Or rather, "Family Friendly Dallas Restaurants." Whichever you prefer as the title.
When I eat out at a restaurant, I usually take notice of the menu offerings, the atmosphere, the friendliness or unfriendliness of the staff, and anything else that catches my eye. You probably do the same thing, too. I also scan the room for anyone who has a tiny dog inside a bag, and for any kids that might be interested in playing a game of "let's make funny faces" with me. I can get fairly bored waiting for my food at restaurants. Staring at an animal or a child can make the time pass quicker. Through extensive ADHD research of darting my eyes around every restaurant in the DFW area, I present to you without further delay, the top 5 best restaurants I've eaten at where there are children present and also a woman breastfeeding that no one particularly seemed to care about. Because, you know, your baby needs to eat, but so do you, and it should taste good.
1. Cane Rosso
http://www.ilcanerosso.com/
2612 Commerce St.
It makes sense to start with the best of 'em. Anyone in the know vis a vis the Dallas food scene will tell you to eat here. The crust on the pizza is to die for. Their salads are huge and simple. They have a dessert pizza with Nutella on it. If you don't come here, you can and should hate yourself for it. Come at 5:30 pm on a Friday or Saturday when a game isn't on TV, and you'll get a chance to sit with your kids at a comfy table, stuff them full of carbohydrates, and then take them home by 7pm and pray they fall asleep in the car from the overload of food. It's basically like a free babysitter. Trust.
2. Twisted Root
http://twistedrootburgerco.com/wordpress/
5606 SMU Blvd
Although the original may be across the street from Cane Rosso in Deep Ellum, the best one to trek on over to with your brood of kids is off of SMU blvd. It's cleaner and frankly the folks that go there are less scary than the people who go to the one in Deep Ellum. Furthermore, there's free parking, and you won't be accosted by a homeless person when you enter or exit this establishment. I'd like to personally apologize to you that this restaurant prides itself so highly on being a favorite of Guy Fieri's, but please don't hold that against them. And don't get mad that it's a franchise, either, because their burgers are good, and they serve exotic meats that probably were purchased legally. Don't pass up the free pickles (the bourbon ones are a personal favorite) and definitely try whatever flavored root beer they have on tap. Sizes are huge, so you can save money and calories by splitting one with your spouse. And if the kids are being extra difficult that day, designate your driver (preferably not your toddler), and have yourself a delicious adult milkshake.
3. Garden Cafe
http://www.gardencafe.net/
5310 Junius Street
Located in Junius Heights, this place is a little more laid back and a lot more hippie than the rest on this list. Bear with me. Yes, there's a garden in the back. And yes, they have their own chickens. BUT the chickens are in a coop painted like a Mondrian, and they have seasonal peach muffins that will actually cleanse your soul. It warmed my cold heart to see so many different versions of nuclear families file into the outdoor patio and eat breakfast with their children. Plenty of breastfeeding and bra-optional patrons, but nobody smells weird, and everyone is nice and happy to be eating local, organic produce and farm fresh eggs. You should be happy, too.
4. Sushi House
http://www.sushihousedallas.com/
5619 W. Lovers Lane
Everyone needs a sushi place to breastfeed and attempt to help their children's palate get to that next level on the foodie chain (see what I did there? Please don't hold it against me). One of the major benefits of this place, as most strip mall sushi places are wont to be, it is really dark inside. No one will be able to see your child attached to your chest (this applies to men and women). Not to mention, go there once or twice, and the quirky female owner will remember your face and be extra sweet to you. Their sushi is some of the freshest fish I've had in Dallas, and being from Hawaii, that can be hard to find here. The drawbacks? The bathroom is small, so it can be hard to change a baby in there. Still, try going for lunch on a weekend, and it shouldn't be too crowded, and they'll dote on you like you're family. Try the ahi tuna tower. They make them everywhere, but here, it's special.
