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Five pizzas from Cane Rosso sit on baking sheets. They include veggie, pepperoni, arugula, sausage, and a white pizza.
Pizza, pizza, pizza at Cane Rosso.
Cane Rosso

12 Kid-Friendly Dallas Restaurants That Parents Won’t Hate

Where to find a meal the whole family will enjoy with a fun atmosphere for kids

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Pizza, pizza, pizza at Cane Rosso.
|Cane Rosso

Finding a spot to eat that the whole family will enjoy is a struggle. You want the kids to be able to run around and have fun and for the menu to have stuff they’ll actually eat. And you want food you’ll enjoy — not just kid food.

These spots, which are all around the Metroplex, satisfy that wish list. Some of them even serve wine and cocktails (you’re welcome).

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Thirsty Lion Gastropub - Grandscape

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This gastropub has multiple locations, but the latest one at Grandscape is a massive, magical wonderland. With thousands of square feet of patio, kids can roam and adventure over to the cornhole and Jenga games (with little supervision). There are kid-friendly items on the menu at kid-friendly sizes in the appetizers section — think grilled sliders, chicken sliders, and edamame. The fish and chips and burger menu also have options that appeal to kiddo palettes, while the selections for grown-ups are numerous. And yes, it’s a pub — so there is booze.

Ford's Garage Plano

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Ford’s Garage in Plano offers an exhibition of classic cars right inside the restaurant if you’ve got a car enthusiast kid. The menu includes burgers and other diner food, so it’s an easy to sell to any kid. Adults can enjoy some more adventurous burgers (there are 15 options!), salad, wings, or comfort food, including meatloaf and barbecue pork ribs. To finish, there are shakes for the kids (big kids too) and craft beers for the grown-ups.

Main Event Plano

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Main Event launched a new in-house restaurant chain called Family Kitchen in DFW. Take the family to play games all day long, and then sit down to a family-style meal. It has close to 50 menu items, including a PBB&J Burger that combines peanut butter, blueberry jam, American cheese and bacon on two smash burger patties and a Mega Pan Pepperoni Pizza which boasts five-cheeses, pepperoni, and garlic butter on a pan crust.

Southern Recipes Grill

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From quesadillas to cheeseburgers, this restaurant with locations in Plano and Arlington has kid-friendly menus and spaces as well as more sophisticated fare for parents. It also an extensive brunch and breakfast menu, with all the omelettes and migas a grown-up could want and a kids’ menu of pancakes and waffles .

Cane Rosso

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There’s not a Cane Rosso in DFW that isn’t kid-friendly, but the latest outpost in North Dallas looks extra kid-friendly, thanks to some giant Connect Four games. The Napoli-style pizza is excellent, with simple menu options for kid tastes and fancy toppings for the adults. And yes, every location has a bar and custom cocktail options.

The Magic Time Machine

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Go somewhere magical! This one may be more for the kids than the grown-ups, but everyone will have a great time. Server work in costume and tables are magical experiences like a carousel or a teapot. Order a Roman Orgy (er, work out how to explain that name to the kids first) for four and get brisket, chicken, fruits, vegetables, and the works served family style.

Bonchon Addison

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Want to introduce your kids to Asian cuisine? Start with something familiar: fried chicken. Bonchon, with locations in Addison, The Colony, Frisco, and now Fort Worth, is a great place to start. It’s the crispy, savory chicken kids love and sauces and sides that will expand their palettes in a family-friendly fast casual dining environment.

Hat Creek Burgers

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Where can you find burgers, fries, and a playground that isn’t McDonald’s? Hat Creek Burgers — which has multiple locations all over the Metroplex. Their little burgers, called hats, are kid-sized deliciousness. Wine for the grown-ups and milkshakes for the kids make this a family favorite.

Celebration

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Some restaurants aren’t really relaxed enough for kids. Celebration is not one of those places. Enjoy Southern favorites — the chicken fried steak smothered in gravy is notable — in a family-friendly atmosphere.

Palmer's - Hot Chicken, Catfish and Shrimp

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Think hot chicken and kids don’t go together? Well, that’s probably right. Happily, Palmer’s offers naked spice, which is no spice, so the kids can just enjoy their chicken while the adults go as hot as they can stand. This location has a nice little play area out front for the kids that’s easy to keep watch on through the big glass windows. And there’s a whole family-style menu.

Norma's Cafe

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Take the kids back to the ‘50s in this retro diner with four locations around DFW. On the menu, order from kid-approved favorites, including peanut butter and jelly, grilled cheese, and chicken tenders. Adults can partake of the blue plate specials, such as meatloaf and chicken fried chicken, or Norma’s favorites, which include pot roast and Southern-fried catfish.

