Eating Out With Elementary School Kids

Before you know it, you no longer need a baby change table or a high chair. 

But you do need a kids’ menu and food that your kids might actually eat.

As our nuggets are growing older we’re learning that food is the vital piece of the “Where can we go eat together?” puzzle. 

One of our kids will eat anything and one is less adventurous. 

And sometimes they switch roles. 

And sometimes they both surprise us - for good or for bad.

And ironically, neither of them like nuggets.

Let them help choose

Elementary school kids are old enough to feel excited about being part of the decision.

Sometimes we’ll show our kids a few restaurant options ahead of time and let them pick between them. Even choosing between “pizza or ramen?” can make the whole meal go more smoothly.

It also helps to preview the menu together before you arrive. Knowing what they might order removes some of the pressure once you’re sitting at the table.

The search for a kids’ menu. 

The other surprise has been how hard it can be to find a kids’ menu. Sometimes restaurants have them on their websites. But as my kids have gotten older, we most often need to call to confirm if they have a kids’ menu.

This is why we started The Nugget- to make it easier for parents to find all of the information they need in one place. Which means sometimes we have to actually call restaurants to confirm they have a kids’ menu!

Combine Kricket Soho with a West End show

Photo by Kricket

Small plates can also be a win. 

If a kids’ menu isn't available, we’ve found that small plates and shareable mains can work just as well. The right mix of appetizers, a few sides, or small plates can also help the kids try new foods, without worrying about them not eating a whole meal.

We always make sure we order one “safe food” - something we know they like. And yes, that can change on any given day but it derisks the meal at least a little bit. 

Comptoir Libanais Southbank offers delicious Lebanese food with something for everyone. Their kids menu is £5.50 and offers halloumi or chicken wraps, a mezze platter for kids, and more! 

Kids eat free deals finally feel worth it.

The kids meal deals didn’t attract me until our kids actually started eating a full kids’ meal. 

I was pleasantly surprised when I learned Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen and Heddon Street offer free kids meals. For every adult ordering two courses from the à la carte menu, one child enjoys a main from the Ramsay kids’ menu free!

Kids Eat Free, All Day Every Day: Heddon Street Kitchen, Pizza East, Bread Street Kitchen Stratford, Bread Street Kitchen Limehouse, Bread Street Kitchen St Paul's.

Kids Eat Free Every Weekday: Bread Street Kitchen City, Bread Street Kitchen Battersea

Timing still matters

The good news: you no longer need to plan around nap schedules.

The less good news: hungry elementary school kids can still go from happy to melting down surprisingly fast.

Earlier dinner reservations still tend to work best for us, especially when trying somewhere new. Restaurants are usually quieter, food arrives faster, and everyone starts the meal in a better mood. We still try to order quickly and now the children like to share our apps if their food hasn’t arrived. 

A little activity goes a long way

We’ve officially entered the “too old for coloring sheet, too young to just sit and chat for 90 minutes” stage.

A simple card game, drawing pad, or conversation game (guess what I’m thinking using questions with yes or no answers only)  in your bag can make a big difference while waiting for food to arrive. We like Ad Libs, you can do it the old fashioned way with a book but also there’s an app so, you can just bring it up and get the entertainment going. 

And honestly, sometimes the best restaurants for this age are the ones where kids can move around a little without everyone feeling stressed about it.

Don’t underestimate dessert

One of the unexpected joys of eating out with elementary school kids is that they actually remember the experience now.

The dessert. The funny waiter. The fancy mocktail. The time they tried something new.

My son loves a Shirley Temple cocktail and we love that they are different all over the world. But my daughter, who doesn’t like them, is jealous of the glace cherries, so she was delighted at one restaurant where the server brought her extra glace cherries on the side. 

Those small moments become part of family life surprisingly quickly.

And when a restaurant makes kids feel genuinely welcome, parents notice too.