My almost 3 year old daughter loves to paint. She wants to paint every day. I feel like I am pretty indulgent usually allowing her to paint whenever she want to, however sometimes I get tired of the mess and the clean up. I have been meaning to take her to Make a Messterpiece to indulge her artistic interests and we finally made it there last week. Make a Messterpiece is located at 2050 Tower Drive in Glenview (right by the Kohl Children's Museum) and is a large art space where kids can do a variety of creative activities.
The facility is made up of several different areas or stations where the kids do specific projects. I think the specific activity at each station changes frequently. The areas include the Creative Kitchen, Experimentation Station, Lil Sprouts, Drum Roll, Bubbleology, and the Spat-tacular tables, plus there are two little play areas in the back, one with a slide and blocks and the other with baby toys. All of the stations involve a mini lesson or learning component and a short activity. In the Creative Kitchen kids participate in an edible activity. When we went recently, the activity leader discussed where worms lived and what they ate and then the kids made a "worm" snack that involved sprinkling hot chocolate mix over popcorn to create dirt and then adding a gummy worm. Maybe not as interesting for an older kid but my daughter enjoyed it - well she enjoyed eating the gummy worm anyway. There is a little cafe area in the back where the kids can eat their snack.
At the Experimentation Station, kids explore a science related topic. My daughter did not participate in this activity but, when we were there, it involved learning and experimenting with how frogs use their tongues to catch flies.
The intention of the Lil Sprouts station is to do activities that promote sustainability, recycling, environmental consciousness, that kind of thing. Based on the activities my girls did at that station the two times we've been there, I don't think that theme is strongly conveyed but the art projects are still pretty fun. When we went a year ago, my older daughter did a painting with a bean bag type thing. They dipped the bag in paint and then stood up and dropped it onto paper making a cute painting that sort of resembled flowers. When I went with my younger daughter this past week she made a spider web by rolling around black paint spots on a paper plate with a ball. Then she glued on a spider that she made from pom pom balls for the body and pipe cleaners for the legs. Both were cute projects.
Drum Roll is for a little bit older kids. It involves putting on a rain poncho and going into a room (by themselves) and pounding on paint filled drums. Neither of my girls have done this activity but it looks like it could be a lot of fun.
The Bubbleology station is included with the two preset admission packages (see below) and, I think, ended up being my younger daughter's favorite activity. If your child is participating in this activity, you are given a large piece of card stock at the admission desk. Your child places the paper under the bubble machines, pushes a button and colored bubbles come out, leaving cool patterns on the paper. When we went last year there were a bunch of stencils your child could choose from to make designs on your paper but this time we could only find a couple of stencils and no tape to hold them in place. Lots of fun for any kid who loves bubbles.
Finally, the Splat-tacular tables are a group of about three or four tables and some easels. The tables have a selection of art supplies, such as paint, stencils, glue, paper, and other items, for self directed creating. All activities at these tables are included with general admission. You can do as much art work in this area as you want but it's really nothing that you wouldn't be able to do at home. It's definitely a fun area for kids who like to create but I wouldn't bother to come just to do these tables - unless you live nearby and prefer not to have a mess at home. In other words, the best part of Make a Messterpiece are the other activities listed above, which unfortunately cost more. There is a table set up with a wide variety of wooden items, such as bird houses, flowers, and picture frames, that you can purchase and then your child can paint there.
Throughout the facility there are drying racks to store your child's creations while they dry and while your child works on other activities. Don't forget to take everything home!
There are a few different package options when you pay for admission. General admission, which is different prices depending on the age of your child, gives your kid access to the painting tables in the Splat-tacular area and both the baby and bigger kid play areas. The Messy Package for $15 allows your child to pick any two activities to do and the Messiest Package, for $22, includes 4 activities. Both packages include Bubbleology, Splat-tacular tables, and the play areas. You can also pay $5 per activity, in addition to the general admission, if the pre-set packages don't work for you or your children. I recommend paying only for general admission if you have a kid under 2, but kids older than that will probably be able to do the other activities and enjoy them. You can either choose what activities you want to do when you first come in and pay or they will let you walk around to see what the activity is at each station before you decide. Once you have decided, however, you should go back and sign up for everything you want to do because they assign you a time when you get to do each activity in order to control the number of children in any given session. If you get signed up right when you come there is usually very little wait time. When we went the first time I didn't quite understand the system so we did a bunch of painting, bubbles, playing on the slide, and my daughter's first activity before we signed up for the second one. We were going to go home after this last station and they told us the first time we could do the one she wanted to do (Experimentation Station) would be in an hour. We opted to sign her up for the Lil Sprouts activity, which only had a 20 minute wait, and she enjoyed it but it was a little disappointing not to be able to do what she wanted. Each activity is designed to last about 15 or 20 minutes and are scheduled every 20 minutes. Once you have paid, the staff will give you a large sticker with your child's name on it and a time for each of the activities that you have signed up for. At the appropriate time, you report to each station and the activity leader will check that activity off of your child's tag. Make sure you check the times right away. When we went last week we were signed up for an activity that started pretty much when we walked through the gate and I almost didn't notice.
