Kids Eat in PGH


I often hear the question asked....where are the best places to take kids if we are going out to eat? So per a question posted on our facebook page, here is what our Pittsburgh mamas recommended (italics are their comments).
(listed at the bottom are restaurants that offer sweet 'kid's eat free' deals and special recommendations from The Food Tasters Pgh!)
  • Double Wide Grill at the Cranberry location there is a kids area to play while you wait for your food to come.
  • Church Brew Works Our current fave! It's just loud enough that nobody notices a tantrum, it has sweet potato fries and pizza, and big enough that the kids can get out of their chairs when the place isn't packed. 
  • Square Cafe loves kids!  Innovative cafe that serves the best seasonal menu items with fresh local products.
  • Cinco It's a mexican restaurant in Lebo on the corner of Painter's Run & Kelso. My kids love it & the staff is very kid friendly!  
  • North Park Clubhouse in Gibsonia has a great kids menu and the kids get tokens with their meals they can use at the arcade games while they wait and get prizes with the tickets. 
  • Lulu's Noodles in Oakland is great!
  • Primanti's The bigger ones in the South Hills or on the Pike.
  • Applebees has the best kids menu of any place I've been!
  • Mad Mex Good kids menu deals and yummy margaritas.
  • La Capella in Waterworks. Great kids menu (even steamed broccoli) plus mom and dad have great choices, including adult beverages.
  • Eat 'n Park. They have a large kids menu AND kids can eat at the buffet too (cheap or free under a certain age) > Their (healthier options) kids meals are very affordable, less than the price of a happy meal! They also offer FREE baby food, bibs, crackers, celery and carrot sticks upon request. See more details under 'kids eat free' section.  
  • Hofbrauhaus has a family night (second Tuesday of the month). Kids eat free with adult entree purchase. Face Painting, Balloon Animals, Contests, Prizes and MORE! 
  • IKEA - there's a play area in the cafeteria! Plus, FREE organic baby food with any purchase.
  • Whole Foods - Whole Foods buffet for lunch. Kids can get pasta with lots of fresh veggies on side. You can have sushi, soup, salad, or hot entrees.
  • Cafe on Main - (Sharpsburg) Great for breakfast. They have toys & great food!
  • Cafe IO - Mt. Lebanon 
  • Red Robin - it's loud. Kid noise = not a problem. :) 
  • Latitude 360 (name is changing from Latitide 40) - see more details below.
  • Bistro 19 - Mt. Lebanon 
  • Eleven - in the Strip 
  • Coca Cafe - Lawrenceville 
  • Moe's - Any place where my kids can get cheese quesadillas & chips/salsa is a hit in our family!
  • Chipotle - Kids can get creative with a taco kit of two soft or crispy taco shells and choice of three ingredients (one meat or guacamole). Or choose from a small quesadilla with a side of rice and beans or a single taco with a side of rice. All Kid's Menu items are served with kid's chips and juice or organic milk (plain or chocolate).
  • Quaker Steak & Lube
  • Dave & Buster's - 1/2 Price Games Wed. / open to close. Taco Tuesday / beef tacos for $1 each.
  • Max & Erma's - fresh, hot cookies! 
  • Olive Garden 
  • Joe's Crab Shack - Station Square is a great family destination on a warm night! Watch the music-synchronized fountain and walk along the river after dinner! 
  • Buffalo Wild Wings 
  • Over the Bar (OTB) Bicyle Cafe -   OTB at the North Park Boathouse serves their kid's meals on free frisbees - how cool is that?! It is also across the parking lot from a park (a good distraction if there is a wait!) Kayak Pittsburgh is located next door which could also add to the fun! Also have a location in the south side (not quite as kid friendly).
  • Cheesecake Factory  - bring your kids swim wear in the summer at the South Side location, because they WILL want to run through the outdoor fountain!
  • Burgatory 
  • Chuck E. Cheese's
  • Conflict Kitchen - (Schenley plaza) If you haven't heard about them, they choose their menu based on countries with which the U.S. is in conflict! So their menu changes, and they don't always have a kid's menu to offer. But when they do, it's usually a pretty innovative cheap kid's menu.
  • Waffles Incaffeinated
  • P.F. Chang's - They have a cool kid's menu and introduce kids to ethnic cuisines in a way that they will ACTUALLY eat!
  • Aladdin's EateryServes healthy, nutritious Lebanese/American food in a relaxed, casual and smoke-free atmosphere. Another great & healthy kid's menu that helps introduce kids to different foods.

