It can be difficult, even intimidating, to find the perfect restaurant to visit with your kids. You want to make sure they have delicious, kid-friendly food while also providing your kids with a fun experience that will keep them happy and entertained so everyone can enjoy the meal together. Here is a list of five restaurants that are perfect for the whole family! Several of these have outdoor areas, which automatically makes them kid-friendly, in my opinion. Most of these restaurants have multiple locations or feature a variety of vendors in one spot, so check their websites and social media accounts for details on when they are open.
Char Bar | 4050 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, Mo. • 15348 Old Town Dr., Parkville
Char Bar’s original location is in Westport, and their second location is in the Northland at Creekside in Parkville, and both are perfect spots for families. Both locations have spacious outdoor areas which are perfect for kids to get up and run around while they’re waiting for their food. My son always has a great time playing corn hole at the Westport location, and I appreciate being able to walk around with him without feeling like we are disturbing anyone. The Parkville location also has hopscotch in their hallway, which is a great feature when you’re sitting inside and need to get up and move around a bit. We love going to Char Bar for lunch or dinner with friends, but we also really enjoy going for brunch on the weekends.
Chicken N Pickle | 1761 Burlington St., North Kansas City • 5901 W. 135th St., Overland Park
If you’re looking for a place to sit outdoors and let your kids run around and play, Chicken N Pickle is your spot. Both locations have tons of outdoor seating. We recently had a lunch playdate with our friends at the North Kansas City location, and all of our kids had a blast. They were able to move around and play as the moms chatted before ordering lunch. There are several yard games to enjoy, including corn hole, giant Connect 4, giant Jenga and giant Battleship. Our kids also enjoyed taking their own car and truck toys to drive around in the artificial grass and dig in the rocks. Even though the restaurant doesn’t open until 11:00, you can still visit early to play before you order.
Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant | 13803 W. 63rd St., Shawnee • 2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. • 250 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kan.
Fritz’s provides the most fun family experience you could ask for, especially if you have any train lovers. You place your order on an old-fashioned telephone, then wait for it to be delivered via train. We have fun watching the trains drive orders around and guessing which table they’ll stop at. Their Lil’ Engineers menu features kid-friendly food such as cheeseburgers, grilled cheese, chicken nuggets and hot dogs. If you’re looking for a morning adventure, the Shawnee and Kansas City, Kan., locations open earlier and serve breakfast throughout the week.
Iron District | 1599 Iron St., North Kansas City
Each small business at Iron District is operated out of a repurposed shipping container, which creates a fun and unique vibe for this outdoor space. The goal of this family-friendly spot is to support small businesses while giving them a kickstart to success. The wide variety of small businesses to support means there’s a little bit of everything for everyone when it comes to food, drinks and dessert. You and your kids can order food from The Sourdough Spot, Cargo Cantina, The Laos House, Sidos, Breakfast for Dinner or Iron Grill. Once you get your food, you can eat at any of the nearby picnic tables. After dinner, you can order ice cream with tons of fun toppings from Melt Box.
Lenexa Public Market | 8750 Penrose Ln., Lenexa
Lenexa Public Market also has a wide variety of vendors, which means everyone in the family can choose exactly what they want to eat. A great kid-friendly option is Cardboard Corner —their menu is waffle-themed, and what kid doesn’t love that? In addition to their fun menu, Cardboard Corner has board games you can play as a family. Another kid-friendly option is Topp’d Pizza, where you can choose from delicious pizzas, salads, sandwiches and even homemade meatballs. Once you order, you can either eat at one of the many tables inside or venture out to the patio, where you’ll find even more seating. If you happen to be there in the morning or during the day and you’re looking for a sweet treat, you can head over to Mr. D’s Coffee for coffee and donuts. And if you’re looking for even more family fun, go on Wednesday for Family Fun Night from 5:00-8:00. On these nights there are unique dinner specials, games, a balloon artist and various activities throughout the year.