The staff at Make a Messterpiece can be a little spotty. The activity leaders are generally really good at working with the kids and conveying the associated ideas. However the floaters, the helpers that are there to help in Bubbleology and the Splat-tacular tables, tend to be less helpful and often just missing. I feel like some of the things there are not completely intuitive and whether you are allowed to participate in certain activities. It would be nice to have more people there to provide guidance.
There is free covered parking behind the building. I have never had any trouble finding a close parking spot and there is a convenient entrance to Make a Messterpiece from the parking garage. Make sure your kids wear clothes that they can get paint on. There are full length smocks available for the kids to wear but somehow they always end up with paint on their clothes. Overall, Make a Messterpiece is a great place to go if you have a child, like my daughter, who likes to do art projects all day long.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Angel Food Bakery
This cafe is just so cute! We recently stopped by Angel Food Bakery (1636 W. Montrose) for some dessert to go, but we've also eaten here for lunch a couple of times. The restaurant, which has about five or six tables and is decorated all in pastels with a collection of easy bake ovens, is completely family friendly. It is open for breakfast and lunch six days a week (closed on Mondays) plus has a bakery case full of delicious treats. The Bakery's hours are Tues. through Fri. 7 AM until 5 PM, Sat. 8 AM until 5 PM and Sunday 9 AM until 2 PM. Lunch includes a selection of sandwiches and salads. I had the BLT focaccia the last time I was there and it was really good. The girls have had peanut butter and jelly and mac and cheese on past visits. They definitely enjoyed the food but also really loved the paper umbrellas that came stuck in the sandwiches.
The real draw for the girls, of course, are the bakery items. Angel Food Bakery specializes in retro treats like homemade Twinkies and whoopie pies. They also have a large assortment of cupcakes. It is really difficult to decide what you want because everything looks so good. When we were there last week we got cupcakes ($3 each or $2.50 each if you get six or more) and they were OK. I remember them being better so maybe we just didn't get the best batch. In the past we have sampled cookies, a Boston Cream cupcake, and an igloo, which is chocolate cake with cream filling and a marshmallow topping. All have been delicious.
We've been there during the week and also on the weekend and have never had any trouble finding parking along Montrose (metered spots).
Angel Food Bakery is a really fun place to grab lunch or a special treat.
The real draw for the girls, of course, are the bakery items. Angel Food Bakery specializes in retro treats like homemade Twinkies and whoopie pies. They also have a large assortment of cupcakes. It is really difficult to decide what you want because everything looks so good. When we were there last week we got cupcakes ($3 each or $2.50 each if you get six or more) and they were OK. I remember them being better so maybe we just didn't get the best batch. In the past we have sampled cookies, a Boston Cream cupcake, and an igloo, which is chocolate cake with cream filling and a marshmallow topping. All have been delicious.
We've been there during the week and also on the weekend and have never had any trouble finding parking along Montrose (metered spots).
Angel Food Bakery is a really fun place to grab lunch or a special treat.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Oberweis Dairy
It can be hard to get some ice cream in the middle of winter since a lot of the really great places are closed, but just because it is cold outside does not mean we don't want our frozen treats. One place that always stays open and has great ice cream is Oberweis Dairy. There are Oberweis stores located throughout the suburbs but I believe there is only one in the City located at 1293 N. Milwaukee in Wicker Park. We always go to the store in Lincolnwood. The company's website (www.oberweis.com) has a list of all the locations.
Mainly, Oberweis sells milk that comes from cows living on family farms, that have not been treated with artificial hormones. Also, the milk comes in awesome glass bottles that you return when you are done with them. When you stop by a store, however, you can also purchase ice cream made from this milk. Prepackaged ice cream is available by the quart or you can order from an extensive menu of ice cream treats made while you wait. The ice cream is really good by itself but also totally delicious in sundaes, shakes, or blizzard type items called frostbites. There is a kids' menu, which is great because the normal size items can be quite large. Usually our girls usually just get a scoop of their favorite ice cream in either a cone or a cup.
