DINING OUT

Navigating the region’s most family-friendly restaurants

BY GEORGE MAHE

Call ahead, or check social media to confirm current service methods and hours of operation. Restaurants in these listings are chosen by the editorial staff on the basis of family-friendliness. The magazine accepts no advertising or other consideration in exchange for listings.

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KIDS’ MENU COLORING BOOKS GAMES HIGH CHAIRS/BOOSTERS CHANGING STATION BIRTHDAY DESSERT BIRTHDAY SINGING RESERVABLE ROOM ENTRÉES $10 OR LESS ENTRÉES $11–$17 ENTRÉES $18–$24 ENTRÉES $25 OR MORE

9 MILE GARDEN

Located in Affton, the state’s first food truck park features different food trucks every day at lunch and dinner, plus live music and outdoor movie screenings. 9375 Gravois, 314-390-2806, 9mile garden.com. $

BAILEYS’ RANGE

There’s no way to get bored at Baileys’. You can watch the burgers get made and the ketchup, pickles, and burger buns put in place. Add to that 22 flavors of ice cream and sorbet, and it’s the besttasting show in town. 20 Olive, 314-241-8121, baileysrange.com. 5 $–$$

BLUEBERRY HILL

There’s plenty to keep kids busy at this St. Louis landmark. They can play games (including those embedded in the tabletops), or maybe they’d rather just gawk at the décor. 6504 Delmar, 314-727-4444, blueberryhill.com. 5 $

BOARDWALK WAFFLES

Maplewood’s tiny ice cream and waffle shop moved into larger digs half a block away, which means more ice cream flavors, waffle cones and bowls, plus games, occasional live music, and colorful visuals. 7376 Manchester, 314-449-1209, board walkwaffles.com. 5 $

THE BOATHOUSE–FOREST PARK

This iconic gathering place for lunch, dinner, and brunch overlooks Forest Park’s Post-Dispatch Lake. Kids can feed the fish and ducks, and the sprawling patio is pet-friendly. The menu features favorites from Cyrano’s, Hi-Pointe Drive-In, and Sugarfire Smoke House. (At press time, the owners planned to temporarily close for winter.) 6101 Government, 314-3672224, boathousestl.com. 5 $–$$

CAFÉ MANHATTAN

Kids of all ages will love the ’50s diner memorabilia. If it’s classic you want, order a burger with fries and a milkshake. Or go St. Louis classic with a thin-crust pizza and toasted ravs. There’s penny candy, too. 505 S. Hanley, 314-8635695. 5 $–$$

CARL’S DRIVE IN

Nothing screams hamburger stand louder than Carl’s, and no kid can refuse a flat-grilled cheeseburger and a homemade root beer in a frozen mug. Finish with a Ronnie’s Rocky Mountain, an XL version of a drumstick. 9033 Manchester, 314-961-9652. $

CHICKEN OUT

Fast-casual broasted chicken from the Sugarfire/Hi-Pointe group. Kids order the Lil’ Peeps chicken strip meal; adults cluck about the spicy fried chicken sandwich. The murals are fun for all. 6197 Delmar, 314-384-1010, chicken outchicken.com. 5 $

COLLEEN’S

Kids of all ages will love the assortment of creative cookies and sweets—and now savory tarts, scones, and soups—in the “spot under the dot.” 7337 Forsyth, 314-7278427, colleenscookies. com. $

CROWN CANDY KITCHEN

A corner shop to take you back to the good old days, Crown Candy is a St. Louis treasure, known for its chocolate candy, classic sandwiches, and serves-two milkshakes and malts. Don’t leave without buying some molasses puffs or heavenly hash. 1401 St. Louis, 314-621-9650, crowncandykitchen .net. $–$$

CRUSHED RED URBAN BAKE & CHOP SHOP

Perhaps the notion of a fresh-chopped salad isn’t your child’s idea of nirvana, but the $5 cheese pizza will be. The kids will also cheer ordering at the counter and having the pizza served within minutes. Multiple area locations; crushed-red .com.5 $

CYRANO’S CAFE

If it’s a great-tasting dessert you want, look no further than Cyrano’s. It’s famous for fun desserts, like the legendary, bet-youcan’t-finish-it Cleopatra. 603 E. Lockwood, 314963-3232, cyranos.com. 5 $–$$

DEWEY’S PIZZA

Kids order their pizza and then watch it being tossed, topped, and baked while the adults look on from a distance, sipping pints. Multiple locations; deweyspizza.com. $

EL BURRO LOCO

The colorful décor and mind-blowing array of Mexican pop icons alone are worth the trip. The namesake mural on one wall will be the, um, butt of many jokes. 313 N. Euclid, 314-224-5371. 5 $–$$

