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Embracing flexibility and thoughtful planning can elevate the dining experience for parents traveling with children.
Artwork by Oliver Munday
The Joys of Dining Out with Kids
If you’re a parent who relishes the chance to enjoy fine cuisine while on vacation, you may have wrestled with this challenge: should you leave your children behind at the hotel under care of someone new or bring them along? I stand firmly in favor of bringing them. Admittedly, my kids might not always be the most agreeable dinner guests during upscale meals.
My spouse and I continually make this choice because there are times when we absolutely cannot skip a highly recommended restaurant. Although our young ones may not fully comprehend the intricate presentation of gourmet dishes, my youngest still fondly reminisces about a “chocolate mousse creation topped with berries” from one delightful bistro in Paris last summer. While I may not recall that dessert specifically, knowing she treasures that memory brings me joy.
As our kids’ exposure to sophisticated dining has grown—far beyond what’s typical for their age—I’ve compiled valuable lessons we’ve learned alongside tips from fellow parents to enhance family meals while away from home.
Rethink Urban Culinary Experiences
A recent trend noted by Daniella Hunt, an American tour operator based in Rome running Mirabilia Urbis Tours, is how restaurants in prominent European cities have shifted towards being less accommodating towards families. “Restaurants seem more focused on efficiency now than ever before,” she observes regarding this accelerated pace within dining establishments. Instead, Hunt suggests reserving special evenings for visits to charming smaller towns like Orvieto and Trieste where children are cherished as guests.
Simplify the Children’s Menu Concept
A notable trend is emerging at venues like North Carolina’s High Hampton Resort, which opts out of conventional children’s menus altogether. The Executive Chef Scott Franqueza offers an innovative “family menu,” delivering enhanced interpretations of classic favorites such as marinated chicken strips or freshly caught fish-and-chips using that day’s available catches like halibut or trout. According to Franqueza, “When parents taste-check their child’s meal for safety, we hope they find it enticing enough to try themselves.”
Dress Appropriately for an Occasion
The simple act of dressing up—such as putting on smart casual attire—can communicate to children that dining out is a unique event warrants good manners. To prepare our kids properly, we also pack some fresh coloring books and schedule a light snack before heading out (and making restroom visits upon arrival so everyone can settle comfortably).
Once seated at the table during mealtime discussions arise about potential chaos if anyone were allowed underfoot—a humorous yet effective way to reinforce expected behavior without causing any distress.
Navigating Phone Use at Restaurants
Merging screen time into mealtime routines is common among many families seeking peace; however Rick Simone from Providence highlights his agreement with his four youngsters: phones may be used until dishes arrive but must then be set aside when it’s time for dinner service begins.
Create New Names for Dishes
Phrasing matters when attempting new foods! Our son loves soups; hence at restaurants we’ll entice him into trying diverse offerings—for instance pitching curry-flavored root vegetables by dubbing it “creamy coconut carrot delight.” An approach including renaming items such as “sweet potato” instead could work wonders encouraging him toward butternut squash soup!
Tiny Yet Vital Preparations Matter A Lot!
A few small additions significantly enhance our dine-out experience: toddler-friendly crumb-catcher bibs proved invaluable during earlier years! Nowadays? We request seating options near corners—or even better patios—for optimal space allowing us engaging freely without disruptive glances from other patrons nearby which makes all difference!
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A revised version appeared previously in Travel + Leisure’s September 2024 issue titled “Strategies For Enjoying Family Dining Adventures.”
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