Great Spots for Food-Lovers (and Their Kids)
Friday, March 04, 2011
We're always on the lookout for places that we can take our many nieces and nephews to teach them how to behave in a restaurant and that chicken fingers are not real food. Check out these places that don't dumb it down and will help grow the next generation of foodies.
Red Stripe, Providence
The "little folks feed the future" menu is a mini version of Red Stripe's bistro menu. With choices like steak frites jr., Cesar salad with grilled chicken, or grilled cheese with tomato soup or fries, this is sophisticated food for little people. The steak frites is tender and delicious, just like the grown-up version, and the tomato soup with the grilled cheese is our favorite in the state. The staff is generally very patient with kids, helping them navigate the menu and ordering process. The last thing that makes Red Stripe great for kids is the hammered tin ceiling, which makes the place loud and bustling, giving little ones a good sense of a good time out! 465 Angell St, Providence, 437-6950.
Matunuck Oyster Bar, South Kingstown
This one of the great "under the radar" restaurants in the state. Matunuck Oyster Bar, owner Perry Raso has revolutionized the aquaculture business in Rhode Island with his oyster farm and the restaurant is a natural extension
of that mission. The Oyster Bar also serves a great kids menu that uses that same creativity as the big people menu. Kids will never have better fish sticks than these; local white fish is transformed into crunchy tasty sticks that will make them forget the Gorton's fisherman. The mac and cheese is another great option with a creamy sauce and some crunch on top. It makes us wish we were kids again. 629 Succotash Rd, South Kingstown, 783-4202. GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTCafe Luna, Cranston
Tucked into a little spot in Garden City, Cafe Luna has a very loyal following of foodies that love the food and atmosphere in this little cafe. We grown-ups love the wide array of salads and sandwiches that Luna serves, and the kids will love the Li Bambini menu. It’s short but it hits all the right notes—pasta and grilled chicken and ravioli with marinara sauce. We love the grilled chicken with the chef's potato of the day. It's always moist and tasty and keeps the kids quiet, which is the true test of any menu!. Garden City hosts a wide array of kid-friendly events all year long and that makes Cafe Luna a great place to stop for the kids AND the parents! 22 Midway Rd, Cranston, 944-1438.
Savini's, Woonsocket
If old-school Italian is what you're craving, try heading up to Woonsocket and checking out Savini's. Giant pasta dishes for the parents and good kid comfort food will keep everyone happy. Our nephew really enjoyed the spaghetti and meatballs on a recent visit, while we feasted on Anna Savini's combo—a stuffed shell, manicotti, meatball, sausage and peppers and a salad or soup. We're getting full just thinking about that dish. The children’s menu has one huge plus as far as we're concerned—free Jello, ice cream or pudding with every entree. 476 Rathbun St, Woonsocket, 762-5114.
Kon Asian Bistro, East Greenwich
This traditional Asian hibachi restaurant is fun for the whole family. Every kid we know loves to sit at the hibachi and watch the chefs dramatically prepare their food with daring knife skills and fun tricks, such as flipping shrimp shells into their chef toques. The kids get a smaller version of the grown up food and you get to watch them as their eyes get big with every trick. Kon has great sushi and traditional Chinese in addition to the hibachi specials. We just hope the kids don’t want dinner prepared this way every day! 553 Main St, East Greenwich, 886-9200.
Pizzico Ristorante, Providence
Pizzico is a longtime neighborhood fave for East Siders old and young. The kids’ choices at this Italian bistro is short on choices but big on flavor, and hits enough right notes that you can be confident that the kids will find something they like. The real star here is the homemade meatballs with spaghetti. Perfect, light meatballs are tossed with freshly cooked spaghetti and Pizzico's famous marinara sauce. Other highlights include the chicken parm and the fried mozzarella with marinara dipping sauce. Adults will enjoy hearty salads, fish, meat and pasta entrees. Mangia! 762 Hope St, Providence, 421-4114.
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