing really can make or break an outing. It honestly doesn’t matter whether you have small children or big kids, picking the best time to eat is going to make your life so much easier. Most family-friendly restaurants will offer an early sitting from around 4.30pm. If you eat early, the kitchen should be quieter and grumbling tummies will get fed faster.
If you’re looking for lunch then aim for an early one, before midday is ideal to avoid the rush. Those child-friendly restaurants that welcome early dinners or off‑peak visits make life easier for families with tired little ones. Always avoid the ‘danger zone’ during late afternoons and evenings when children can be tired and at their most grizzly – especially the youngest of the group. Opting for weekdays over weekends can often guarantee a quieter, calmer and usually faster service.
Book a table. No one wants to be hanging around with hungry children. It also gives the restaurant a head-ups that they know to expect little people.
And if nothing else, follow this one simple rule: go before the kids get hungry or tired, not after! But whatever the time, you can expect a warm welcome at ASK.
6) HEALTHY KIDS OPTIONS
All too often kids are served up a buffet of beige when dining out. The best family-friendly restaurants should offer food that is nutritious as well as familiar, to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Take our Happy Face Pizza for example – a perfect blend of healthy meets delicious. Or try our crinkle-cut veggie dippers to start.
Peas are FREE with every kids’ meal, too! Just ask your server when you’re ordering and we’ll bring a portion over.
4) FACILITIES
If you are planning ahead and searching for ‘family restaurants near me’ make sure to check out the facilities as a priority – especially if you have very little ones in your party. Clean loos with baby changing facilities are non-negotiable.
Find out about your local ASK’s facilities by searching your local ASK here.
5) CHILD-FRIENDLY MENU
This is obvious, isn’t it? Kids love choosing their own food and so make sure your search for family-friendly restaurants include child-friendly menus. When kids are given their own menu, they usually double up as form of entertainment too, with colouring in and other activities. The best menus are easy to understand with familiar foods, allergens clearly marked and the ability to tweak dishes.
At ASK, our kids’ menu is customisable and there’s plenty of choice. So even the fussiest of eaters will find something they’ll love.
6) HEALTHY KIDS OPTIONS
All too often kids are served up a buffet of beige when dining out. The best family-friendly restaurants should offer food that is nutritious as well as familiar, to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Take our Happy Face Pizza for example – a perfect blend of healthy meets delicious. Or try our crinkle-cut veggie dippers to start.
Peas are FREE with every kids’ meal, too! Just ask your server when you’re ordering and we’ll bring a portion over.
4) FACILITIES
If you are planning ahead and searching for ‘family restaurants near me’ make sure to check out the facilities as a priority – especially if you have very little ones in your party. Clean loos with baby changing facilities are non-negotiable.
Find out about your local ASK’s facilities by searching your local ASK here.
FOOD THAT EVEN THE FUSSIEST OF EATERS WILL LOVE...
Let’s take a deeper dive into the main event – eating! When it comes to family dining restaurants scroll down to find out what menus really work when eating out as a family.
Keep things simple
Children thrive on predictability, especially in unfamiliar environments. So, when you are searching for child-friendly restaurants, pay attention to the menu and even better, take a quick peek before you visit.
Look out for the crowd-pleasers – those straightforward dishes that you just know are a winner with kids – think pizza, pasta, grilled chicken, burgers, simple sandwiches, fruit and veg sticks.
Minimise unwelcome surprises like unexpected spices, sauces and look out for ‘twists’ on a classic dish. No parent wants their child to have a surprise encounter with a flaming hot chilli!
A flexible approach. Choose a menu that can adapt to your family’s needs. Can you swap the salty chips for a baked potato or ask for your sauce on the side? These swaps can make all the difference to your child’s meal and their whole experience of eating out.
Portion control. Are there smaller portions available for little appetites? If this isn’t an option some family dining restaurants will offer child-size portions of an adult meal. This can be a great option if the child’s menu only offers fried, beige food.
Quick order items such as bread and veg sticks with a dip on the side can be an absolute life saver if you arrive with ‘hangry’ children.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO LOOK AT WHEN CHOOSING A KIDS' MENU
When it comes to family dining restaurants, you want the menu to be varied enough to keep everyone happy but not so overwhelming it distracts you from spending time together as a family. Kids’ menus don’t need to be huge but they do need to have variety and balance. We’ve put together some top tips to help you along the way:
Choose a menu with a mix of familiar favourites as well as healthier choices – comforting yet nutritious. Our great value kids’ menu offers plenty of choice – from Crinkle Cut Veggies to Build Your Own Pasta – so even the fussy ones will find something they’ll love.
Look for clear labelling of allergens, vegetarian and vegan options, and spice levels should always be obvious.
Build‑your‑own choices such as our ‘Happy Face Pizza’ are a great option and the best way to get kids interested in their meal, as well as keeping them entertained. Cue, mini masterchefs!
Shared dishes such as platters, pizzas and sides are a great way to get everyone involved. Just remember to share!
And as you are eating out as a family, don’t neglect the adults, as it shouldn’t all be about the kids!
And so, with a little preparation and the right mindset child-friendly restaurants should be a joyful experience for the whole family. Dining out really can be fantastic for kids – they get the chance to build their social skills, practice table manners and indulge their developing taste buds all at the same time!