FAROTTO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA

A legendary St. Louis pizzeria, Farotto’s serves up a thincrust pizza and toasted ravioli, plus Italian classics for grown-ups. 9525 Manchester, 314-9620048, farottos.com. 5 $$

FITZ’S

Wax nostalgic about root beer floats and burgers topped with Kitchen Sauce. Kids can counter with modern classics like The Dreamboat (a float made with Fitz’s orange soda), as well as watch sodas being bottled. 6605 Delmar,

314-726-9555; 5244 S. Lindbergh, 314-6261777; fitzsrootbeer. com. 5 $

FIVE STAR BURGERS

Five Star Burgers lays claim to many local firsts: custom-blended beef, a “flat-grill then flame-grill” cooking technique, and a soda fountain that features Maine Root sodas, all made the oldfashioned way. 8125 Maryland, 314-7204350, 5starburgersstl. com. 5 $–$$

THE FOUNTAIN ON LOCUST

The Fountain is a little one’s dream restaurant, with an old-fashioned soda fountain, booths, and a menu that includes such treats as PB-and-banana sandwiches and the world’s smallest hot fudge sundae. 3037 Locust, 314-535-7800, fountainonlocust. com.5 $

GUS’S WORLD FAMOUS FRIED CHICKEN

Adults prefer the signature spicy chicken, whereas kids gravitate toward the less spicy chicken fingers. The kids’ menu also offers wings, legs, and grilled cheese. 7434 Manchester, 314-8999899, gusfriedchicken. com. 5 $

HODAK’S RESTAURANT

This chicken lover’s paradise provides a kid-friendly dining atmosphere and expands kids’ horizons beyond whatever part of the chicken a “nugget” might be. Hot dogs, burgers, and grilled cheese can also be found on the kids’ menu. 2100 Gravois, 314-776-7292, hodaks .com. 5 $–$$

JILLY’S CUPCAKE BAR, CAFÉ, & ICE CREAM BAR

Jilly’s crazy array of award-winning cupcakes, featured on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, come in regular and mini sizes. There are also soups, salads, sandwiches, a kids’ menu, and a homemade ice cream bar inspired by cupcake flavors. 8509 Delmar, 314-993-5455, jillys cupcakebar.com. 5 $

KATIE’S PIZZA & PASTA OSTERIA

With modern interiors, sprawling patios, and fresh ingredients, both Katie’s locations are undeniably hip—and familyfriendly. The kids’ menu includes 7-inch pizzas and generous portions of pasta. And to keep tykes entertained, Katie’s offers balls of dough. Bonus: The popular restaurant now offers frozen pies with elevated ingredients. Two locations; katies pizzaandpasta.com. 5 $$

KINGSIDE DINER

From the owners of Herbie’s, this chessthemed diner is several steps above other spots. The second-floor terrace’s the best perch for enjoying blue-plate specials, breakfast, or a double griddle burger with cheese fries. 4651 Maryland, 314-4543957; 8025 Bonhomme, 314-230-9020; kingside diner.com. 5 $–$$

OLIVE + OAK

Make this their first nice restaurant experience. The kids’ menu is a clever color-on $8 prix-fixe with lots of choices. 216 W. Lockwood, 314-7361370, oliveandoak.com. $

THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE

The OPH might have the best pancakes in town, which is the only reason needed to take your kids there. 8817 Ladue, 314-932-1340; 17000 Chesterfield Airport, 636-536-4044; ophmo.com. 5 $–$$

THE PARKMOOR

Reimagined in Webster Groves, the iconic restaurant serves up kids’ favorites such as burgers, grilled cheese, and 55 flavors of Sno-Balls. 220 W. Lockwood, 314-938-5554, the parkmoor.com.5 $

PASTARIA

Gerard Craft’s family-oriented Italian restaurant serves up house-made pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and what might just be the best gelato around. The restaurant has an informal “town hall” feel. The popular eatery now takes reservations. 7734 Forsyth, 314-862-6603, pastariastl.com. 5 $$

PI PIZZERIA

Who knew math could be so delicious? Pi’s thick cornmeal crust has won over many a convert, but the thin crust is great, too. Try the signature dessert: a cornmeal-crusted slice of apple “pi” a la mode. Multiple locations, 314-367-4300, pi-pizza.com. $–$$

P’SGHETTI’S PASTA AND SANDWICHES

If nothing else, the kids will get the pronunciation right. Sure to satisfy any appetite, the family special will load you up with enough mostaccioli for a week. The restaurant’s signature bread is good enough to fight over. Join the Kids’ Birthday eClub for special deals. Two metro area locations; psghettis.com. 5 $

