Summer Eats for Kids

In Minneapolis and the surrounding area, we're lucky to have some amazing restaurants that are kid-friendly and perfect for dining out with the whole family. More and more eateries are transitioning their menus to offer either smaller portions of adult menu items, or simplified dishes that will appeal to even the pickiest of palates! When summer patios are calling your name and it's just time to get out of the house for an evening, here are a few picks for the best places to bring those little ones requiring high chairs or coloring books. Are there any we missed? Let us know, and leave them in the comments section below for other Oh Baby! babies to enjoy :)

1. Tao Natural Foods: Located in uptown Minneapolis at Hennepin and 22nd avenue, this haven is home to organic dishes with truly wonderful ingredients. Their menu for "friends age 8 and under" features healthy options and beverages, including a lineup of smoothies with fun names that to keep kiddos entertained (example: The Velvet Elvis with banana, peanut butter, flax meal, and almond milk). Veggie rice bowls, kid size snack plates with apple, cheese, nuts, raisins, and seeds, and avocado and cheese sandwiches with hummus will appeal to a variety of palates. Extra points for a pretty patio and good selection of street parking.

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2. Crave Edina Galleria: This CRAVE location is just steps away from our Oh Baby! Edina store, so plenty of parents wandering in for a day of shopping and lunch end up popping over to CRAVE. Notable: On Sundays, kids eat FREE after 4:00pm with the purchase of an adult entree. If you have a picky eater on your hands, mac & cheese, chicken tenders, and hamburgers are available. For the more adventurous kids, a fruity "sushi" roll, sushi cone, or shrimp guppies (cooked shrimp, sushi rice, and sweet soy reduction) will please their palates :)

3. D'Amico and Sons: Their Wayzata location is smack dab on the corner of Lake Street and Superior Boulevard, a little further out west from the cities. Kids eat free every Sunday here as well, but prices are reasonable enough that the entire family can enjoy a night out without breaking the bank. Any restaurant with a stack of coloring pages and crayons right at the entrance clearly understands the attention span of kids, and parents can relax while they enjoy pasta, salads, sandwiches, and warm pizzas. All ingredients are fresh and free of growth hormones and antibiotics. Plus, bottomless wine...

For the top fifteen places to eat with kids in Minneapolis and St. Paul, check out this list from City Pages!