Dining out with your kids can make you wish you didn’t have any at all.

Between thrown crayons, spilled drinks and dirty looks

from patrons and servers alike, it can make you long for the days when you split a bottle of wine before tucking into three courses.
While most parents want to hit the hottest new restaurants in town, kids are an unwelcome accessory to offal, charcuterie and
primitivo. The only thing worse than bad food is that walk of shame through a crowded restaurant filled with sneering hipsters.
Better to settle for brightly lit spots that cater to the time-starved and sleep deprived. “The main thing is flexibility and that
the staff and general clientele like and understand kids,” says Toronto parent Dori Skye Engel, who has two sons,
ages 2 and 4. “If I don’t think anyone is going to give me a dirty look, I am far more likely to go there.”
Luckily, Toronto is host to a number of restaurants where parents can take their kids and eat well, too.

ORIGINALS BAR
(1660 Bayview Ave.)
This Leaside joint serves
straight-up pub food, from
Tex-Mex to nachos. The kids’
menu is also run-of-the-mill, but
a playroom that entertains tots
while parents eat is the clincher
to dining in peace.
Kicking and screaming: Kids are
more than welcome to take all
their energy out in the
playroom, where they can win
prizes and play in the ball room.
Jumping on the banquettes
is not allowed and crawling
on the floor is not advisable.
Kiddy classics: Frozen chicken
fingers or pizza; dough and
tomato sauce are both made
in-house.
Most notable adult item:
Besides the option of a stiff drink?
YASI'S PLACE
(299 Wallace Ave.)
Tucked away on a residential street
in the up-and-coming Bloor and
Lansdowne area, Yasi’s has become
a favourite for neighbourhood parents
and kids thanks to the quality menu,
smoothies and patience of staff. It’s
a go-to spot for anyone who wants
a great lunch or brunch with
or without kids in tow.
Kicking and screaming: Owner
Yasemin Zorlutuna takes everything in
stride, including kids crawling around
on the floor and banquettes. Note: Ms.
Zorlutuna insists there is rarely such
a thing as a misbehaved child, only
misbehaved parents.
Kiddy classics: Crowd-pleasers include
grilled-cheese sandwiches, “silly sticks”
(French toast), and something called
a “hungry monkey.” All meat comes
from Vince Gasparro’s Quality Meats
and other ingredients are local and
organic when possible, while bread
is from Ace Bakery.
Most notable adult item: The burger,
made from scratch with organic beef,
is considered one of the best in the
city. They also serve a two-person
Turkish brunch Saturday through
Monday, along with standard brunch
offerings.
BUDDHA DOG
(163 Roncevalles Ave.)
This slick, revved-up hot-dog stand in
the Polish part of town screams “kid
friendly,” from the smiling Buddha
mascot to the kid-centric menu.
Pepperette-sized dogs are $2 apiece
and any additional toppings will set
you back 25 cents.
Kicking and screaming: It’s hard to go
anywhere without being ambushed
by a stroller brigade in Roncesvalles,
so there is no worry for parents as far
as noise level and behaviour are
concerned. Kids are free to crawl
around and play with toys and games
courtesy of neighbouring toy shop
Scooter Girl.
Kiddy classics: Hot dogs, naturally.
There is also a grilled cheese made
with a lovely white cheddar that is
not too strong.
Most notable adult item: Take your
pick from the local handmade sauces,
including the spicy-as-hell pumpkin-
papaya jerk sauce, a natural ketchup
from OddFellows or a rhubarb ketchup
from Amuse Bouche. Or try the
Buddha Salad, with fresh organic
greens and seasonal ingredients.
BLOOR STREET DINER
(55 Bloor St. W.)
Long before the East started battling
the West in the city’s exhausting
Benedict wars, all-you-can-eat was
the only way to get a decent brunch
in Toronto. Well, buffets still exist,
and what kid doesn’t like options?
Especially when there is a three-tiered
chocolate fountain involved. The
all-you-can-eat service is $21.95 for
adults and $10.95 for kids 10 and under.
Kids under 4 eat for free.
Kicking and screaming: Kids are more
than welcome to act like kids and they
often crowd around the jazz trio that
plays at brunch time.
Kiddy classics: The chicken fingers
are from frozen, but the mac and
cheese, available at brunch, is from
scratch, with yellow cheddar. The
restaurant also supplies kids with fruit
kebabs and marshmallows to dip in
the chocolate fountain.
Most notable adult item: The omelette
station is the safest bet. Made from
scratch, omelettes are one of the few
items available that haven’t been
sitting in a heating tray all morning.
MAGIC OVEN
ON DANFORTH
(798 Danforth Ave.)
Healthy pizza made from organic
ingredients with tons of gluten- and
dairy-free options makes this a place
perfect for parents and kids with
dietary restrictions. On Munchkin
Mondays, kids eat for free from the
always available kids’ menu – $5.95
gets you organic cheese or pepperoni
pizza; kids’-sized pasta (served white
or with butter or tomato sauce);
a chicken Caesar; or a pizza sandwich,
all served with an organic juice, apple
and a toy.
Kicking and screaming: While there is
no playroom, kids are more than
welcome to be themselves as long as
parents are responsible and aware.
Sparkling floors won’t make parents
nervous that their offspring might
catch something while crawling
around.
Kiddy classics: Pizza, of course, and
they use certified organic L’Ancêtre
mozzarella. All the other cheeses are
made with organic milk and don’t
have cellulose, natamycin, whey
powder, milk solids or modified milk
ingredients.
Most notable adult item: The $25
fixed-price menu.
UNITED
BAKERS DAIRY
(506 Lawrence Ave. W.)
On its third generation of
owners, this family-run,
family-friendly dairy restaurant
has a fully stacked kids’ menu
that will keep them satisfied,
including eggs, grilled cheese,
French toast and pancakes.
A good place to take the kids
and their grandparents.
Kicking and screaming:
Just make sure your kids
don’t get in the way of a heavily
accented, burly server, and you
will be fine. Kids can bounce
around on seventies-style
banquettes, but between
them and the elderly that
frequent the place, there
is far too much food
on the floor to crawl
around on it.
Kiddy classics: Elbow
macaroni with a blend
of four commercial
cheeses is available.
And who doesn’t
love a pizza bagel
with French fries?
Most notable
adult item: The
homemade dill
and split pea soup
is a classic.

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