Brownstone, Riverview, and Rockwells

New Year's Eve celebrations have made me think about good places that you can take your kids for dinner while still being able to have a drink.  Places that are for adults but it's not a big deal to bring your kids.  There is no play land but there is a kids menu.  A few of our favorites are listed below.

Brownstone Tavern and Grill
3937 N. Lincoln Ave.

I think this restaurant/bar has really good food.  It is mostly bar type food - burgers, sandwiches, fried stuff - but done really well.  I love the fish tacos.  Kids menu is dino nuggets, burgers, and hot dogs.  As far as atmosphere, it's definitely a sports bar and I wouldn't take my kids there past 8 on a Saturday night or in the middle of a Texas (the school that the bar is associated with)football game but for an early dinner it's a great place to go.  And if you are there on the early side you will definitely see other families eating there as well.  In the summer they set up tables outside, which is a nice place to sit with your family.  There is metered parking available on Lincoln. 

Riverview Tavern
1958 W. Roscoe

I love Riverview.  I think the food is great.  It's mostly just sandwiches and burgers but really good.  My favorites are a blackened chicken sandwich called the Fireball, and a vegetarian sandwich with avocado, mozzarella, and pesto called the Comet.  I always get tator tots instead of fries because they are so good.  For the kids you can order pizza, which is actually made at Robey Pizza Company located nest door and owned by the same group.  Robey has great pizza and that is what my kids always want.  The inside is typical bar - nothing too fancy.  There is a big room in the back that is good for families and in warmer months they set up tables outside, which is where we like to sit.  As with Brownstone, Riverview has sports associations, especially during football season, so you may not want to go with your family during a big game.  There is metered parking on Roscoe but it is usually not hard to find free parking in the neighborhood.  Also, it is a bit of a walk from the Paulina Brown Line stop but definitely possible is you have a stroller or a kid who doesn't mind walking.


Rockwells
4632 N. Rockwell

The food here is pretty average but there is something about the atmosphere that is really enjoyable.  Maybe because all of the other customers are nonjudgmental parents just glad to be able to get out for dinner with their kids.  Food is pretty much sandwiches, burgers and salads and the kids menu is standard kid fare of chicken fingers, burgers, and such.  The best thing about the restaurant, for my kids, is that on the way out they can pick a sucker out of a basket near the door.  In addition, my kids love that you can step outside and watch the CTA trains coming and going from the station just down the block.  Beer is the drink of choice here with lots of options on tap.  Rockwells is located right off the Rockwell stop on the Brown Line and there is usually plenty of metered parking in front of the restaurant.  If you are patient and don't mind walking a couple of blocks you can probably find free street parking nearby.