The store that we go to in Lincolnwood has plenty of seating, is always clean, and has a friendly staff. The stores also offer a birthday party package, which includes a sundae bar and seems like it could be a lot of fun. Oberweis also offers Kids Club Cards where you purchase either a cone, shake, or sundae club card and your child gets two of the selected treat for free twice a month for a year. If you go to Oberweis a lot these cards could save you some money. We've considered getting these cards for our daughters for Christmas or a birthday but you can't use one card for two kids and we were uncertain of how a good of an idea it would be to guarantee the girls two ice cream cones a month, every month for a year. Maybe a little much for kids their age but might be a good idea when they get older.
Since we have had such a mild winter this year, it has been nice to be able to go to Oberweis to get our ice cream fix..
Mainly, Oberweis sells milk that comes from cows living on family farms, that have not been treated with artificial hormones. Also, the milk comes in awesome glass bottles that you return when you are done with them. When you stop by a store, however, you can also purchase ice cream made from this milk. Prepackaged ice cream is available by the quart or you can order from an extensive menu of ice cream treats made while you wait. The ice cream is really good by itself but also totally delicious in sundaes, shakes, or blizzard type items called frostbites. There is a kids' menu, which is great because the normal size items can be quite large. Usually our girls usually just get a scoop of their favorite ice cream in either a cone or a cup.
The store that we go to in Lincolnwood has plenty of seating, is always clean, and has a friendly staff. The stores also offer a birthday party package, which includes a sundae bar and seems like it could be a lot of fun. Oberweis also offers Kids Club Cards where you purchase either a cone, shake, or sundae club card and your child gets two of the selected treat for free twice a month for a year. If you go to Oberweis a lot these cards could save you some money. We've considered getting these cards for our daughters for Christmas or a birthday but you can't use one card for two kids and we were uncertain of how a good of an idea it would be to guarantee the girls two ice cream cones a month, every month for a year. Maybe a little much for kids their age but might be a good idea when they get older.
Since we have had such a mild winter this year, it has been nice to be able to go to Oberweis to get our ice cream fix..
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Chicago Center for Green Technology
This post isn't really about something to do with your children (although they can tour the LEED Platinum certified building here) but more about the free programming offered at the Chicago Center for Green Technology (CCGT) that could be beneficial for your family. The CCGT is located at 445 N. Sacramento, right by the Garfield Park Conservatory and offers an extensive catalog of courses for adults on the environment, conservation, and sustainability. Some of the classes are definitely more technical than others but CCGT also offers some really great seminars for home owners and gardeners. For example this semester some of the courses include "Safe and Effective City Biking", "Sustainable Backyard Workshop", "Indoor Composting", "Renewable Energy Options for Homeowners", and "Greening a Renter's Lifestyle", just to name of few. Most of the classes are free and are offered on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 6:00 - 8:00 PM or on Saturdays either from 10:00 - 12:00 AM or 1:00-3:00 PM. I have found that the courses are taught by knowledgeable people in the industry, doing work directly related to the course topic.
If you are a professional working in a related industry the CCGT also offers continuing education credits and program certificates. There are six different areas in which you can earn a certificate from the CCGT (architecture, building and construction management, engineering, green business, green home and garden, and interior design) and the program schedule is color coded to show which courses are applicable to each area. In order to earn a certificate, you must first fill our a very brief enrollment form on the website and then you have 12 months to attend six seminars that are related to the subject area you selected. Anyone pursuing a certificate, regardless of subject matter, must attend the course titled "Ecology of Design Part 1: Concept". I think this course is offered every semester.
This semester, the CCGT is also offering what they call a Green DIY Series. They are partnering with Green Depot, Rebuilding Exchange, and Neighborhood Housing Services to offer workshops mostly related to renovating your home or doing home repairs but also offer a couple of classes on wood working and hand tools. Most of these courses are also free and are either at the CCGT or one of their partners listed previously.
Information on the individual courses can be found on the CCGT website: www.chicagogreentech.org. You must register for each course you attend but registration is super easy to do at the website. Some of the courses do fill up quickly so if there is something you really want to attend you should sign up right away. There is a small parking lot available in front of the building and then a larger one in the back. You can enter the building either from the front or the back and then you must sign in at the front desk. Classes are usually held in one of the classrooms upstairs. There are bathrooms located right by the classrooms.
