Family-Friendly Fare
A guide to Britain's most child-friendly restaurants
Gone are the days when parents turning up to a restaurant with children in tow were met with barely hidden expressions of horror. Now everywhere from celebrity haunt Locanda Locatelli to local restaurants welcome families with open arms. We've hand-picked our favourite places around the country, but we're always looking for more. If you think we've missed out a real family gem, let us and other parents know here.
London: Frizzante at Hackney City Farm
Surrounded by animals this may be the perfect place to explain where food comes from…or maybe choose the vegetarian breakfast instead! This city farm's café won the Time Out Best Family Restaurant 2004 for its organic food and lively atmosphere.
We like: the laid-back atmosphere and all the entertainment of the farm
Where: Hackney City Farm, 1a Goldsmith's Row, E2 8QA
Price: Pasta with cheese and tomato - £3.95
Click here for the Frizzante website.
London: Giraffe
Voted Best For Kids in the 2005 Observer Food Monthly Awards; ‘Giraffe is that rare British beast, the family-friendly restaurant which manages not to scare off the young and childless.'
We like: the space for buggies, the emphasis on fresh and healthy food.
Where: London (various), Bristol, Cambridge, Exeter, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Walton on Thames, Guildford
Price: Main courses from £2.95
Click here for the Giraffe website.
London: Rainforest Cafe
Yes it's big and brash and likely to give most adults a headache, but the Rainforest Cafe has a huge appeal for kids with its wildlife sounds and light show accompanying the meal. The menu is reassuring global with plenty for adventurous children and it's good to see fruit salad included in the desserts.
We like: clear references on the children's menu for gluten, dairy and egg-free options.
Where: Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC1
Price: £10.90 for main course and dessert
Click here for the Rainforest Cafe website.
London: Tamarind
At first glance a Michelin-starred restaurant wouldn't be the first place you'd think of taking your brood, but chef Alfred Prasad is apparently keen on helping kids expand their palate. That aim was behind Tamarind's decision to offer a free gourmet Sunday lunch to any child under 10, as long as they're accompanied by an adult ordering the £26.95 tasting menu.
We like: the child-friendly, mildly spiced menu
Where: 20 Queen Street, London W1J 5PR
Click here for Tamarind's website
London: Tate Modern
There are two great places to eat as a family here at the Tate Modern – the Café on Level 2 actively welcomes families and offers all meals in children-sized portions. But for a real blow-out take the kids up to the Tate Modern Restaurant on Level 7. The fish is particularly good here – well-sourced and impeccably fresh and when the kids tire of adult conversation they'll be wowed by the amazing views over London.
We like: the amazing views are great for grown-ups and kids alike
Where: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Click here for Tate Modern's website
Gloucs: Demuths Vegetarian Restaurant, Bath
This award-winning vegetarian and vegan restaurant welcomes children with open arms. There's a specific kids menu available during the day up until 7.30pm and it's full of healthy and delicious options. When the kids get fidgety, there's crayons and scrap paper to keep them happy.
We like: the signposting for food that's wheat-free
Where: North Parade Passage, Bath
Price: From £2.75 for soup of the day and ciabatta fingers
Click here for the Demuth's website
Wales: Talardy Hotel, St Asaph, Denbighshire
Jelly Beans playrestaurant at the Talardy Hotel might not have the most innovative children's
menu on the planet - but it does have the added bonus of
a huge soft play area. If the weather's good, families can eat outside in sight of the sandpit,
bouncy castle and toddlers lawn.
We like: that there are two age ranges on the children's menu, taking account of older kids'
appetites.
Where: St Asaph, Denbighshire
Price: £7.95 gets them a main course, drink, balloon and unlimited playtime.
Click here for the Talardy website
Scotland: The Bridge Inn, Ratho
One of Scotland's most-lauded pub for family-friendliness, The Bridge Inn has an extensive
children's menu balancing pizza and homemade burgers with corn-on-the-cob and melon cocktail.
There are child-changing facilities, highchairs and an outdoors playground.
We like: that the fish and chips on the menu is fresh haddock, locally sourced
Where: Ratho, just by the Union Canal, 5 minutes from Edinburgh Airport.
Price: £4.75 for two courses.
Click here for the Bridge Inn website
Nationwide: Pizza Express
Good fresh food that takes next-to-no-time to cook - what more could any frazzled parent
want? Add to that, the fun of seeing the pizza chefs throwing the dough in the sky and you
have a combined education/nutrition experience with garlic bread thrown in!
We like: the online restaurant finder showing if baby changing is available
Where: Nationwide
Price: Three courses from the Piccolo menu is £5.25.
Click here for the Pizza Express website
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