Hear us out: Dining out with kids can be a blast for everyone if you plan right.
A big part of making the meal fun for all ages, and truly enjoying your meal as a parent, is all about choosing the right restaurant. Things like seating, menu flexibility, and entertainment for kids all contribute to the experience.
Many eateries around The Mile High City get it and help little tastebuds enjoy new flavors while giving you a welcome break from cooking. Bonus, some even serve up kid meals gratis. So skip the sitter and head out for a delicious meal the whole family will enjoy.
Homegrown Tap & Dough
There’s a few reasons this Colorado-Italian mini chain always has families happily chowing down on its hand-tossed pizza, hearty salads, and hefty pasta dishes. For starters, you’ll find weekday lunch specials and money-saving family bundle deals with appetizers and pizzas.
For the little ones, a line up of cheese pizza, buttered noodles, mini cheese burgers, and other easy-to-eat bites line the menu. But the kid-friendly aspects don’t stop there. The paper menus also feature activities, complete with a set of crayons. Plus, arcade games and a few tables with cool hanging benches-swings, which make the visit much more than just a meal. Multiple locations, tapanddough.com
Acova
Not only can you eat well with your kids, but you can feel great about it too at this Sunnyside staple. For every kid’s meal sale, the restaurant donates $2 to a monthly featured children’s charity. The large patio has space to stretch and for littles to get the wiggles out before diving into “What,” “Nothing,” and “I’m not hungry,” the clever names given to pasta and cheddar, pasta and red sauce, and a grilled cheese, respectively.
Adult dishes include hot items such as the gluten-free Honey Stung Chicken, Prime Rib Dip with rosemary au jus, grilled Caesar salad, and more. Cocktails run strong, there’s often a frozen wine in the warmer months. 3651 Navajo St., Denver, acovarestaurant.com
Ace Eat Serve/Steuben’s
Bribe your kids with the promise of a ping pong game when visiting Uptown’s popular Asian-fusion and eatertainment hot spot. Not that you really need to convince them, the creative children’s menu features kid-sized ramen, PB+J bao, and sides of veggies and fruit. You also can’t go wrong with a table full of small plates such as the Mapo Pork Xaio Long Bao, Peking Duck Imperial Rolls, and some of the best wings in town. 501 E. 17th Ave., Denver, aceeatserve.com
Next door you’ll find American comfort food at Ace’s sister spot, Steuben’s, which has always been a hit with diners of all ages. Kids have a dedicated menu of classics, think burgers, grilled cheese, fried chicken, and mac and cheese. Each order comes with carrots, cucumbers, orange wedges, a drink, and soft serve ice cream. 523 E. 17th Ave., Denver, steubens.com
Shells and Sauce
This classic neighborhood Italian spot feels like you’re visiting a big, boisterous Italian family, where you can come as you are and kids are always welcome. Tuscan pastas and seafood plates are the stars here, but don’t ignore the pizzas and not-quite-Italian fare like burritos and chicken and waffles. Kids get their own menu with simple favorites like flatbread, mac and cheese, and spaghetti variations. Be sure to save room for one of the decadent housemade desserts. 2600 E. 12th Ave., Denver, shellsandsauce.net
Cherry Cricket
This Denver mini-chain is a must for all ages thanks to a menu of casual comfort food, complete with shakes, nachos, cheese fries, and fully-customizable and award-winning burgers. The kids’ options feature more of the same, only made for smaller appetites. Bonus, each printed menu comes with a word search, mad lib, and more games to keep them occupied while you relax with a cold craft beer. The turf backyard adds another fun layer, perfect for running off extra energy before or after the meal. Multiple locations, cherrycricket.com
Esters
When in doubt, pizza is the answer, and with three locations of Esters to choose from, it’s a good bet. As for the aforementioned pies, look for gourmet toppings for discerning palettes, simple ingredients for growing taste buds, and everything in between.
Kid’s pizzas come free with the purchase of an adult meal every Tuesday night at the Virginia Village and Wheat Ridge spots, and Monday night at the Park Hill location. Plus, these evenings also feature a balloon entertainer twisting up inflatable souvenirs. Multiple locations, estersdenver.com
Acreage Restaurant
Acreage is absolutely worth the 20-minute trek from Denver in order to get great views, lot’s of open space, and solid food for the whole family. Order the Jalapeno Caesar Salad, Chicken Fried Cheeseburger, Cider Bratwurst, and Cauliflower Steak for the adults, then stock up on pint-sized comfort foods for the little ones, complete with a side of fruit.