I have really enjoyed the courses that I have taken. I found them to be quite informative with great instructors. I spend so much time worrying about what classes my kids should be taking that sometimes it is nice for me to learn something new too.
If you are a professional working in a related industry the CCGT also offers continuing education credits and program certificates. There are six different areas in which you can earn a certificate from the CCGT (architecture, building and construction management, engineering, green business, green home and garden, and interior design) and the program schedule is color coded to show which courses are applicable to each area. In order to earn a certificate, you must first fill our a very brief enrollment form on the website and then you have 12 months to attend six seminars that are related to the subject area you selected. Anyone pursuing a certificate, regardless of subject matter, must attend the course titled "Ecology of Design Part 1: Concept". I think this course is offered every semester.
This semester, the CCGT is also offering what they call a Green DIY Series. They are partnering with Green Depot, Rebuilding Exchange, and Neighborhood Housing Services to offer workshops mostly related to renovating your home or doing home repairs but also offer a couple of classes on wood working and hand tools. Most of these courses are also free and are either at the CCGT or one of their partners listed previously.
Information on the individual courses can be found on the CCGT website: www.chicagogreentech.org. You must register for each course you attend but registration is super easy to do at the website. Some of the courses do fill up quickly so if there is something you really want to attend you should sign up right away. There is a small parking lot available in front of the building and then a larger one in the back. You can enter the building either from the front or the back and then you must sign in at the front desk. Classes are usually held in one of the classrooms upstairs. There are bathrooms located right by the classrooms.
I have really enjoyed the courses that I have taken. I found them to be quite informative with great instructors. I spend so much time worrying about what classes my kids should be taking that sometimes it is nice for me to learn something new too.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Kiddie Kingdom
Over the weekend we visited Kiddie Kingdom, which is located at 7411 N. Milwaukee in Niles, and is similar in concept to Chuck E. Cheese. You purchase a bunch of tokens to play a variety of arcade type games, which spew out tickets that you can eventually cash in for prizes. My daughters love to go to Chuck E. Cheese with their grandparents so it was no surprise to us that they had a really great time at Kiddie Kingdom. Since my daughters are young, what they were most attracted to were the things they could ride on such as the three horse carousal, spinning tea cups, and helicopter that goes up and down. My older daughter was also pretty obsessed with a photo taking game and also one where you could color /design a picture on a computer screen. A lot of the other games were too difficult or physically impossible for them, like the car racing game that required that they sit on our laps so that we could push the peddles while they turned the steering wheel. We had no problem, however, going through 100 tokens, between the two of them, over the course of about 1.5/2 hours with a break to eat lunch. That seemed to be plenty for us. By the time the tokens were all used up the girls were ready to go, however older kids may burn through tokens a lot faster.
Kiddie Kingdom is located in a little strip mall with a parking lot out front. When we arrived there were no spots available but there is additional parking in the back. Even though we were there on a Saturday afternoon, in the winter Kiddie Kingdom was not that busy. The girls didn't have to wait in line to really do anything. It is open seven days a week, 11 AM - 10 PM Monday through Thursday, 11 AM - 11 PM Friday and Saturday and 11 AM - 9 PM on Sundays.
Food is available here and the menu is actually quite extensive. There are a bunch of appetizer type things like mozzarella sticks, onion rings, and chicken tenders, pizza, pasta, and sandwiches. We had pizza when we were there and, while it wasn't amazing, it was fine. Drink options include soda, milk, and beer for the adults.
Before going, definitely check the website (www.kiddiekingdomfun.com) for coupons. Current coupons include $20 for 100 tokens and a large pizza, $25 for 160 tokens or $36 for 280 tokens.
Overall my girls had a really good time. Note to parents: there are a lot of flashing lights and noise. If this drives you crazy you will not want to go here. Otherwise it is a good place to take the kids when winter boredom sets in. I would say Kiddie Kingdom is best for kids between 4 or 5 years old and 12 or 13 depending how into video games the kid is. My 2 year old did go and have a good time but I think if the oldest kid you are taking is 2 years old this wouldn't be the best place to go.
Kiddie Kingdom is located in a little strip mall with a parking lot out front. When we arrived there were no spots available but there is additional parking in the back. Even though we were there on a Saturday afternoon, in the winter Kiddie Kingdom was not that busy. The girls didn't have to wait in line to really do anything. It is open seven days a week, 11 AM - 10 PM Monday through Thursday, 11 AM - 11 PM Friday and Saturday and 11 AM - 9 PM on Sundays.
