While slowly introducing new tastes and foods to your kids, expand your own palate with a trip to these local (and some locally-owned) restaurants that welcome families. With healthy eats, play areas and spacious patios with misting fans and room to wiggle, Dallas’ thriving culinary scene is more child-friendly than you might think. If you’re on a tight budget, don’t miss our kids eat free guide.
Bubbles Eat & Play
At this newly-opened family café at Fairview Town Center, parents can enjoy a coffee and food at dining tables right alongside play zones designed for little ones. Let them explore the sensory board wall, mini ball pit, toddler village and a preschooler village—and you can order from a healthy menu with lots of meal and snacks options for picky eaters. $9.99 for play access. Forget your diapers? Ask the staff for a complimentary diaper. The café is open daily year-round. Stay tuned for workshops and an outdoor play area coming too.
302/522-7648
thebubbles.space
Central Market
Of course, we know this is one of the best grocery stores, but did you know they have three locations with outdoor seating and a play area? After stocking up on groceries, grab some food at the cafe, and take the kiddos outside to eat and play. The Plano, Fort Worth and Southlake locations all have playgrounds. All of them have picnic tables nearby as well as covered seating.
4651 West Fwy, Fort Worth; 817/989-4700
320 Coit Road, Plano; 469/241-8300
1425 E. Southlake Blvd., Southlake; 817/310-5600
centralmarket.com
RELATED: 25 Great Restaurants with Patios in Dallas-Fort Worth
Hat Creek Burger Company
Grab a bite of classic American food and let the kids to run around at Hat Creek Burger Company, which has covered outdoor seating and an outdoor playground at every location in Dallas-Fort Worth. They’ve got turkey, chicken and vegetarian burger options for even the pickiest of eaters. Plus, the menu has an easy to read warnings about potential allergens, such as egg, soy and peanuts. For a treat, indulge in the “dirt worm” shake for a mixture of Oreos, gummy worms and chocolate. Sign up for the rewards program for perks like free kids meals.
11 locations across Dallas-Fort Worth (Allen, Coppell, Walnut Hill/Dallas, Keller, Little Elm/Frisco, Mansfield, McKinney, Rowlett, Richardson, Roanoke and Sachse)
hatcreekburgers.com
RELATED: How to Get Your Kids to Eat Healthier Foods
Monster Yogurt
After all that hearty food, what better way to satisfy your sweet tooth than with a healthy snack? Monster Yogurt boasts more than 80 nonfat frozen yogurt flavors including Greek yogurt and even more crumbly toppings, which extrapolates to a zillion combinations. There’s always something wacky and tasty to try, such as honey cinnamon lavender, and enjoy the complimentary coffee while the kids get some playtime inside the Monster Cove indoor play place for ages 3 and up. The Richardson location has an outdoor patio as well.
East Dallas, 9540 Garland Road, Suite 394, Dallas; 214/321-6363
Richardson, 1360 W Campbell Road, Suite 101, Richardson; 972/234-4966
scarytastesgood.com
Nico’s Cocina Mexican Grill & Bar
When you’re craving Tex-Mex (and when are we not?), Nico’s Cocina Mexican Grill & Bar offers your Taco Tuesday goodness every day of the week, plus brunch with an omelette bar and waffles on weekends. After filling your plate, walk out onto the covered patio outdoors where you’ll have full view of the playground, mostly enclosed with a perimeter fence and a mulch floor for easier falls. The playground includes two playsets (one for big kids and one for toddlers) to slide and climb, and NASA-inspired bouncy plane.
3065 N. Josey Lane, #24, Carrollton
972/395-3663
nicoscocina.com
Katy Trail Ice House
Located just across the street from Uptown’s Company Cafe (see above), this outdoor restaurant draws the sports-loving crowd to its barstools and beer garden. The massive outdoor area with picnic tables under shade trees, however, makes it a great destination for young and hungry families looking for a casual lunch out. Get free valet parking and then take a seat near the Astroturf patio to play a game of beanbag toss before ordering ballpark favorites with fries and juice from the “juniors” menu. A separate restroom sits at the edge of the outdoor patio for easy access, and the indoor bathroom has a changing table. But there’s no need to venture to the heart of Dallas; check out Plano’s Katy Trail Outpost, which is off Park and Preston.
Uptown Dallas, 3127 Routh St., Dallas; 214/468-0600
Plano, 4700 W. Park Blvd., Plano; 972/599-9000
katyicehouse.com
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Top photo courtesy of Hat Creek Burger Company
