Hello! My b-day is coming up and my mom still likes to take the family out to dinner for b-day celebrations. It will be 6 adults and my 9 month old son. Ideas on places to go? Nothing too expensive and some place where my son can act like a (well behaved) baby and no one will care. We're coming from Mpls, Bloomington, and Eden Prairie so someplace central would be great. Thanks!
We made reservations for Macaroni Grill.
I work at the Loring Pasta Bar and we are pretty baby friendly. There is usually live music, which often pleases babys.
We feel that GiGi's on Bryant and 38th is a very baby friendly place. We go there a lot with our kids.
Buca in Eden Prairie is great -- the food is fabulous (their garlic mashed potatoes are to die for) and it's a pretty family-friendly place, but grown-up enough to have a wine list. They have lots of groups there as they serve dishes "family-style," where you order several entrees and they're served on large platters and you dish up as much as you want onto your own plate. We've been there a number of times with just adults and with our kids along, and everyone always enjoys it. I believe they also have a downtown Minneapolis location if you'd rather go there.
Many of the places on Eat Street in Minneapolis are baby friendly.
Look into Christo's on Nicollet (Greek). The food is great, ambience is elegant, and they brought my son a couple toy trucks to play with while we ate. I had loved going there before we had a baby and worried a little bit that it would be too "nice" to bring a little one to. I was wrong - it was great.
I agree with the poster who said to pick a place with food that you, the birthday girl, would really like. Just make sure to go at a time when Anders is most "user-friendly" (napped, clean diaper, etc.). Have finger foods (if he's into say, cheerios or crackers, yet) and a bottle for him (or, if you're nursing/he doesn't take bottles, nurse him maybe in the car before being seated), and one or two toys for him (our baby really enjoyed playing with straws at that age, go figure). Our daughter is now 13 1/2 months old, and we tend to go to restaurants with her in the late afternoon/early evening. This works well with her napping/eating rhythms, and they're aren't as many fellow diners to potentially "bother" with her mess or babbling. And, ABOVE ALL, pick a restaurant that has good dessert -- birthdays mean CAKE!! :)
It would be so nice if restaurants really were baby friendly in general S.. Gigi's has great food but is more like a coffee shop/bakery than a restaurant. You have to order your food from a line - no food service.
What ever you do, don't go to the Rain Forest Cafe at the MOA - even though it is baby/child friendly, the food is so bad you will resent your time and money. Plus, it's so loud from all the artificial sound effects your baby may not enjoy it in the end.
Since all you need is a high chair (he isn't running around yet) let go of the baby-friendly idea and just go somewhere that has food that you (the birthday girl) love. Every restaurant has high chairs for children and accommodates them. Then, bring some extra food he loves from home so that you don't have to worry about what you order off the menu for your special day.
I don't know if you like burgers, but Red Robin's is very kid friendly. Have a great birthday!
Perkins at 494 and France Ave was a good one when my daughter was a baby. So is the Fuddruckers across the street and the Chilis on Hwy 100 in Edina.
And there is always Don Pablos by Best Buy on 494 and Nicollet.
My husband just suggested the Olive Garden.
Have a great time!! We have taken our daughter out to eat every Friday night since she was born. Fridays are my night to cook. She is now very good at going to resturants.
