What are the best family restaurants out there?!
What are the best family restaurants out there?
looking at exploring the best enviroment to have available for a family out there, and what is expected from a facilities perspective.
Answers:
I have found that the best places to eat out as a family are Chili's and Apple Bees they have great food and it is very kid friendly. Besides they both serve really good drinks and with the family we all could use a good drink to relax sometimes :)
Top 10 Family Restaurants in the U.S.
With the nation growing increasingly concerned about childhood obesity and yet eating outside the home in record numbers, Child magazine today announced the results of its exclusive survey to identify the top 10 family-friendly restaurant chains in the country. The comprehensive survey -- whose results will appear in the April 2004 issue of the magazine and can currently be viewed online -- was based on strict criteria and data compiled during the magazine's extensive five-month investigation. Over 125 children's menus were examined from the largest full-service, sit-down chains.
Child discovered that of the 125 menus analyzed: 100% offered soda but only 67% offered milk as a beverage. Chicken nuggets, chicken fingers or chicken strips were featured in 87% of all menus. Salad appeared as a vegetable option in only 19% of the menus and most surprisingly, fruit appeared as a side dish in just 17% for all of the full-service restaurant chain menus. The results for the top 10 healthiest restaurant chains were based on excellent nutritional offerings plus a family-friendly atmosphere.
According to the Child Survey, the 10 Best Family-Friendly Restaurants In Order Are:
Legal Sea Foods: (U.S. locations: 28 in DC, FL, MA, MD, NJ, NY RI, VA)
Mimi's Cafe: (US Locations: 80 in AZ, CA, CO, FL, KS NM, NV, OK, TX, UT)
Red Lobster: (US Locations: 649 in every state except AK, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
The Melting Pot: (US Locations: 70 in AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MD, MI, MN, NC, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI)
The Old Spaghetti Factory: (US Locations: 40 in AZ, CA, CO, GA, HI, IN, KY, MO, MN, NV, OH, TN, UT, WA)
Benihana: (US Locations: 71 in AK, AR, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI)
Ruby Tuesday: (US Locations: 702 in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, WV)
Chili's Grill & Bar: (US Locations: 868 in every state except MT)
Elephant Bar Restaurant: (US Locations: 28 in AZ, CA, CO, KS, MO, TX)
(Tie) Bertucci's: (US Locations: 89 in CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA) & Chevys Fresh Mex: (US Locations: 114 in AZ, CA, CO, FL, IL, LA, MD, MN, MO. NJ, NV, NY, OR, SD, UT, VA, WA)
"More than ever, families are eating meals in restaurants. While this is an excellent way to teach children manners and spend time together, studies prove that both parents and children consume far more calories eating a restaurant meal than a home-cooked one," says Miriam Arond, Child magazine's editor in chief. "With childhood obesity becoming an alarming trend in our country, we felt a survey like this would be helpful and necessary for both parents and children. Child followed a comprehensive and rigorous methodology to find the healthiest, family-friendly restaurant chains in the country by examining criteria such as the nutritional quality of the menu, the smoking policy, contributions to children's charities, and much more."
Survey Methodology:
For the Child magazine survey, over 125 children's menus of the largest full-service, sit-down chains were reviewed. Each menu was initially evaluated on these basic criteria: whether it contained at least two to four nutritional entrees, included a vegetable besides french fries and offered milk among its beverage choices. Only 20 menus (about one out of six restaurants) met these minimum requirements.
Each of these menus was sent to five nutrition experts for evaluation. Their scores were averaged and counted as 75% of a restaurants grade. The remaining 25% came from child-friendly activities-from balloons to birthday clubs-in addition to its smoking policy, contributing to children's charities and schools, and access to high chairs, booster seats, and diaper-changing tables in both the men's and women's restrooms.
norna in carrtllton texas
i think red lobster and the grand buffet are the best familt restaraunts
OK. I'll tell you. When you have a small baby you go to a restaurant with ceiling fans because babies will stare at them the whole time. When they are older you look for one with a play ground. The other thing that makes a restaurant a big plus is if the kids eat free. We eat at O Charleys more than anywhere else because the kids eat free which means we can afford to go more often. They also give kids balloons which are a big hit. Wouldn't it be awesome to have a Chucky Cheese type place with decent food. Never happens though.