Kid-friendly restaurant ideas to make families happy

Dining out with kids can be a challenge—ask any parent and they’ll likely tell you a funny story of a harrowing attempt at going to a restaurant. Traditional restaurants appeal to an adult clientele, which‌ overlooks the needs and preferences of kids. This can lead to frustration for both parents and other diners as the parents struggle to keep their children entertained and engaged while enjoying their meal. So, if you’re aiming to make a family-friendly restaurant, you’ll want some kid-friendly restaurant ideas to make the whole experience more enjoyable for everyone.

Creating spaces that are tailored to the unique needs of families with children can encourage families to dine out more often and make for a compromise that all will appreciate—while still being able to get out of the house. After all, there are roughly 50 million children across the U.S. children under 12—a truly huge demographic. When restaurants prioritize the needs of kids, everyone will be able to go out more often, the adults will be able to enjoy a nice meal, and the kids will have fun.

When we’re discussing “kid-friendly restaurants,” of course, we’re also talking about places that adults can enjoy as well, or else they simply won’t go. Most grown-ups don’t want to dine at Chuck. E. Cheese or eat chicken fingers every night. So getting the restaurant concept just right is a balancing act between catering solely to adults and catering solely to kids.

So, let’s discuss a few things:

• Why should restaurants look for kid-friendly restaurant ideas?
• How can restaurants make a workable kids’ menu?
• What kind of environment can work well for a kid-friendly restaurant that doesn’t exasperate adults?

The benefits of being a kid-friendly restaurant

Going out to restaurants with children—especially young children—can be a challenge for many parents. So, there’s a huge potential market of diners that restaurants are missing out on and can tap into by simply making their restaurant more kid-friendly.

Not every restaurant will want to go this way, of course—it wouldn’t work in a fine dining restaurant, for example. But for a family restaurant, making a more kid-friendly environment can attract a wider customer base and foster loyalty, increasing revenue and helping develop a competitive edge in their local market.

When families feel welcomed and accommodated, they’re more likely to return and recommend the restaurant to others, leading to a steady stream of business. Repeat customers are the lifeblood of the restaurant industry, and creating a kid-friendly environment can certainly encourage just that.

Because a restaurant by definition sells food, you’ll want to have a solid kids’ menu to start. What can that look like?

Developing a good kids’ menu

Kids can be picky eaters. This is no secret. So, whether you’re serving American, Asian, Mexican, Texas BBQ, or any other type of food, here’s a hint: Offer simple, kid-friendly menu items that two-year-olds and up can enjoy without fuss.

Kids usually prefer simpler, more familiar flavors, and are often inclined to gravitate to brightly colored and visually appealing dishes. Restaurants that offer a dedicated kids’ menu with a variety of options, including healthy choices (like the dreaded veggies) can cater to these preferences and ensure that even the pickiest eaters are satisfied.

So, getting both your offerings and their presentation right is key for a children’s menu. Fortunately, while you can be creative, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. A classic gimmick in Asian restaurants is to cut a hot dog in the shape of an octopus—which can work in sushi restaurants, for example. Homemade chicken nuggets or chicken tenders will satisfy many a child, with a variety of familiar condiments to help them feel comfortable. Grilled cheese cut into fun shapes like dinosaurs can appeal to younger diners and can also be profitable. Tacos work well on a kids’ menu, especially in areas where Mexican food is already popular. French fries and macaroni and cheese are always winners, and don’t have to be any different than the ones you serve adults, too—just smaller portions.

Don’t forget the desserts, either. A kid-friendly restaurant idea is to go with the classics. Ice cream, chocolate chip cookies, and other perennial favorites are winning ideas, as they have been for many years. They can be part of a combo kids’ meal that includes a drink, main course, and dessert.

When it comes to the menu itself, there’s always the classic option of making the menu itself a coloring placemat and offering crayons to keep kids entertained. Alternatively, making the menu laminated and colorful, with pictures of food, can help kids choose what they want to eat.

Designing a welcoming and playful restaurant environment

Beyond the menu, the overall atmosphere and design of a kid-friendly restaurant can greatly impact the dining experience for everyone in the family. Creating a space that’s visually stimulating, engaging, and kid-specific can make all the difference in ensuring everyone leaves happy.

One way to do this is to use bright, vibrant colors and playful décor elements throughout the restaurant. From whimsical wall murals to interactive displays, these design choices can transport children to an imaginative world they’ll be eager to explore. Comfortable seating options, such as booths or tables with built-in booster seats, can also make families feel more at home. Don’t forget bibs and high chairs for infants and toddlers.

In addition to the décor, the layout and flow of the restaurant should be carefully considered to ensure that families can move around comfortably and access all the amenities. Dedicated play areas or activity stations equipped with toys, games like arcade games, and coloring books can keep kids entertained while their family members dine in peace. Separating play zones from the dining room can create a stress-free environment for the whole family.

Training staff to interact with children and families

Anyone who’s been a parent, teacher, older sibling, or any other person who is responsible for young children knows it’s a unique skill set. So, the success of a kid-friendly restaurant doesn’t solely depend on the physical environment and amenities. It also relies heavily on the staff’s ability to cater to the needs of families with children. Making sure employees are trained to interact with children and their parents can significantly enhance the overall dining experience.

What can this look like? It can be quite simple: Giving servers stickers or small toys to give to children, encouraging playful conversation, or even dedicating a (willing) server to monitor the play area. Some people are more inclined to be playful with kids than others, so ask your restaurant staff who would volunteer.

All front-of-house members should be trained in common challenges with young diners, like the ever-too-common picky eater, temper tantrum, damaging property, and so on. In general, gentleness is the way forward with children, since the responsibility really falls on the parents.

Promoting your kid-friendly restaurant

Once you’ve built a kid-friendly environment, you’ll need to effectively promote your restaurant to attract the right audience. Families with children are always on the lookout for restaurants they can all be happy at. So, by showcasing your unique offerings both on- and off-menu, you can position your restaurant as the go-to- destination for family-friendly dining.

A strong social media presence is a must. Make sure your website highlights both your kids’ menu and amenities as well. Photos and short videos of both the menu and dedicated play areas, interactive activities, or more are invaluable.

Additionally, partnering with local parenting groups like mom bloggers or family-focused publications can help you reach a wider audience. These collaborations can help you tap into a valuable network of potential customers who are actively looking for kid-friendly dining options.

Make it fun for everyone

A family’s customer experience can be greatly improved by adding amenities specifically designed for kids. Done right, it’ll encourage loyal customers since parents know they can find a place of peace and quiet while their children have a riot somewhere else within visual range but not right in their faces.

A pleasant dining experience for everyone means a lot going on behind the scenes. It means well-trained servers with high-powered tools at their disposal, an easy-to-find restaurant that’s responsive, and modern service standards like table-service payment and more. If you make a parent’s life easier and help entertain their child for a while, they’ll love you and keep coming back.

A good way to start is by empowering your staff with the best tools available—as well as being able to track your metrics by knowing your demographic. If you want those features and much more, check out Yelp Guest Manager. It’s the best bang-for-the-buck FOH management system, and we’d love to prove that to you.

Reach out to us for a free demo and we’ll show you around. Like parents, restaurant owners are often overworked, and anything that takes another task off their plate is a welcome respite.