ROCK & BREWS

The rock ‘n’ roll–themed restaurant serves scratch-made American fare. The dog-friendly 120-seat conservatory includes a play area for kids. 17258 Chesterfield Airport, 636-5362739, rockandbrews. com.5 $$

ROOSTER

At the South Grand location, enjoy breakfast, lunch, and brunch either in a unique three-tiered dining room (featuring rooster art from a third-grade class) or on a large patio with more picnic tables than a Duggar family reunion. Two locations, roosterstl .com. 5 $–$$

THE SHACK

Breakfast is served all day at this informal hot spot. The “skillet” dishes are delicious, and the popular gluten-free menu is a selling point. Five metro area locations, eatatshack.com. 5 $–$$

TACO BUDDHA

The chef-driven menu is small but focused, with tacos, apps, quesadillas, sides, and muchas bebidas. All items are gluten-free except the flour tortillas. Guests can experience the fun at a discount on Taco Tuesdays. 7405 Pershing, 314-502-9951, taco buddha.com. $

WOOFIE’S

If you want to enjoy an old favorite, go for a regular hot dog or customize your own at Woofie’s. Attention, adults: A Chicago-style dog (or several) is mandatory. 1919 Woodson, 314-426-6291. $

YA YA’S EURO BISTRO

Located near Faust Park, this upscale restaurant treats kids to a Euro-inspired touch of class. Stop by the toy box at the hostess stand before the kids dig into their complimentary desserts. 15601 Olive, 636-5379991, yayasstl.com. 5 $$$ PICKY EATERZ Every family likely has a picky eater, so a local mom has come up with a solution: Picky Eaterz, (pickyeaterzstl.com), a home delivery and catering business that opened September 1. Next year, Rollins hopes to open a brick-andmortar café as well. The meals that Rollins has created are fun, colorful, and artistic. One uses a custom bread pan and clever plating to serve up a turkey sandwich, broccoli, and carrots that resemble a house, with the bread baked in the shape of a home and the veggies arranged to form a tree. Focused on serving nutritious, allergyfriendly meals, Picky Eaterz proudly “sneaks” extra veggies and vitamins into every meal. “It’s taking fruits and veggies and making them more fun and appealing to kids,” says Rollins. “It’s a way to encourage kids to look forward to eating by making it fun and speaking their language.”

Potty Break

During my daughter Berit’s daily class Zoom, the teacher had been reading chapters of Charlotte's Web. It was so engrossing that one day a boy in class didn’t even want to take a potty break. He carried his tablet into the bathroom and set it on the floor facing the potty. As the teacher started realizing what was happening, she started calling him by saying his name, louder and more panicked. Finally, after about the sixth time, she said his name and said, “Move your tablet away from the bathroom!” He stopped disrobing and moved it just in the nick of time. I don’t even think most of the class realized what was happening! —AMBER, WEBSTER GROVES

Shhhhh...Mommy’s Working!

While I was talking to my boss on the phone, my toddler walked in, so I quietly put my finger to my lips to shush him. He screamed, “Don’t tell me to shush! You shush!” And then proceeded to, very loudly, tell me (and everyone on the important call) why he came in. —JILL, CHESTERFIELD

KIDS DO THE DARNDEST THINGS

Whose life hasn’t been turned inside out and upside down during the pandemic? —PAM WILSON

Kids’ Meals

When our three kids, ages 6, 8, and 10, decided to make us dinner, we ended up with their dream menu: chocolate milkshakes topped with crushed Thin Mints, chicken fajita pizza, and homemade carrot cake cupcakes for dessert. They broke only two glasses but left such a mess that it took us days to clean up!

—ERICA AND KIRK, CHESTERFIELD

Office Mascot

After my 2½-year-old daughter’s school closed due to the quarantine, we were all home all the time, which meant we needed childcare help ASAP in order to work. Unfortunately, my daughter wanted nothing to do with the new babysitter. She’s naturally shy around people she doesn’t know, so instead of forcing the issue, we spent weeks with her on our laps during client and internal conference calls. Everyone was thankfully understanding of the situation, and she quickly became a company mascot. —DAWN, BALLWIN

Naked Lessons

Being a second-grade teacher, my students often hear me talking about my two boys, Brody (5) and Johnny (2), but they rarely see them. Then one day during a live Google Meet, I was leading an activity where the kids had to look at the images I shared and then choose the one that didn’t belong. As I flipped back to the screen where they could see me in my home, I heard one student say, “Mrs. S, is Johnny naked back there?” Sure enough, my 2-year-old had wandered into my work area stark naked. He definitely didn't belong in the picture—lesson learned!