ISO restaurants that are fun for kids

[Personal Chef]

We live in Mount Laurel, NJ (about 30 minutes from Philadelphia.) I am searching for restaurants that are fun for kids like Chuck E. Cheese. We have a Chuck E. Cheese in the area but was looking for something different. I have searched on every website I could think of have not found a thing. Help!

Thanks!!

[mlynn]

What about Dave & Buster's? That's the only chain that springs to mind, although I guess it is only suitable if your kids are into video games and a little older. I think my 5-year-old would love it.

Instead of searching for restaurants, you may want to see if there are any entertainment complexes in your area that contain restaurants. For example, we live near http://www.biggcity.net/lt/

mlynn

[Gumbeaux]

There is a Rainforest Cafe in NJ. Is the restaurant near you?

Kids love this place.

[robinf]

How old are the kids? While not really designed to be a kid restaurant a la Chuck E. Cheese's, kids always seem to enjoy the "show" at those Japanese Hibachi tables. I know my DD did though now (she's 11) she prefers to sit at the sushi bar.

[Personal Chef]

Thanks ladies.

My boys are 6 and 2 1/2. Dave and Buster's would not work out for them yet. Plus it is in the heart of Center City/Philadelphia. Philadelphia is not the safest place to go and I would not feel comfortable taking the boys there myself. There's at least one murder a day in Philadelphia. In this area, it is nicknamed "Kill-adelphia." Rain Forest Cafe is also in Philadelphia.

I thought about the hibachi table. There's nothing there my kids would eat but I think they would find it interesting. I will investigate that further.

MLynn--We have a place here similar to Bigg's called FunPlex. They do not have anything for toddlers, unfortunately.

[Jazzmatazz49]

Thanks ladies.



I thought about the hibachi table. There's nothing there my kids would eat but I think they would find it interesting. I will investigate that further.

I agree with this idea. My kids loved the showmanship and actually learned to eat a couple of new things by going to Benihana's back in the day. By the way, is that chain still in business? I haven't seen one in a long time.

[Miss Giggles]

There are a still a few Benihanas open.

[hlao23]

How old are the kids? While not really designed to be a kid restaurant a la Chuck E. Cheese's, kids always seem to enjoy the "show" at those Japanese Hibachi tables. I know my DD did though now (she's 11) she prefers to sit at the sushi bar.

Careful with this. Long back we took my niece and nephew...they were about 4 and 6. When the table initally flamed up my niece screamed and ducked under the table crying and my nephew had tears in his eyes. They pouted through the rest of the meal and wouldn't interact AT ALL with the chef afterward. He tried everything to get them to laugh but...

Just warn them about the fire...it sorta scares me sometime

[gertdog]

There are several Benihana's in NJ, and also other hibachi options- but I wouldn't take a toddler... at least, not my toddler. He no longer sits in a high chair and I'd be too worried about him accidentally getting too close to the cooking surface.

I detest Rainforest Cafe. Bad food, and if you sit anywhere near any of the waterfalls you get this fine mist of water on you, your table, your food- it cannot be sanitary. My toddler was enamored when we went (especially by the giant aquarium), but I saw others who were terrified by the occasional "rainstorm" and animal noises.

Friends of ours enjoy Fuddrucker's with their kids. I have not been there since I was a child, but I remember liking the idea of topping my own burger at their toppings bar. I probably wouldn't enjoy it now, but I bet my son would.

[Robyn1007]

There are a still a few Benihanas open.

Yep lots of Benihanas open, I have one about a mile from me.

Gertdog, that sounds extra appetizing, I want random waterfall water all over my food too!

[blazedog]

All of the "theme" restaurants I have gone to have been pretty ghastly -- Rainforest and there was one in LA that was called DIVE which was supposed to simulate a submarine -- every 15 minutes the lights would flash on and off and loudspeakers would start blaring. Food was over-priced and while not completely inedible was essentially expensive diner food.

Why are you looking for a "fun" restaurant. In terms of taking kids around (assuming it's not a birthday party type of outing), I have found that kids really aren't all that excited about sitting down at a restaurant and eating anyway. All of the memorable stuff was the experience and then eating. I used to shlep my niece and my friend's two daughters around SoCal every summer from all ages.

Rather than seek a manufactured expensive experience, why not provide a legitimately exciting experience -- children's museum or children's concert (during the summer most cities have amazing child-centric experiences -- I used to take the girls to backstage at the Hollywood Bowl where they would have various groups doing something "artistic" -- and then they wanted to eat at McDonalds generally.

As a child I don't remember most of the restaurants but I loved going to Chinatown and most Chinese restaurants are pretty kid friendly -- and there was always the most kid friendly experience -- the ability to buy something like a back scratcher.

[RebeccaT]

My kids are younger than yours, but they both really love to go where there's live music. This could be anything from a mariachi band on a Friday night at your local Mexican place (plus the added bonus of quesadillas and refried beans, two favorites w/ my kiddos) to the bad Lionel Ritchie cover band we heard once at lunch on a Saturday - my kids will groove to anything. Maybe yours would enjoy it too!

[BucknellAlum]

My kids actually prefer a "real" restaurant, over the manufactured "fun" places like Chuck E Cheese or Hard Rock Cafe, etc. I think it is more enjoyable for them to have a menu with more than chicken nuggets on it, and I do think the fact that mom and dad enjoy the restaurant helps them think it is special to be there. And a smaller place is more likely to make a dish the way your kid likes it (we often ask for a meatball to be brought out early or something like that).

I also have to say that Dave and Buster's is not exactly in center city Philly - it is more in Penns Landing. And I think center city is still an awfully safe place to be, I would have no problem taking my kids to a nice restaurant or Macy's, etc there. Yes, there are murders and crime, but I think that is much more likely to happen in the areas outside of center city.

[coffeeisamust]

If you have a Japanese Steak House in your area they can be really fun. They cook the food right in front of you and usually throw it to you to catch and also do cool tricks while cooking.

I also wanted to take this chance to introduce myself. I love to cook and am trying to cook as healthy as possible without losing all flavor - that is why I love Cooking Light. I live in DC with my BF and I work in marketing and I am always looking for a fun and easy recipe to try!

[nylucy4]

My sister had her daughter's bday party at a fun place in NYC called Pie. They have great pizza and for the kids they let each of them have their own individual dough and then top it with what they wanted. They loved it. You can see if there is a similar place in NJ. I'm in PA and we have a chain here called Peace a Pizza. They might do something like that for kids if there are any in NJ.