Kid Friendly Restaurants: Recommendations by Local Parents

In my years of taking kids to restaurants, I found that it was hard to predict which ones would be welcoming. One quondam dear local establishment, when nosotros visited, claimed that their high chair was "cleaved." It turned out that their loftier chair was ever "broken"! One rather fancy Italian eating house doted on our older child when he was a messy toddler and e'er had a make clean chair for him.

You can't necessarily judge by the kids' menu.

"I've always establish that even if there isn't a kids' menu, or if there is a lame 1, just order sides!" points out Tamara Dow. "Side of steamed veggies, side mashed potatoes or pasta, side of avocado, side grilled chicken or whatever— and you lot're gear up. My daughter is ordinarily content with that!"

When our kids were younger, nosotros sought out places that had outdoor seating and casual atmospheres. In Asian restaurants, we loved restaurants that had quick service and were forgiving of rice existence thrown on the floor, such as Panda Inn in Aptos or Existent Thai on Seabright. Back so, Capitola had a train-themed deli, which was a big hit. Any place with a nice fish tank was a bonus, also.

But that was years ago. Given that our teens can now exist trusted not to throw rice on the floor, I turned to our parent community to find out where they are going in Santa Cruz County right now. Following is an assortment of restaurants that are kid-tested for you!

Pizza, Burgers, and Burritos

"Upper Crust, we all love it!" says Elizabeth Price.

"My kids are obsessed with Pizza My Heart," says Jordan Rocha. "My son is v and has Cystic Fibrosis and he loves putting a pound of parmesan cheese on his slice. The staff is amazing, extremely friendly and they know us pretty well! They ever offer my kids fruit snacks. My kids enjoy playing "I spy" and counting how many surfboards there are (including the ones in the pictures when they want a challenge)."

Parents besides mention the singing and fabulous pizza dough spinning at Kianti'south Pizza & Pasta Bar which provides plenty of entertainment with a meal. Burger's enormous and varied carte that suits a variety of diets (and picky eaters), and, of course, the welcoming atmosphere of pretty much any taqueria.

Recommended:

Upper Crust: two locations in Santa Cruz

Burger: Santa Cruz and Aptos

Betty Burgers: three locations in Santa Cruz

Kianti'south Pizza & Pasta Bar: Downtown Santa Cruz

Pizza My Heart: Capitola and Santa Cruz

Little Tampico: Soquel

"Otoro Sushi in Scotts Valley is phenomenal with kids," says Jennie Briend. "Kids' bento boxes, they always customize to what the kids want. They take coloring, a prize box at the end, and accept a super beautiful birthday hat (with normally a pocket-size present for kids). Amazing staff who beloved kids (they have watched my son grow up), they always think our gild fifty-fifty if it'due south been a few months since we've been. Restaurant is super clean, overnice bathrooms (big enough to accept your child!). Oh, and allergen friendly—I have a shellfish allergy and take never had an issue!"

"Imura Sushi," recommends Neera Bhatnagar. "Swell bentos, kids' options and general kindness and patience with kids."

"My kids LOVE Pono!" says Stephanie Culligan. "Also, Sushi San in Felton has a good kids' carte (meatballs are every kid's fave!) and are very kid- friendly, even have toys and games for the kids to play."

"Akira Sushi has an crawly kids' bento box choice of protein which comes with a decent amount of sides," points out Martha Schwanbeck.

Recommended:

Akira Sushi: Santa Cruz

Otoro Sushi: Scotts Valley

Imura Sushi: Watsonville

Pono Hawaiian Grill: Downtown Santa Cruz

Takara: Capitola

Hula's Isle Grill: Downtown Santa Cruz

Sushi San: Felton

"I second Surfrider!" says Alexis Barry. "They even offer goldfish with their coloring page and crayons for hungry waiting kiddos."

"Ella's at the Aerodrome is excellent with kids and has a good kid menu," says Heidi Olson. "The owner is a mom of a preschooler! They accept a kids menu with crayons and a lilliputian paper plane. Nosotros like to sit down exterior and watch the planes."

Martha Schwanbeck recommends East and West End Eateries. "My daughter loves the chicken and broccoli (or fries if she'southward gotten enough veggies that twenty-four hour period), their chicken strips are made in house and never over-breaded or oily. The staff is e'er great with kids and often experience similar they cater to them. Also if y'all order the kids' pizza information technology's the same size as a regular pizza from their regular menu."

"Daughter likes the kids lunch plate: scrambled eggs, rice and beans," says Sam Woo of Cafe Brazil. "Son likes basic with protein. His choices are eggs, nieces and grandnephews love (my own 'kids' are in their late 20s now, and no grandchildren yet!). You can cull to create a meal of beans, rice, greens and fruit that your kids may bask."

"Your Place on the Westside will customize annihilation, which is great for your picky eaters," says Mary Casey. "Plus, they have a super kid-friendly environment and attitude."

"My kids beloved going to The Crow'due south Nest for breakfast for yummy pancakes and fresh fruit plus an awesome treasure breast that they bring to your table filled with fun toys to choose from," says Zoe Skognes. "The toys keep the kids decorated while the parents enjoy first-class Bloody Marys and Benedicts!"

Recommended:

Carpo's: Capitola

Surfrider: Downtown Santa Cruz

Your Place: Westside Santa Cruz

The Crow's Nest: Santa Cruz

Silver Spur: Live Oak

Dharma'south: Capitola

Ella's at the Aerodrome: Watsonville

Cafe Cruz: 41st Ave. Soquel

Paradise Beach Grill: Capitola Esplanade

Windmill Buffet: Eastside Santa Cruz

Zameen: 41st Ave. and Aptos

Cafe Gratitude: Downtown
Santa Cruz

The Hindquarter: Santa Cruz

Back Ix Grill & Bar: Highway 17

Cafe Brazil: Westside Santa Cruz

"The Rock Room at Shadowbrook is coincidental and loud, so my kids don't feel like they have to be tranquility," says Amber Bonner. "They besides have an amazing kids' menu; very long with kids' appetizers and kids' desserts."

Angie Morse Cortes's family loves Laili. "The kids' card is smaller portions for a adept cost! I go with my toddler frequently and the things I like the nigh are the quality of food and how quickly it is fabricated available to a toddler who has trouble sitting and waiting."

"At Laili we feel similar we tin can have a nice repast out," Martha Schwanbeck agrees. "Our daughter loves their handmade fettuccini, they accept awesome chicken kabobs, and they seem flexible if you lot want to switch something out."

Recommended:

The Rock Room at Shadowbrook: Capitola

Laili: Downtown Santa Cruz

Suki Wessling is a local author and the mother of teens who usually behave them- selves in restaurants. Read more at www.SukiWessling.com.