Here are suggestions for where/when kids can eat FREE! I would always recommend calling ahead in case they have made a change or to check details.
  • Denny's - Tuesday / 4-10pm. Up to 2 free kid's meal per each adult entree purchase. Check out their fantastic kids menu here
  • Max & Erma's - Tuesday / Kids eat free with adult entree purchase.
  • Ikea - Tuesdays / 11am-8pm. And if you have one adult and 3 kids, all the kids still eat free. And, there's a play area in the cafeteria! Plus, FREE organic baby food with any purchase. 
  • Giant Eagle Market Districts - Tuesdays / 4-8pm.
  • Bob Evans - Tuesday nights / 5-9pm. One free kid's meal per each adult entree. My daughter especially loves the colored bendy straws. Bob Evans in Robinson has free craft night for kids every Tuesday night 4pm to close.
  • Hofbrauhaus - family night (second Tuesday of the month). Kids eat free with adult entree purchase. They also have Face Painting, Balloon Animals, Contests, Prizes and MORE!
  • Steak 'n Shake  - Saturday & Sunday / one free kid's meal for each $8 spent.  
  • Walnut Grill (Wexford) - Monday / family night. Big screen movie is set up in the banquet room along with other kids activities. Kids eat free with purchase of adult entree. Also on Tuesdays - kid's eat free (but no special activities).
  • All Walnut Grill locations - Kids under 5 eat free Sunday brunch with the purchase of adult brunch.  
  • Eat 'n Park - They offer FREE baby food, bibs, crackers, celery and carrot sticks upon request. Kids 10 and under eat from the salad bar for half-price.  Kids 5 and under eat from the salad bar for FREE when they are with an adult who has purchased it. They can choose from a variety of options including soup, pretzels, fruit, salad, + more. All kids have the choice to receive a FREE regular Smiley Cookie, Mini Smiley Cookie, or an Apple after their meal.
  • Perkins - Wednesdays and Saturdays / One free kid's meal per each adult entree.
  • Qdoba - Sundays / One free kid's meal per each adult entree.
  • Chili's - sign up for their email club and they'll email you kids eat free days, usually Mondays!
  • Latitude 360 (name is changing from Latitide 40) - Mondays / 4-9pm. Kids "eat, watch & play" free night. Free kid's meal with adult entree purchase. Kids also receive a free $5 play card for the game room AND a free movie ticket.
  • Cenci's Pizza (Wexford) - Mondays / Kids 12 & under eat free from the kid's menu. No adult purchase required! Wow. :)
  • Chick-fil-A - locations & specials vary, but most run a family special sometime during the week. 
  • Dive Bar & Grill - Thursdays / 1 free kids meal per each adult meal purchased. Locations in Wexford and Lawrenceville. 
  • Cadillac Ranch - Mondays / Free kid's meal with each adult entree purchase. They also have FREE SnoCones on Mondays! 
One of my go-to sources for all things foodie in Pittsburgh is The Food Tasters / PGH! They were kind enough to share their recommendations, which are listed below!
  • Pizzarita // Shaler.  It’s a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere where the food is scratch made and always delicious!  **They also have a cooler full of @TurnersPremiumT products like chocolate milk and teas so you don't have to give the kiddos soda! Pizzarita says, We are family owned/operated & we cherish our role uniting families over our food!
  • It's fun to stop at Prantl’s Bakery in Shadyside (also have Downtown location) for little treats to take next door to Mercurio’s which features gelato and wood oven pizza. The kids have fun picking out their own cookie at the bakery & pairing them with some gelato! 
  •  Mercurio’s // Shadyside. Started in 2012 with the intent of bringing genuine Italian pizza and dining to the community. Michael, who is a certified Neapolitan pizza maker by the Italian government, is the head chef and pizza maker. 
  •  Johnny’s Lunch // Cranberry. Hotdogs, hamburgers, & shakes / kid’s meal options as well.  
  •  Five Guys – locations nation-wide.  Only fresh (never frozen) burgers, dogs, fries, & grilled cheese! 
  • Chipotle – locations nation-wide.  Kid-tested & approved! Sustainably raised food. Kid's Menu: let your kids get creative with a taco kit of two soft or crispy taco shells and your choice of three ingredients (one meat or guacamole). Or choose from a small quesadilla with a side of rice and beans or a single taco with a side of rice. All Kid's Menu items are served with kid's chips and juice or organic milk (plain or chocolate).
If you’re ever in Downtown Butler……
  • The Chop ShopJust read the menu and your mouth will be watering! Yummy kids menu. Vegan & Vegetarian options also available.  
  •  Dolce Mia’s Bakery - offering homemade assorted cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, cream puffs, meatball hoagies, triple-layer brownies & more! 
  •  Natili Pizza ShoppeMade fresh daily pizza and sandwiches, it’s the perfect place for a quick lunch, business meeting, or a fun family dinner out. 
         

8 comments:

Thoughts said...

So excited to try new places!!

Megs said...

The Waffles Incaffeinated link brings me to Burgatory.
Thanks for the list!

Kelly Hughes said...

Thanks Meghan, me too!!

Kelly Hughes said...

Thanks so much Megs, I fixed that link!

Carly said...

We have a place up by me in New Kensington called Jerry's Custard. They offer $1.50 kids meals that include a sandwich, side, drink, & kids cone. Adult meal deals are $5 and include sandwich, drink, & side. They are also offering free cones to kids under 12 all season, any time, any day, check out their FB page. They have a new, nice fence put up around the picnic areas, which makes it much less stressful when the kids are chasing around.
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Leann said...

Multiple places on the list use the Nowait app. You can put yourself on the wait list before you leave the house so there is less waiting in a crowded lobby with grouchy toddlers.

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Travis said...

Thank you for the helpful information! I run a website at www.booglio.com with similar information. You may find additional deals listed there as well. Love those kids eat free deals.