Food is available here and the menu is actually quite extensive. There are a bunch of appetizer type things like mozzarella sticks, onion rings, and chicken tenders, pizza, pasta, and sandwiches. We had pizza when we were there and, while it wasn't amazing, it was fine. Drink options include soda, milk, and beer for the adults.
Before going, definitely check the website (www.kiddiekingdomfun.com) for coupons. Current coupons include $20 for 100 tokens and a large pizza, $25 for 160 tokens or $36 for 280 tokens.
Overall my girls had a really good time. Note to parents: there are a lot of flashing lights and noise. If this drives you crazy you will not want to go here. Otherwise it is a good place to take the kids when winter boredom sets in. I would say Kiddie Kingdom is best for kids between 4 or 5 years old and 12 or 13 depending how into video games the kid is. My 2 year old did go and have a good time but I think if the oldest kid you are taking is 2 years old this wouldn't be the best place to go.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
City Provisions
I love delis and I am always excited when a new one opens up in the City. This one has been open for a couple of years but we finally just made it there this week. Straight ahead, when you walk in the door, is a counter where you can get a variety of coffee drinks and a few bakery type items. As you move to the right there is the deli counter where you can order sandwiches for lunch or items from the case, such as different types of salads and mac & cheese squares, which I believe change a bit depending on the season. As you continue around the corner there is a selection of cheeses, wine, and other specialty items. Next to the cheese is the register where you pay for your food.
When we first came in everyone who worked there was very nice to us but, I have to say, it seemed as though the other customers were less than thrilled that I was in there with a child. I only had one of my daughters with me and she was very well behaved the whole time we were there but I think with some people the sight of a child annoys them. No other children were in the restaurant the entire time we were there (probably about 45 minutes), which was a little weird to me since a few blocks away in Lincoln Square there were probably kids having lunch in every restaurant. The crowd was kind of hipster, which was weird to me in that neighborhood. There were people "working" there who really just looked like they were hanging out. They had their laptops out but mostly were just talking to other people so really how much could one child be bothering them.
I ordered a smoked turkey sandwich with Gouda and rosemary mayo to share with my daughter and a cup of chicken noodle soup (one of the soups of the day) for her. The food was really good, especially the chips. My daughter downed her soup. However, when I paid the bill it was $15! And we didn't even get drinks. I know you are paying for high quality ingredients but it seemed a little high for this neighborhood. Although, I have to say, we were there at lunch time on a week day and it was decently busy. There are a few communal tables when you first walk in and then counter seating and two small tables in the other room. My daughter and I tried to sit at one of the communal tables but the people who were already sitting there (only one person per table with seating for 6) were giving me the "I don't like kids" look so we sat in the other room at the counter. It actually worked out OK since we could look out the window and see the Brown Line trains going by and luckily she did not fall off the stool. I think when it is warm out there is also outdoor seating.
The hours here are great. The shop is open from 8 AM until 8 PM Tues. through Thurs. (closed on Mondays), 8 AM until 9 PM on Fridays, 9 AM until 9 PM on Saturdays and 10 AM until 3 PM on Sundays. City Provisions is located at 1818 W. Wilson. Parking is relatively easy along Wilson. We parked for free just a block down from the restaurant. Also the Damen Brown Line stop will get you relatively close.
I think City Provisions could be a great place to hang out, have brunch or dinner (they have beer on tap) with your adult friends but it just isn't a great place to take small children for lunch.
When we first came in everyone who worked there was very nice to us but, I have to say, it seemed as though the other customers were less than thrilled that I was in there with a child. I only had one of my daughters with me and she was very well behaved the whole time we were there but I think with some people the sight of a child annoys them. No other children were in the restaurant the entire time we were there (probably about 45 minutes), which was a little weird to me since a few blocks away in Lincoln Square there were probably kids having lunch in every restaurant. The crowd was kind of hipster, which was weird to me in that neighborhood. There were people "working" there who really just looked like they were hanging out. They had their laptops out but mostly were just talking to other people so really how much could one child be bothering them.
