7 Restaurant Chains Great for Families

Parents often tell kids not to play with their food, but Benihana encourages it. Chefs dice and flip food to guests, and every kid is wowed by the onion volcano. Consider this dinner and a show for young ones.

Bring your kids to a Cicis pizzeria on a Tuesday for a hassle-free eating experience. Kids Night at the pizza chain allows kids an unlimited buffet for just 99 cents with the purchase of an adult entree. This is an especially great deal for indecisive kids, who can go back to the buffet for pizza, pasta, salad, and dessert as many times as they want.

There is no more timeless kids’ meal than the Happy Meal at McDonald’s. While parents may want to limit their kids’ intake of McNuggets and burgers, everyone can be okay occasionally treating children to America’s iconic fast food.

Southern hospitality goes a long way with parents, earning Cracker Barrel top marks among parents in surveys. The kids menu features smaller portions of the chain’s classic dishes, including kid faves like macaroni and cheese, chicken n’ dumplings, and country fried shrimp.

Among breakfast options, Denny’s offers lots for kids to love first thing in the morning. Chocolate chip pancakes and birthday pancakes are always winners, but dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets and milkshakes round out the fun menu. Plus, kids eat free with the purchase of adult entrees on certain days at many locations.

If healthy kids’ food is what you’re after, bring the family to Jason’s Deli, where the kids menu is full of wholesome ingredients including whole grains and organic produce. Organic apple juice and low-fat milk are offered free with any meal, the chicken is free of antibiotics, and the turkey is free of nitrates.

Tons of parents have discovered Red Lobster as a way to introduce kids to fish and seafood. The kids menu offers the namesake crustacean as well as fish, crab, and popcorn shrimp, along with steamed broccoli or orange slices. If all else fails, there’s always chicken.