Also take advantage of the kids’ playground, expansive grassy landscape, and lawn games. Grownups can also enjoy the wide variety of Stem Ciders and local craft beers on tap while the kids run feral. 1380 Horizon Ave., Lafayette, acreageco.com
HashTAG
At Troy Guard’s HashTAG restaurants you can have a boozy brunch, but make it family style. Start with piles of pancakes, a giant burrito, fancy egg Benedicts, breakfast sandwiches, and more. For the kids the options stick to the classic side with waffles, pancakes, French toast with sprinkles, and eggs with bacon and toast.
Now for the boozy aspect. Order a Mimosa flight, spicy Bloody Mary, or a brunch punch, which serves four. The coffee menu equality impresses, and the younger set can enjoy hot chocolate, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and lemonade. Multiple locations, hashtag-restaurant.com
Table Public House
Right off South Platte River, this urban farm eatery is a magnet for families looking for good food and events such as live music, bingo, trivia, and kid-focused singalongs. Come for Friday Family Night when kids eat free (up to two, complimentary with each adult entrée purchased). Parents and caretakers can enjoy craft beer, wine, and cocktails to pair with a seasonal menu filled with salads, wraps, and sandwiches. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Bonus, if you bike over use the Bike Streets app and get $1 off any drink and snag a TPH Bike Club punch card, which garners a punch every time you come in with helmet and/or bike gear. After 10 punches you get one free drink. 2190 S. Platte River Dr., Denver, tablepublichouse.com
Lowry Beer Garden
This indoor-outdoor beer garden has space to spare for the whole family. A full food menu of brats, sandwiches, burgers, wings, and salads pair with a few pints. For the kids, look for similar fare including chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, and mac and cheese, which all come with fresh-cut fries and a drink. 7577 E. Academy Blvd., Denver, lowrybeergarden.com
Four Friends Kitchen
Add this brunch spot to your list. For the adults there’s an epic menu of comfort food classics including Smoked Brisket Hash and Eggs, Berries and Cream French Toast, innovative Benedicts, and so much more.
For the kids, they get a vintage Etch-a-Sketch to pass the time while waiting for plates of PB+J waffle triangles, chocolate-chip pancakes, and housemade mac and cheese with corkscrew noodles. The bright, colorful décor and playful lighting can knock out a bad mood or toddler tantrum instantly, and if that fails, ease the moment with a specialty mimosa. 2893 Roslyn St., Denver, fourfriendskitchen.com
Windfall Brewing
It’s easy to convince your kids to come to this Westminster brew pub thanks to the full arcade with more than 20 Stern Pinball games; old school video game favorites like Pac Man, Donkey Kong, and Galaga; and the 17 televisions streaming all the sports. Once there, dive into the seasonal house-brewed beers and solid pub fare. For example, traditional or cauliflower wings with mix-and-match rubs and sauces are a must, as is the Smoked Brisket French Dip and Windfall Fish Fry.
The kid menu has all the usual suspects, and comes with fries or salad and costs under $10. And, if you have a fur baby with you, there’s a menu for them too, as well as space to sit on the covered patio. 14694 Orchard Pkwy., Suite 400, Westminster, windfallbrewing.co
Briar Patch
Equally delicious for brunch or dinner, this new Congress Park spot serves up elevated American fare with a flare. Chef Amanda Singh, aka the Brunch Baddie of Denver, delivers hits including chicken pot pie, a Monte Cristo to remember, specialty burgers, the perfect salmon Benedict, and fried chicken with cornbread pancakes.
Littles enjoy their own menu with fail-safes like burgers, buttered noodles, and chicken tenders. While you enjoy a beer from the restaurant’s sister spot Briar Common Brewery, kids can get a cup of color-changing lemonade. Bonus, every Monday kids eat free with a $15 purchase. 1222 Madison Ave., Denver, briarpatchdenver.com
Ramen Star
Located in Denver’s Highland neighborhood, Ramen Star’s chef Takashi Tamai offers visitors a taste of modern Japan in every bowl of miso, shoyu, and kimchi ramen. Each comes with handmade noodles. Unique items also deliver, for example the Tomato Ramen featuring housemade tomato broth topped with glazed pork, roasted bacon, fried tomato, and finely grated Parmesan; or the luxurious Truffle Ramen served with housemade truffle broth and topped with glazed pork, wagyu-and-truffle stuffed ravioli, and caviar. The kid-friendly options showcase the same great flavors, but in a smaller size for $11. You can even opt for simple pile of plain noodles. 4044 Tejon St., Denver, ramenstar.com
Hops and Pie
At this artisan pizzeria everything on the menu is made from scratch, including the sourdough crust laced with beer. Play chef with a wide variety of toppings for traditional, pan, Detroit-style, and gluten-free pies. Kids will love ordering their own 12-inch personal pie, and you’ll love the $5 price.