I ordered a smoked turkey sandwich with Gouda and rosemary mayo to share with my daughter and a cup of chicken noodle soup (one of the soups of the day) for her. The food was really good, especially the chips. My daughter downed her soup. However, when I paid the bill it was $15! And we didn't even get drinks. I know you are paying for high quality ingredients but it seemed a little high for this neighborhood. Although, I have to say, we were there at lunch time on a week day and it was decently busy. There are a few communal tables when you first walk in and then counter seating and two small tables in the other room. My daughter and I tried to sit at one of the communal tables but the people who were already sitting there (only one person per table with seating for 6) were giving me the "I don't like kids" look so we sat in the other room at the counter. It actually worked out OK since we could look out the window and see the Brown Line trains going by and luckily she did not fall off the stool. I think when it is warm out there is also outdoor seating.
The hours here are great. The shop is open from 8 AM until 8 PM Tues. through Thurs. (closed on Mondays), 8 AM until 9 PM on Fridays, 9 AM until 9 PM on Saturdays and 10 AM until 3 PM on Sundays. City Provisions is located at 1818 W. Wilson. Parking is relatively easy along Wilson. We parked for free just a block down from the restaurant. Also the Damen Brown Line stop will get you relatively close.
I think City Provisions could be a great place to hang out, have brunch or dinner (they have beer on tap) with your adult friends but it just isn't a great place to take small children for lunch.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The Portage
We're always on the look out for a restaurant that has really good food, is a little bit upscale, and is totally kid friendly since we often have grandparents or childless friends in town and we want to go somewhere nice with them while not having to get a babysitter. We went to The Portage (3938 N. Central) this weekend when we had some guests in town and we had a really great meal.
When we first walked in, and during the entire meal, everyone was super nice to us. It is a really small restaurant so I would recommend a reservation if you are coming with a group. We had a reservation for six so they sat us in the backroom, which they call the library. This room is separate from the rest of the dining room and gets in name from a couple of shelves full of books on one wall. We were told they have a give a book, take a book policy. It was like having our own private dining room, which was great.
When we sat down we were given a kids' menu and offered a booster seat - two good signs that kids are OK here. The kids' menu included basic kids fare like mac & cheese, a hamburger, and chicken fingers, which, of course, is what my kids ordered. The kids' meals come with a drink, choice of vegetable or french fries, and ice cream. The vegetable that night was brussel sprouts so the girls went with french fries. The meal that they got was definitely better than your average kids chicken fingers and the french fries were really good. The ice cream choices were raspberry, chocolate, chocolate chip cookie dough, and buttered popcorn. I tried to convince one of them to get the buttered popcorn but was unsuccessful. They went with chocolate and chocolate chip cookie dough and were very happy.
The food off of the regular menu was super good, too. We started with a gnocchi appetizer with a delicious mustard sauce. I had the Kobe meatloaf with mashed potatoes and carrots that I really enjoyed and my husband had the burger and he said it was great. The drink menu is pretty extensive with specialty cocktails and a decent selection of beer and wine. Overall we had a really delicious meal and felt totally comfortable with our kids there.
The restaurant is closed on Mondays and opens at 5:00 PM Tues. through Sun. Parking is available on the street.
When we first walked in, and during the entire meal, everyone was super nice to us. It is a really small restaurant so I would recommend a reservation if you are coming with a group. We had a reservation for six so they sat us in the backroom, which they call the library. This room is separate from the rest of the dining room and gets in name from a couple of shelves full of books on one wall. We were told they have a give a book, take a book policy. It was like having our own private dining room, which was great.
When we sat down we were given a kids' menu and offered a booster seat - two good signs that kids are OK here. The kids' menu included basic kids fare like mac & cheese, a hamburger, and chicken fingers, which, of course, is what my kids ordered. The kids' meals come with a drink, choice of vegetable or french fries, and ice cream. The vegetable that night was brussel sprouts so the girls went with french fries. The meal that they got was definitely better than your average kids chicken fingers and the french fries were really good. The ice cream choices were raspberry, chocolate, chocolate chip cookie dough, and buttered popcorn. I tried to convince one of them to get the buttered popcorn but was unsuccessful. They went with chocolate and chocolate chip cookie dough and were very happy.
The food off of the regular menu was super good, too. We started with a gnocchi appetizer with a delicious mustard sauce. I had the Kobe meatloaf with mashed potatoes and carrots that I really enjoyed and my husband had the burger and he said it was great. The drink menu is pretty extensive with specialty cocktails and a decent selection of beer and wine. Overall we had a really delicious meal and felt totally comfortable with our kids there.
The restaurant is closed on Mondays and opens at 5:00 PM Tues. through Sun. Parking is available on the street.
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