View Full Version : Great places to eat with toddlers
LucyMike
21-02-2004, 11:30
Dear all,
we will be flying out to Florida at the end of June, hopefully to complete on our new home on Emerald Island. Wondering though if anyone can give us any advice on good places to eat with a toddler - aswe don't want him to live on junk food for a month ! many thanks Lucy and Mike
Newhomebuyer
21-02-2004, 11:51
There are lots of place which offer healthy options. Don't forget most of the buffet place live Golden Corral etc do offer healthy option. All you have to do is stay away from the temtping less healthy. I think that a good place is Cracker Barrel. They are going to built in Formosa soon I heard.
Try Perkins and Bob Evans, simply look at the side orders as there are plently of vegetables etc or if he is not a big eater ask for a side plate and let him share your meal.Youngest daughter's favourite food is Broccili!
Our girls always used to share an adult meal... now they manage their own!
Lots of healthy options - and very nice too.
Jen:)
Perkins on the 192 was great, the kids loved the ice cream puddings
neilandkay
21-02-2004, 20:15
Our 3yr old loves Sweet Tomatoes, but it is not local to Emerald Island. It is an all you can eat salad, pasta, soup bar and bakery. Yummy.
Orlando 1
Address: 6877 South Kirkman Rd.
Orlando, FL
32819
Phone:
407-363-1616
Fax: 407-363-1159
Store Hours:
Sunday - Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Special Store Hours:
Olive Garden is another place we love. At lunchtime they do a soup & salad option. I have the soup and salad and my 3 year old munches on the unlimited breadsticks and unlimited salad. We always ask for extra olives and tomatoes otherwise he would get them all and I would miss out!
We also liked the all you can eat Chinese buffet at the junction of Funnie Steed and the 192. Food was not the best chinese (but what do you expect in an all you can eat place), but it was reasonable and plenty of choice.
A lot of the restaurants look after children very well, providing crayons and an activity sheet to keep them occupied (TGI Fridays, Olive Garden, Rainforest Cafe all do this)
The rainforest cafe is great, but sometimes the thunderstorms frighten our little boy (he has sensitive hearing) so be aware of that.
Remember portions are huge and we often just share our meal with our son (ask for an extra plate). The children's meals are usually big enough for an adult, so don't always think you have to pay for an extra meal. Often the children's meal is too big for a toddler (remember that children's meals are for children up to age 10 or 12) Or just ask for a side of something that your toddler likes.
I always have an extra toy and drawing book/crayons in my bag so that if the service at the restaurant is not up to par, or they don't provide any activitiy sheet, I have additional things to keep my son occupied.
Another thing we have done is taken some of his food (already cooked pasta, salad etc) into the restaurant with us. We have our meals and feed him the items we brought in. This works really well where we believe or nkow that there is nothing much on the menu that he likes. Never had any problems with this.
Hope this helps,
_Kay
orlandobabe
22-02-2004, 03:04
Sonny B's down by the 192 Walmart was quite nice and worth a try.
A bit nearer to home is the new Cracker Barrel on the 192.
LucyMike
22-02-2004, 16:50
thanks for all your ideas!:D
Reading through the list most mentioned are great for children, our grandchildren also love Cracker Barrel it is food on the American theme and very healthy eating. Sizzlers buffee's are also very good.
Our little girl loved Sizzlers aswell. She could eat whatever she liked as the buffet was endless with lots of options. If she decided she did not like something she got another plate and took something else! Also she ate for free (I think many places offer this for buffet style eating - not sure!).
Would also recommend Sweet Tomatoes as again the little one ate for free and there was plenty of choice for her but we really enjoyed it aswell!