Going out to eat with kids is a gamble. Some nights you win. Some nights you leave a tip that’s mostly an apology. These are the places where, with Tatum (9) and Tessa (4) in tow, we tend to win.
The bar is simple: the food is actually good, and the room can handle a kid or two being a kid.
Von’s 1000Spirits (Woodinville)
This is our favorite restaurant in general. Not “favorite kid-friendly restaurant.” Favorite, period. We love everything, but especially the carnitas fries and the Caesar salad.
The kids get little paper airplanes, which buys you more time than you’d think. The outside patio is gorgeous, with fireplaces. It can be loud inside, so we usually only bring the kids in summer, when we can sit out on the patio.
Black Raven Brewing + The Bird Pizza (Woodinville)
A few months ago Black Raven added a pizza place, The Bird, from the team behind The Cut Shop. The pizza is so good.
The whole brewery is filled with pinball machines, which the kids love. It’s loud-ish, but in a chattery way, so kid noises aren’t very noticeable. That’s a feature.
Black Raven Brewing Woodinville · The Bird Pizza
The Pizza Coop & Ale House (Woodinville)
Really good square pizzas. Detroit-style. There are video games and pinball machines in the back, so everyone has somewhere to be.
Flatstick Pub (Woodinville)
Brand new. We play a short game of mini golf as a family, then get drinks and food. It’s great and quick. Fun hangout in the nicer months.
The outdoor area is really fun for kids to run around in, and there’s a playset right there. There are also tabletop games (Duffleboard).
The Village at Totem Lake (Kirkland)
This one is a cluster. The pizza place, the ramen place, and the burger place are all really good and all kid-friendly. And we always have to get Salt & Straw. Always. It’s not a choice.
Afterward the kids love the little spinny dandelion toys in the play area outside and running around.
Serious Pie
Pizza, right by Salt & Straw. Really good and kid-friendly.
Silverlake Ramen
Ramen. Really good and kid-friendly.
Stack 571 Burger & Whiskey Bar
Burgers. Really good and kid-friendly.
Salt & Straw
We always have to get Salt & Straw. Then the dandelion spinners.
That’s the list. Go early, bring the patience, get the ice cream.