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.
Check out the illustrated guide below, which you can enlarge, download or print for reference.
