Kid friendly

**jazzcat** · 06-28-2010, 01:33 PM

I am clueless about where to meet friends from out of town who have 2 young boys...

Where in Center City, or easy access from the Airport to meet them for dinner with their two kids?

Thanks in advance....

**jazzcat** · 06-28-2010, 01:34 PM

I forgot..the kids are 2 and 5, and have been raised by wolves.

**ACG** · 06-28-2010, 01:50 PM

So not just kid friendly, insane kid tolerant. ;-)

**jazzcat** · 06-28-2010, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by ACG

So not just kid friendly, insane kid tolerant. ;-)

Yes indeed.

something a lot better than fast food, and preferably with a liquor license.

**OldCityTans** · 06-28-2010, 03:44 PM

Johnny Rockets on South St. BYO

**jmbenj** · 06-28-2010, 03:47 PM

Go someplace that is already loud. The chain restaurants usually accommodate kids. There is an Applebees on 15th or Hard Rock Cafe on Market. You could try Dave and Buster's on Delaware Ave - you can eat and play.

**creative destru** · 06-28-2010, 03:51 PM

If it's not too hot, a place with outdoor space is great for kids. For brunch, there's a very casual restaurant in the Ohio House in Fairmount Park. Food is fine, and if you get a (plastic) table outside, the kids could run around on the lawn and make noise. Also, it's right near the Please Touch Museum, which would be a great outing for a family with kids that age.

**ShoshTrvls** · 06-28-2010, 03:53 PM

Jones, 7th and Chestnut.

**creative destru** · 06-28-2010, 04:00 PM

Sorry, just noticed that you're looking for dinner, so the Ohio House wouldn't work. Any place where you can sit outside would probably still be best. . . . Diffuses all sorts of noise.

**ACG** · 06-28-2010, 04:02 PM

Just let us know where you are taking these wolf children so we all can stay clear ;-)

**OldCityTans** · 06-28-2010, 04:05 PM

Advice Goddess Blog

**BeardScraper** · 06-29-2010, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by ACG

So not just kid friendly, insane kid tolerant. ;-)

where you take kids like that, they will ruin the evening for all others who are present. you should probably cancel.

**jazzcat** · 06-29-2010, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by BeardScraper

where you take kids like that, they will ruin the evening for all others who are present. you should probably cancel.

I hear you, but that isn't an option....

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I think I will just have the kids dropped off at Old City Tans for a couple of hours.....

**BeardScraper** · 06-29-2010, 09:25 AM

i could give a 2nd vote to dave and buster's. the noise will definitely blend in there. or if you want to really have some fun, take them to a total snoot fest, like, oh i dont know [insert ritzy snooty restaurant name here]. i cant even name one, im a bum and dont really eat at fancy places, but you get the idea.

**chuckiezip** · 06-29-2010, 09:39 AM

hawthorne's is a very kid friendly place on 11th and fitzwater. decent food, great beer selection. very casual & has a lot of space, so if your little ones start walking around, there's no hassle.

**ACG** · 06-29-2010, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by BeardScraper

where you take kids like that, they will ruin the evening for all others who are present. you should probably cancel.

I have to agree here. Maybe not cancel (although there was a time I refused to go out with some of my own family because the kids would run a muck and the parents would do nothing), but I think you have to forgo making sure there is a bar and go somewhere that is not just kid friendly, but for kids. Yes I am talking Chucky Cheese. It sucks, but do you really want to go somewhere you will ultimately be embarrassed and feel obligated to rush to get the kids out?

You might want to consider inviting them over for dinner at your place or maybe a picnic - it is staying lighter longer.

**jmbenj** · 06-29-2010, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by ACG

I have to agree here. Maybe not cancel (although there was a time I refused to go out with some of my own family because the kids would run a muck and the parents would do nothing), but I think you have to forgo making sure there is a bar and go somewhere that is not just kid friendly, but for kids. Yes I am talking Chucky Cheese. It sucks, but do you really want to go somewhere you will ultimately be embarrassed and feel obligated to rush to get the kids out?

You might want to consider inviting them over for dinner at your place or maybe a picnic - it is staying lighter longer.

I disagree. However, the parents are responsible for ensuring their kids don't act like animals. Taking them to a restaurant is the only way to teach them to act civilly in a restaurant. Same goes for the grocery store.