Woodshed Smokehouse

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Over in Fort Worth, the Woodshed Smokehouse is cooking up some delicious barbecue. The kid (and dog) friendly patio is a great spot for families. With a menu of sides, snacks, and simple plates, there are options to tempt the kiddos, while the adventurous barbecue menu will keep adults coming back. And yes, they serve booze.

Thirsty Lion Gastropub - Grandscape

This gastropub has multiple locations, but the latest one at Grandscape is a massive, magical wonderland. With thousands of square feet of patio, kids can roam and adventure over to the cornhole and Jenga games (with little supervision). There are kid-friendly items on the menu at kid-friendly sizes in the appetizers section — think grilled sliders, chicken sliders, and edamame. The fish and chips and burger menu also have options that appeal to kiddo palettes, while the selections for grown-ups are numerous. And yes, it’s a pub — so there is booze.

Ford's Garage Plano

Ford’s Garage in Plano offers an exhibition of classic cars right inside the restaurant if you’ve got a car enthusiast kid. The menu includes burgers and other diner food, so it’s an easy to sell to any kid. Adults can enjoy some more adventurous burgers (there are 15 options!), salad, wings, or comfort food, including meatloaf and barbecue pork ribs. To finish, there are shakes for the kids (big kids too) and craft beers for the grown-ups.

Main Event Plano

Main Event launched a new in-house restaurant chain called Family Kitchen in DFW. Take the family to play games all day long, and then sit down to a family-style meal. It has close to 50 menu items, including a PBB&J Burger that combines peanut butter, blueberry jam, American cheese and bacon on two smash burger patties and a Mega Pan Pepperoni Pizza which boasts five-cheeses, pepperoni, and garlic butter on a pan crust.

Southern Recipes Grill

From quesadillas to cheeseburgers, this restaurant with locations in Plano and Arlington has kid-friendly menus and spaces as well as more sophisticated fare for parents. It also an extensive brunch and breakfast menu, with all the omelettes and migas a grown-up could want and a kids’ menu of pancakes and waffles .

Cane Rosso

There’s not a Cane Rosso in DFW that isn’t kid-friendly, but the latest outpost in North Dallas looks extra kid-friendly, thanks to some giant Connect Four games. The Napoli-style pizza is excellent, with simple menu options for kid tastes and fancy toppings for the adults. And yes, every location has a bar and custom cocktail options.

The Magic Time Machine

Go somewhere magical! This one may be more for the kids than the grown-ups, but everyone will have a great time. Server work in costume and tables are magical experiences like a carousel or a teapot. Order a Roman Orgy (er, work out how to explain that name to the kids first) for four and get brisket, chicken, fruits, vegetables, and the works served family style.

Bonchon Addison

Want to introduce your kids to Asian cuisine? Start with something familiar: fried chicken. Bonchon, with locations in Addison, The Colony, Frisco, and now Fort Worth, is a great place to start. It’s the crispy, savory chicken kids love and sauces and sides that will expand their palettes in a family-friendly fast casual dining environment.

Hat Creek Burgers

Where can you find burgers, fries, and a playground that isn’t McDonald’s? Hat Creek Burgers — which has multiple locations all over the Metroplex. Their little burgers, called hats, are kid-sized deliciousness. Wine for the grown-ups and milkshakes for the kids make this a family favorite.

Celebration

Some restaurants aren’t really relaxed enough for kids. Celebration is not one of those places. Enjoy Southern favorites — the chicken fried steak smothered in gravy is notable — in a family-friendly atmosphere.

Palmer's - Hot Chicken, Catfish and Shrimp

Think hot chicken and kids don’t go together? Well, that’s probably right. Happily, Palmer’s offers naked spice, which is no spice, so the kids can just enjoy their chicken while the adults go as hot as they can stand. This location has a nice little play area out front for the kids that’s easy to keep watch on through the big glass windows. And there’s a whole family-style menu.

Norma's Cafe

Take the kids back to the ‘50s in this retro diner with four locations around DFW. On the menu, order from kid-approved favorites, including peanut butter and jelly, grilled cheese, and chicken tenders. Adults can partake of the blue plate specials, such as meatloaf and chicken fried chicken, or Norma’s favorites, which include pot roast and Southern-fried catfish.

Woodshed Smokehouse

Over in Fort Worth, the Woodshed Smokehouse is cooking up some delicious barbecue. The kid (and dog) friendly patio is a great spot for families. With a menu of sides, snacks, and simple plates, there are options to tempt the kiddos, while the adventurous barbecue menu will keep adults coming back. And yes, they serve booze.

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