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5 Faves for Family-Friendly Dining in KC

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Kids Make Their Own Pizza

Next Door Pizza: 3385 SW Fascination Dr., Lee's Summit, 816.763.1200, www.NextDoorPizza.com

Kids love to make pizza, but let’s face it… this is almost always a messy endeavor. At Next Door Pizza, you can have the fun and leave the mess behind! Children are provided ingredients to make their own pizzas: raw dough, sauce, cheese and toppings. Once the masterpiece is ready, it is taken to the ovens. Even the wait is fun. The game room features a train table and arcades, but more than that, the entire restaurant is a great game of “I Spy” just waiting to happen. The menu features a signature Chicago-style deep dish pizza and thin crust pizza. They also offer wings, salads and sandwiches, including some topped with American Royal award-winning sauces. The dessert menu includes cupcakes or, for the ultimate sweet tooth, fried Snickers. Kids give it two enthusiastic thumbs up!

Price Range: Typical pizzeria & deli prices with sandwiches ranging from $6 to $8 and pizza ranging from $13 to $20.

Tip: Monday is Kids Eat Free Night (up to 3 children with paying adults).

 

Minsky's Pizza

Minsky's has been serving gourmet pizza in Kansas City since 1976. Minsky's (many locations, see Minskys.com) serves fresh pizzas on hand-rolled dough with generous portions of fresh ingredients. Families love the Leawood location (12920 State Line Rd., Leawood, KS, 913.317.9965), where a live magician and balloon artist entertains on Saturdays from 6:00 to 8:00.

Sakura

If you are looking for a fun way to introduce children to Japanese steakhouses and sushi, Sakura (7474 Nieman Rd., Shawnee, KS, 913.962.6361) is a great pick. Children love the entertainment of watching as food is cooked right before their eyes at the grill. If you feel a little uncertain when ordering sushi, Sakura offers the solution... the Sushi Train! A train rolls along at the sushi bar where customers grab their own sushi off the train (buffet style). The train is refilled by chefs quickly, offering a diverse selection of sushi for customers. You can see exactly what you're about to eat, removing much of the mystery from sushi ordering and making it more appealing when introducing sushi to kids. You can order small plates with a few pieces selected from the train—a great way to sample sushi!

Fritz’s

One of Kansas City’s landmark restaurants since 1954, Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant, offers three Metro locations (www.FritzsKC.com) and unforgettable experiences. At this favorite eatery, model trains deliver food right to your table, and children receive their own engineer caps! Enjoy burgers, fries and shakes at this top pick for Kansas City kids.

Genghis Khan

If you love to experiment with ingredients, you’ll love Genghis Khan (3906 Bell St., Kansas City, MO, 816.753.3600 or 8634 N. Boardwalk, Kansas City, MO, 816.587.8883), Kansas City’s original Mongolian BBQ. Patrons of all ages create their own bowl of stir-fry from a buffet of more than 20 vegetables, 12 meats and seafood, noodles and 15 spices and oils. Suggested recipes are posted, and the buffet is all-you-can-eat, so you may try a variety of combinations. The final step is handing over your bowl of stir-fry to a chef who cooks the meal right before your eyes on a sizzling hot grill in the ancient Mongolian tradition. What better way to explore new flavors and have fun with food?

 

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