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Mama Cloudy
Citizen
Username: Mamacloudy
Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 3:34 pm: | 
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Where in town (or nearby) can we go out with our 9-mos old son? He's pretty well-behaved (I know, everyone says that about their kid) and we would be fine with diner fare. But there seems to be no place in town.
BTW...took son to Gaslight -- too smoky and the proprietor, already not my favorite person, gave us a hard time when we sat down. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2798
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 3:45 pm: |
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All non-smoking and I bring my sometimes (and many times not) well behaved kids:
Parkwood Diner (Springfield Ave in Mwood)
Village Trattoria (downtown Mwood)
Ginger Taste (downtown Millburn)
Tinga (downtown Millburn)
Pizzetta (downtown Millburn)
La Scalia (downtown Millburn)
Farther afield:
Broadway Grill (downtown Summit)
La Pastaria (before 6pm) (downtown Summit)
Jose's Cantina (downtown New Providence) |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 1086
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 3:51 pm: |
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Mama Cloudy - don't take it personally about the way the folks at Gaslight acted.
There have been pages and pages written here about how child unfriendly they are!
The Trattoria is great. It is a little noisy so nobody notices a baby. Take a bottle of wine and have a lovely dinner with the family. |
WendyP
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 3281
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 4:01 pm: |
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We've always been very happy with the Mapleleaf.
And a bunch of the places Wendyn listed as well, although we never go as far as Summit or New Providence. |
Da Lat
Citizen
Username: Sidrn
Post Number: 179
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 4:26 pm: |
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St. James' Gate is also very child friendly. My only problem is that there is smoking. However, this problem will resolve itself once the ban goes into effect.
Otherwise, I've had a pint there with my son on my lap. He was having chocolate milk, of course.
I also took my daughter there for Father-Daughter Nite Out and had dinner on the other side of the bar. The waitress and clientele were great. There were other families with young children there. The waitress provided my daughter with crayons and paper. It was a wonderful evening.
I also second Wendy's recommendation of Mapleleaf. The waitresses there always treat my kids well.
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Earlster
Supporter
Username: Earlster
Post Number: 1482
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 7:56 am: |
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We have taken our now 10 month old to St. James Gate, Toro Loco, Bunnys, Parkwood Diner and some other places. All are very child friendly. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2801
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 8:13 am: |
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The main criteria for me is if they have high chairs. That indicates that small children are welcome (and tolerated). Smoking is #2, but if hubster really wants a beer with his meal we put up with it. Fortunately not for long!
Couple of places I fogot are:
Arturo's (dowtown Maplewood) although it isn't as nice a "sit down" place as Trattoria
Gian Marco in Millburn
Suzette's in Millburn (crepes, but also salads and other stuff)
Millburn Diner (but honestly Parkwood is MUCH better food and service and everything!)
Charlie Brown's in Millburn (but I haven't been there in years)
The Office in Summit (allows smoking but it isn't too bad in there)
Winburie's in Summit (also allows smoking)
All of the restaurants in the SH Mall
The kids' favorite place to eat is Tinga. They love the music, atmosphere and of course chips (although I'm guessing a 9 month old isn't quite at the chip level yet). And they love breakfast on the weekends, usually at the Parkwood. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2802
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 8:17 am: |
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One last one...Benihana just re-opened in Short Hills. Kids love watching the food being cooked in front of them. Hopefully the atmosphere has improved with the renovation!
One more (I know I can't stop)...I think Khun Thai has high chairs. I know I've seen little kids eating outside when it is nice, but I'm not remembering anyone inside. No kids menu though, so take kids either too young to eat the food or kids who are very food friendly (not mine). |
Carla
Citizen
Username: Elbowroom
Post Number: 61
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 8:20 am: |
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Diners are the obvious choice but why go to diners when you can do better?
Try Enzo's in Short Hills for good Italian - BYO wine. Lot's of kids there.
If you're child is quiet and you'd like a nice dinner try La Focaccia on Morris Avenue in Summit. Also BYO. Waiters are very kid friendly.
Go early on a Sunday or week night. |
Lemonhead
Citizen
Username: Lemonhead
Post Number: 62
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 11:26 am: |
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Salsa in Chatham is good and they are very child-friendly. Raymond's, Thai Chef and Indigo Smoke in Montclair are also good for a nice meal with kids. We also like the Broadway Diner/Grille in Summit. |
Mama Cloudy
Citizen
Username: Mamacloudy
Post Number: 5
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 3:15 pm: |
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Thanks everyone! This is a great compendium of choices. |
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 1112
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 5:58 pm: |
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We took our granddaughters to Salsa in Chathm one evening. We sat and sat at our table for nearly half an hour and no one came to take our order or even bring us a basket of chips. Meanwhile, people who came in after us were being served. We finally got up and walked out, and no one seemed to care. |
Jennifer
Citizen
Username: Jkohan
Post Number: 71
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 6:49 pm: |
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This is GREAT info that I find useful..we have a 6 month old. BTW--I only want to add that Qdoba and the SH Mall in general, in my opion, is NOT child friendly. Not enough high chairs, don't allow strollers, etc. I haven't tried with Joe's or Legal Seafoods--I'm talking more casual fair...and I find most people do take out from Au Bon Pain and end up sitting on the benches around the mall to feed their kids. I find this inconvient..but that is what happens when you don't have a food court. |
campbell29
Citizen
Username: Campbell29
Post Number: 381
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 10:46 pm: |
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I have found Legal Seafoods to be very child friendly. They seated us at a larger table so we could keep our sleeping baby in his stroller. another time, once they saw the baby was starting to fuss, they hurried our order and brought appetilzers and meal at the same time so we could speed things up. (and I won't even tell about the special steps they took for my food when my child blurted out that I was allergic to crab) |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 969
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 10:51 pm: |
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Monster Sushi in Summit was great when we went with our grandchild. There's a large back room, and it seemed like lots of families with kids were there. The kids were staring at each other and smiling and no one minded anyone else's noise. Service was good, it wasn't as if they forgot you when you sat back there. High chairs and I think crayons were available, but the grandchild was too small to color at the time. |
Brett Weir
Citizen
Username: Brett_weir
Post Number: 1335
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 1:23 am: |
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The Reservoir in South Orange. Terrific food and very family-friendly. |
phyllis
Citizen
Username: Phyllis
Post Number: 484
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 8:17 am: |
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The great thing about Legal Seafoods and kids is that they have more than cheeseburgers and chicken fingers on their kids menu. My kid loves fish, and while it wasn't cheap for a kids meal at $8.00 or something - they prepared plain salmon for her once. Came out with rice, a small ear of corn and some grapes. I appreciate being able to be out and have some options besides the fried stuff.
I don't think this was mentioned above- but a very kid-friendly Indian place is Begum Palace in Madison. |
wnb
Citizen
Username: Wnb
Post Number: 347
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 2:25 pm: |
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Park Wood Diner was already mentioned but it is an absolute favorite. They are always incredibly nice, incredibly friendly there, especially if you have kids with you, and their food is quite good too.
We also really like the Village Coffee Shop for a quick bite, and there's that big display of cookies and treats by the front door for behavior-bribing purposes!
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13067
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 4:26 pm: |
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If you haven't eaten at Parkwood Diner, the first time you go, you'll taste the food and say, "This is a DINER?" That's how good it is.
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