I’m guessing that our eating out habits were at their worst when 5:00pm would roll around and my oldest would ask WHERE we were eating instead of what! Then I took a gander at our budget and decided all the excuses we made for not eating at home couldn’t repair our finances. Thus the beginning of a new routine, Family Night Out. Once a week we eat out together, anything more comes out of allowances. My kids are angels when we go out now because the idea of having to wait two weeks before going to another restaurant is too much to bear. I can’t say I don’t feel the same. ( Don’t tell but I’ve gotten a bit spoiled) I remember when eating out of a paper sack and drinking from a bendy straw marked a special occasion. Now my house is filled with little plastic kid’s meal premiums. Of course, eating out less often can lower your tolerance for a bad dining experience.

I have been compiling a list of places that we have had a decent experience while dining with two children under 5 years old. I’m going to share with you places that make it clear that kids are welcome by hosting Kids Nights or offer a kid friendly atmosphere. This list is by no means complete and I will be adding to it as I find things so please check back often. Keep in mind that “kids eat free” always implies that an adult meal has to be purchased in order to get the free meal. Also remember that chain restaurants vary on policy from store to store, make sure you call ahead.