To start off, I really like Texas Roudhouse, so this may be a bit biased. Had to get that out of the way, but we have had great service every time we have gone.
For the children, on Tuesday evenings, our local TR has kids night. They have games at the front door, and usually have the local fire department or police out front with a car/truck they can climb around in to look at. Talk about fun factor for the little ones!
Food is good, and ours usually eat most of it up pretty well. Again, the typical kids menu items with chicken strips and such. Sometimes ours like to get grilled cheese, and they even choose the applesauce as the side most often. Prices are very inexpensive for the children, which works out well. Often times we are able to get only 1-2 meals and split it between all of the children as they are n0t yet big eaters. This helps a lot with cost also.
Free peanuts at the table are always fun for the kids. Messy, but fun. I'd much rather they make a mess at a restaurant than in my dining room, and it seems to be the norm there, so we have fun with it.
Drink choices are standard for the children, and again they often choose milks. Sometimes I think we got lucky with our childrens preferences.
The atmosphere is alive, with constant "Yeehaw"s for birthday guests, and with all of the commotion and noise, kids can be kids and nobody gets bothered. (most of the time)
As for price we usually get out the door in the $35-45 range, which is average. I think that's a bargain for the amount of food, exciting distractions, and the atmosphere. Well done TR.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Red lobster with children, Columbus, IN
Ok, for a lot of people, this may not be the best option, as often children don't like seafood. We happen to be lucky in the fact that our children eat what is put in front of them, because we will NOT be the type of parents that let them be picky, so they usually eat.
For the children, they have a typical kids menu with chicken strips and such, usually works out well for the kids. One thing our oldest (twin boys) really like is the appetizer with calamari and vegetables. They really like the calamari. If you don't tell them at first what they are eating, it's just another fried food to them with a tomato sauce dip. The vegetables with the are usually prepared very well with peppers and broccoli and a typical ranch dip.
We usually get the chicken strips for the children, sometimes the macaroni and cheese or the popcorn shrimp. If your kids are adventurous with food, and aren't too afraid, at $5 each, it's not a bad deal. they also have milk and chocolate milk. The kids enjoy milk, so that works out well.
Being that we have twins, they get a lot of attention. The staff is very courteous and usually does something fun with them: walks them around the restaurant showing them all of the fish and paintings on the walls, brings out a live lobster for them to touch. This really adds to the value in my mind. The children enjoy going there and look forward to it.
One thing the usually helps is to be friendly to the staff. They work just as hard as the rest of us, and they seem to appreciate a polite customer. I have not had a bad experience in the 3 years we have been going to the local Red Lobster. That says a lot.
Price point wise it usually falls into the $45-55 range with tip. Yes this is pushing it, but mom and dad like the food, and the children enjoy the experience.
For the children, they have a typical kids menu with chicken strips and such, usually works out well for the kids. One thing our oldest (twin boys) really like is the appetizer with calamari and vegetables. They really like the calamari. If you don't tell them at first what they are eating, it's just another fried food to them with a tomato sauce dip. The vegetables with the are usually prepared very well with peppers and broccoli and a typical ranch dip.
We usually get the chicken strips for the children, sometimes the macaroni and cheese or the popcorn shrimp. If your kids are adventurous with food, and aren't too afraid, at $5 each, it's not a bad deal. they also have milk and chocolate milk. The kids enjoy milk, so that works out well.
Being that we have twins, they get a lot of attention. The staff is very courteous and usually does something fun with them: walks them around the restaurant showing them all of the fish and paintings on the walls, brings out a live lobster for them to touch. This really adds to the value in my mind. The children enjoy going there and look forward to it.
One thing the usually helps is to be friendly to the staff. They work just as hard as the rest of us, and they seem to appreciate a polite customer. I have not had a bad experience in the 3 years we have been going to the local Red Lobster. That says a lot.
Price point wise it usually falls into the $45-55 range with tip. Yes this is pushing it, but mom and dad like the food, and the children enjoy the experience.
Dining out with kids - Why I'm blogging
I've started this blog as a father of 3, soon to be 4 children, all under the age of 5. We dine out probably more often than we should, but there are times it's just easier to pay for it than to have to clean it up!
My blogs should come after each adventure, or to introduce new ideas for staying in and making meal time "fun" for the kids.
I'll try to point out what the children do and don't like, and give a decent price point comparison. I'll also point out what mom and dad do and don't like.
For price point, I'll consider anything under $25 as cheap. $25-35$ inexpensive. $35-45 as average. Anything above $45-$55 as pushing it, and above that, Are you kidding me?. These price range may not fit your budget, so adjust accordingly, but remember, there will be 6 mouths to feed in my comparison. Take that into account.
I'll give a few starters for places we've been recently and how we've faired.
My blogs should come after each adventure, or to introduce new ideas for staying in and making meal time "fun" for the kids.
I'll try to point out what the children do and don't like, and give a decent price point comparison. I'll also point out what mom and dad do and don't like.
For price point, I'll consider anything under $25 as cheap. $25-35$ inexpensive. $35-45 as average. Anything above $45-$55 as pushing it, and above that, Are you kidding me?. These price range may not fit your budget, so adjust accordingly, but remember, there will be 6 mouths to feed in my comparison. Take that into account.
I'll give a few starters for places we've been recently and how we've faired.
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