What's my favorite restaurant?

[It'sJessMe]

My kids asked us to start a new tradition recently of eating out for each birthday, where the birthday celebrant picks the restaurant. So far my younger son, when he turned 6, picked South St. Diner ("Oh mommy, it's the best restaurant in the entire world") and my husband picked a Chinese restaurant in NJ. My older son has announced that when he turns 9 in the fall we're going to Beau Monde. (Clearly we got off easy with the little guy. And also clearly, my older one has more refined taste than his brother).

But now it's my turn to pick for tomorrow night. Normally I'd go with Zahav or Kanella, or someplace nice for sushi, something like that, but I need to find something that will pass for my favorite and satisfy the adults while having options for my kids, who are not the most adventurous eaters. So we need something nice that feels a bit celebratory but still is good for families (my kids are well behaved in restaurants but still), with a decent variety of options to appeal to both generations. Oh and none of us eats meat or chicken.

Thoughts?

[AbortedWalrus]

How does one go someplace nice for sushi yet not eat meat? California rolls only?

[purplesachi]

what about south philly tap room, or distrito?

SPTR is more a bar, but it's got solid food that everyone in your family can enjoy, and i've definitely seen kids there before. though, it's not exactly a 'celebratory' type of restaurant.

Distrito is fun and i'm sure you could find something on the menu that you can eat. it's definitely more 'celebratory' but i don't know how kid-friendly the place is.

[BarryG]

How about Osteria? Should be fine with kids if you eat early, and they have pizza.

[philly57]

Assuming you eat fish and seafood, the options are plentiful. Chifa is delicious and their octopus is fantastic and, if you like sushi, try their ceviche. Other options could be Dmitris or Fish.

[It'sJessMe]

How does one go someplace nice for sushi yet not eat meat? California rolls only?

I eat fish.

[eunicebrail]

Our friends love to go to Distrito because we enjoy the ambiance as well as the food. We usually hang out there once a week but yeah I guess the place is not for the kids though they can go there together with their parents or some elders.


________________________
Houses and Condos Style
LuxuryHousesandCondos.com

[loveisnoise]

Say huh?

Bridget Foy's has awesome kids options all the time, as well as good options on the menu for all.

Nomad Pizza!!!! Fun to watch the pizza being made.

Or just bring the kids to my shop and I'll teach them how to yell at south street varmint while you have fun. I taught school for 3 years after college, so trust me-I got this.

[Pitt]

Marakesh -- basically you just have to like bread, meat, and sauces. Very fun too.
South Philly red gravy joints -- loud, authentic Philadelphia experience great for families. It's rare you'll find one with bad food. Villa di Roma and Malone's Back Room Cafe are personal favorites. The staff sings opera at Victor's Cafe and they filmed the last Rocky there. Ralph's isn't bad either.
Route 6 -- better than I envisioned
El Vez -- some people like eating there, I don't. Good for families though.
Sansom St. Oyster House
Famous 4th Street Delicatessen -- I know it's a NY deli but follow me here... it's fuuuuuuuhahahcking awesome, holy ****. Seriously.
City Tavern - if the only people who go there are tourists then that's an indictment on the type of people who call themselves foodies and pay too much attention to trends and Foobooz. City Tavern food is very good.
Nomad Pizza -- love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love good for families love love love love love love love love love Nomad. Love it.

[loveisnoise]

So Nomad it is. And Jessme, I still have that time machine available for your birthday. At the price I offered you on Facebook? Comeon-it's practically a steal.

[It'sJessMe]

So Nomad it is. And Jessme, I still have that time machine available for your birthday. At the price I offered you on Facebook? Comeon-it's practically a steal.

Here's the issue with Nomad (which my husband and I are dying to try). This is how my kids eat pizza:
"Mom, can we have pizza for dinner?" :izza eventually served::
"Mom, you forgot to scrape off the cheese"
"Mom, you left a tiny piece of cheese in the corner"
"Mom, there's too much sauce on, that red stuff, can you scrape that off"
finally "mmmm, I love pizza, can we have it again tomorrow?"

So I'm not paying for Nomad for my kids to eat crust.

But thanks everyone, the other suggestions are awesome. Great to have a list.

LIN, the machine sounds great, do you deliver?

[2happy4u]

Jones 7th & Chestnut

[BarryG]

Here's the issue with Nomad (which my husband and I are dying to try). This is how my kids eat pizza:
"Mom, can we have pizza for dinner?" :izza eventually served::
"Mom, you forgot to scrape off the cheese"
"Mom, you left a tiny piece of cheese in the corner"
"Mom, there's too much sauce on, that red stuff, can you scrape that off"
finally "mmmm, I love pizza, can we have it again tomorrow?"

So I'm not paying for Nomad for my kids to eat crust.

But thanks everyone, the other suggestions are awesome. Great to have a list.

LIN, the machine sounds great, do you deliver?

If your kids don't like pizza strike Osteria as they may have trouble finding something there. What do they like it? Do they eat Chinese? Maybe check out Han Dynasty if you like spicy; you can order the traditional Szechuan dishes for the adults, and they have a "Children/Baby Adults" menu with dishes your kids recognize from your everyday Chinese restaurant.

[loveisnoise]

No delivery of time machines-cash and carry only, but then you can go back in time and have someone deliver it, so it practically delivers itself.

Pizza sounds messy- is that why you were having the firemen hose them down the other day?!?!

Here's the issue with Nomad (which my husband and I are dying to try). This is how my kids eat pizza:
"Mom, can we have pizza for dinner?" :izza eventually served::
"Mom, you forgot to scrape off the cheese"
"Mom, you left a tiny piece of cheese in the corner"
"Mom, there's too much sauce on, that red stuff, can you scrape that off"
finally "mmmm, I love pizza, can we have it again tomorrow?"

So I'm not paying for Nomad for my kids to eat crust.

But thanks everyone, the other suggestions are awesome. Great to have a list.

LIN, the machine sounds great, do you deliver?

[It'sJessMe]

Jones 7th & Chestnut

Actually that's exactly what we decided on. With pierogis, mac and cheese, and hummus and pita appetizers my kids will be happy, and the Peanut Butter cup ice cream sundae for dessert will make them ecstatic. And the adults can go for the slightly nicer fare. We drove by it on the way to camp (yes, my kids have camp today! They were the only ones there, so the counselor::camper ratio when I dropped them off was 6::1) and they said "wow it looks so fancy, we're going to behave beautifully!"

[It'sJessMe]

Pizza sounds messy- is that why you were having the firemen hose them down the other day?!?!

They're boys. They're always messy.

[FourS]

For what it's worth, my kids have eaten at Distrito without issue. I'm just glad they're adventurous eaters (at Distrito alone we ate octopus and rabbit). My four-year-old daughter made me so proud when she later said, "Daddy, bunnies are cute. They're delicious too."

[Dolemite]

I would have suggested any number of pasta places as long as your kids eat pasta with butter. Amis, Melagrano, etc have all made a pasta on the menu with just butter for my youngest.

[ShoshTrvls]

Why wouldn't Zahav work? Early evening, I think it very kid-friendly.

How a out Parc?

[Tartan69]

"Daddy, bunnies are cute. They're delicious too."

Awesome, +100