You were a kid once, no? Did you sit in your house your entire childhood, unexposed to the outside world? I doubt it. If you don't like it, maybe you should stay home.

**ACG** · 06-29-2010, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by jmbenj

I disagree. However, the parents are responsible for ensuring their kids don't act like animals. Taking them to a restaurant is the only way to teach them to act civilly in a restaurant. Same goes for the grocery store.

You were a kid once, no? Did you sit in your house your entire childhood, unexposed to the outside world? I doubt it. If you don't like it, maybe you should stay home.

I would agree if teaching was taking place. But there are parents who sit back at places like restaurants and let their kids run around, climb under tables, scream, etc. That is not teaching, that is the parents turning "off", figuring that the restaurant staff and/or the people they are eating with will handle the out of control children. The OP stated that the children have been "raised by wolves" - to me this implies that there is little teaching of correct social behavior and the children are left to do what they want without consideration to the safety of the staff & the children (it is so dangerous for kids to run around a restaurants) or to the other people eating there.

When a family goes to a restaurant it is not providing baby sitting services, the parents are still responsible for providing supervision and control over their own children.

And it is a lazy cop out when a parent says something like "if you don't sit down, that lady/man is going to holler at you."

I went out plenty with my parents when I was a child. I was taught and it was discussed before going to the restaurant that you must remain in your seat in a restaurant. I was taught that waitstaff carry heavy and very hot food and it was dangerous for me to run around. It was my parents' responsibility to make sure we behaved and if we didn't, we were taken home.

**Reality Czech** · 06-29-2010, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by ACG

I would agree if teaching was taking place. But there are parents who sit back at places like restaurants and let their kids run around, climb under tables, scream, etc. That is not teaching, that is the parents turning "off", figuring that the restaurant staff and/or the people they are eating with will handle the out of control children. The OP stated that the children have been "raised by wolves" - to me this implies that there is little teaching of correct social behavior and the children are left to do what they want without consideration to the safety of the staff & the children (it is so dangerous for kids to run around a restaurants) or to the other people eating there.

When a family goes to a restaurant it is not providing baby sitting services, the parents are still responsible for providing supervision and control over their own children.

And it is a lazy cop out when a parent says something like "if you don't sit down, that lady/man is going to holler at you."

I went out plenty with my parents when I was a child. I was taught and it was discussed before going to the restaurant that you must remain in your seat in a restaurant. I was taught that waitstaff carry heavy and very hot food and it was dangerous for me to run around. It was my parents' responsibility to make sure we behaved and if we didn't, we were taken home.

If the children will not behave, take them out of the establishment!

When I was a kid going out to eat was an event and was exciting. I knew that if not well behaved I was disciplined and wouldn't be going out to dinner again any time soon.

From the description given by the OP a place like Dave & Busters (easy on/off I-95) sounds like the answer. Maybe even Cavanaughs Riverdeck where they can run wild, look at the river, watch ships pass.

**ACG** · 06-29-2010, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by Reality Czech

If the children will not behave, take them out of the establishment!

When I was a kid going out to eat was an event and was exciting. I knew that if not well behaved I was disciplined and wouldn't be going out to dinner again any time soon.

From the description given by the OP a place like Dave & Busters (easy on/off I-95) sounds like the answer. Maybe even Cavanaughs Riverdeck where they can run wild, look at the river, watch ships pass.

I can remember the very first time my parents let my brother and I walk around an restaurant "alone" for the very first time. We use to go to a seafood place that had a big fish tank. My lil brother and I had to hold hands and walk direct, watching for waitstaff and other adults (always yielding to them them), to the fish tank. If we fought, whined, ran, etc, we were not allowed to leave our seats. And of course this was only after we ate our meal properly.

I have a 3 year old niece that I take out, just her & me. I know that feeling of dread that can come over you when you aren't 100% what the hell they will do when you walk into a place with them. Before going in we usually talk about being good and what reward there will be for being good. I would say 98% of the time she is very good, charming staff (I had to go to AT&T once and she had every salesman sitting on the floor fawning over her - she left with 3 dummy phones & stickers), but when she misbehaves, we leave and she gets a sandwich at home.