Eating & Drinking



Eating & Drinking

If you’re travelling with kids you still want to make sure they eat properly and America is a child’s paradise in terms of food.  Just think of all those burgers, hot dogs, fries and ice cream!  Of course as a parent you may well despair at the lack of vegetables present in stereotypical American food but there is plenty of healthy food to be had too and actually a great selection of fruit and vegetables on offer, most of which are grown in the States.

Do be aware that unlike most pubs in the UK, children will not be welcome in many bars in the US.  Unless the bar tends towards a restaurant it will be for adults only.  If in doubt it is best to check in advance.  On the other hand there are many food establishments (many of which serve alcohol anyway) that are usually very well prepared with high chairs, children’s menus, plastic cups and crayons etc.

Supermarkets are a great place to pick up a picnic and many have wonderful deli counters where you can also pick up delicious pre-made salads and sandwiches.

If you are stuck for somewhere the ubiquitous chains tend to be very family friendly. Places like IHOP can be handy for breakfast, Panera Bread does a wide range of sandwiches, soups and salads, as does Au Bon Pain, and Cracker Barrel  has a very broad menu. Establishments like The Cheesecake Factory, Chilli’s Grill and Bar, Red Robin and Mimi’s Café all have kids menus and have the advantage of being licensed. If you have older kids Dave and Buster’s is a good option as it has a gaming arcade alongside the restaurant (and it’s also licensed if you were wondering).  If you’re in a more urban location then smaller chains such as Rosa Mexicana or the Hillstone group (which operates under several names and is worth looking up) offer something a bit more upmarket but are still very child friendly.