The craft beer side of the restaurant stands out as well, with 22 rotating taps often featuring hard-to-find brews from around the country. There’s a large covered patio on the side, perfect for energetic and loud kids who need a little room to move. 3920 Tennyson St., Denver, hopsandpie.com
Benihana
This popular hibachi chain has dinner and a show on lock, and all ages agree. To start with, the food gets cooked right before your eyes, with a few parlor tricks in between (make sure to get the fried rice for one of those). Turn to the Kabuki Kids section of the menu for chicken variations, shrimp, steak, and more, in portions even a tween can accept as “too much food.”
Plus, become a Kabuki Kids member to get a free souvenir mug on each birthday with any kid’s meal purchase. And if that’s not enough, the kids’ menu also turns into Benihana’s iconic paper hat. 3295 S. Tamarac Dr., Denver; and 515 Zang St., Broomfield, benihana.com
Kachina Cantina
Located in the Maven Hotel in Downtown Denver, this lively Latin spot is perfect for early dinner and tiny diners. Happy hour specials on appetizers and drinks appeal to parents, while the kid’s menu of quesadillas, tacos, and more all come with a side of tasty rice. The bottomless chips and salsa keep all mouths full and happy, even before the meal comes. 1890 Wazee St., Denver, kachinadenver.com
The Monkey Barrel
If you could bring your living room and all its games into a restaurant, that would be The Monkey Barrel in Highland. There’s a Nintendo 64 in every booth and arcade games line the walls, so you’ll never hear “I’m bored” from anyone in your brood.
The menu leans on the American bar food side, with a Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich, line up of burgers, wraps, and loaded appetizers available every day. For kids 12 and under, look to the Little Monkeys section of the menu for quesadillas, BLTs, or chicken nuggets served with fries and a drink, all for under $8. Finish it all off with Dippin Dots ice cream, which, if you have kids, you know is dessert gold. 4401 Tejon St., Denver, monkeybarrel.com
Work & Class
Whether dining at the original downtown address or new suburban outpost, the menu remains consistent across the board. On it, you’ll discover a blend of Mexican and American fare centered on a la carte meats such as roasted Colorado lamb, lemon-pepper chicken, and al pastor pork. After picking the protein, pair a side dish or two such as goat cheese mashed potatoes and aged-cheddar chili macaroni and cheese. The kid’s menu mimics the adult, but smaller and served with a side of crayons and activities.
The downtown spot has a distinctive atmosphere in a converted shipping container, but the spacious suburb outpost boasts a rooftop greenhouse and hydroponic garden for fresh lettuces and herbs. Bonus, almost everything comes in metal dishes and cups so there’s no worry about breaking glassware or dishes. 2500 Larimer St., Denver; and 900 E. Hampden Ave., Englewood, workandclassdenver.com
Don’t Skip a Food Hall
One surefire way to please everyone and avoid unnecessary fights is to pick a one-stop shop, also known as a food hall. These metro area marketplaces have food from all over the world, all in one convenient spot with no reservations required.
Edgewater Public Market
Filled with food, drink, and retail outlets, grabbing a bite is super convenient, especially if everyone wants something different. Start with a pint at Barquentine Brewing Co. or a cocktail at Roger’s Liquid Oasis. Then choose-your-own adventure between tacos, empanadas, Ethiopian, Greek, and Happy Cones New Zealand ice cream for dessert. 5505 W. 20th Ave., Edgewater, edgewaterpublicmarket.com
Avanti Food & Beverage Denver
All ages can enjoy food from around the world all while sharing a feast together at this LoHi food hall. There are Venezuelan arepas, Neapolitan-style pizzas, Thai food, gourmet sausages and hot dogs, Mexican fare, and burgers. Cocktails, wine, and craft beers can be purchased at one of two bars, including the spot on the rooftop terrace, which offers a great view of the Denver skyline. 3200 Pecos St., Denver, avantifandb.com
Denver Central Market
Another one-stop dining extravaganza, this massive gastrohall is located in RiNo and hosts 11 restaurants. There you’ll find anything from charcuterie platters to wood-fired pizzas to deli-style sandwiches. Also on the list, made-to-order salads, aromatic seafood plates, bagels, chocolate, pastries, ice cream, and more. Grab a cocktail or mocktail at the central bar and settle in to enjoy everyone’s selections in the communal dining space. 2669 Larimer St., Denver, denvercentralmarket.com