5. Company Cafe
http://companycafe.net/
3136 Routh Street
This is the first case I've seen of breastfeeding in the wild. They have a huge outdoor area as well as indoor seating, and I've seen women giving their children the ol' boobie in both areas! No one so much as rolled an eye. They have a wide selection of gluten free goodies, which are always fun to make your doubtful spouse try as they will either love it or hate it. They also serve a phenomenal, fresh, and healthy breakfast menu with enormous portions that can, again, be split to save money and waistlines. I always get the farmer's scramble, which has just the right ratio of bacon, onion, egg, and cheese- not to mention the Texas toast with some seriously zesty jam. Go for the atmosphere, the killer coffee, the great breakfast, then go for a walk with the stroller on the Katy Trail right after. It will be the best morning you've spent in a long time, I promise.
When I eat out at a restaurant, I usually take notice of the menu offerings, the atmosphere, the friendliness or unfriendliness of the staff, and anything else that catches my eye. You probably do the same thing, too. I also scan the room for anyone who has a tiny dog inside a bag, and for any kids that might be interested in playing a game of "let's make funny faces" with me. I can get fairly bored waiting for my food at restaurants. Staring at an animal or a child can make the time pass quicker. Through extensive ADHD research of darting my eyes around every restaurant in the DFW area, I present to you without further delay, the top 5 best restaurants I've eaten at where there are children present and also a woman breastfeeding that no one particularly seemed to care about. Because, you know, your baby needs to eat, but so do you, and it should taste good.
1. Cane Rosso
http://www.ilcanerosso.com/
2612 Commerce St.
It makes sense to start with the best of 'em. Anyone in the know vis a vis the Dallas food scene will tell you to eat here. The crust on the pizza is to die for. Their salads are huge and simple. They have a dessert pizza with Nutella on it. If you don't come here, you can and should hate yourself for it. Come at 5:30 pm on a Friday or Saturday when a game isn't on TV, and you'll get a chance to sit with your kids at a comfy table, stuff them full of carbohydrates, and then take them home by 7pm and pray they fall asleep in the car from the overload of food. It's basically like a free babysitter. Trust.
2. Twisted Root
http://twistedrootburgerco.com/wordpress/
5606 SMU Blvd
Although the original may be across the street from Cane Rosso in Deep Ellum, the best one to trek on over to with your brood of kids is off of SMU blvd. It's cleaner and frankly the folks that go there are less scary than the people who go to the one in Deep Ellum. Furthermore, there's free parking, and you won't be accosted by a homeless person when you enter or exit this establishment. I'd like to personally apologize to you that this restaurant prides itself so highly on being a favorite of Guy Fieri's, but please don't hold that against them. And don't get mad that it's a franchise, either, because their burgers are good, and they serve exotic meats that probably were purchased legally. Don't pass up the free pickles (the bourbon ones are a personal favorite) and definitely try whatever flavored root beer they have on tap. Sizes are huge, so you can save money and calories by splitting one with your spouse. And if the kids are being extra difficult that day, designate your driver (preferably not your toddler), and have yourself a delicious adult milkshake.
3. Garden Cafe
http://www.gardencafe.net/
5310 Junius Street
Located in Junius Heights, this place is a little more laid back and a lot more hippie than the rest on this list. Bear with me. Yes, there's a garden in the back. And yes, they have their own chickens. BUT the chickens are in a coop painted like a Mondrian, and they have seasonal peach muffins that will actually cleanse your soul. It warmed my cold heart to see so many different versions of nuclear families file into the outdoor patio and eat breakfast with their children. Plenty of breastfeeding and bra-optional patrons, but nobody smells weird, and everyone is nice and happy to be eating local, organic produce and farm fresh eggs. You should be happy, too.
4. Sushi House
http://www.sushihousedallas.com/
5619 W. Lovers Lane
Everyone needs a sushi place to breastfeed and attempt to help their children's palate get to that next level on the foodie chain (see what I did there? Please don't hold it against me). One of the major benefits of this place, as most strip mall sushi places are wont to be, it is really dark inside. No one will be able to see your child attached to your chest (this applies to men and women). Not to mention, go there once or twice, and the quirky female owner will remember your face and be extra sweet to you. Their sushi is some of the freshest fish I've had in Dallas, and being from Hawaii, that can be hard to find here. The drawbacks? The bathroom is small, so it can be hard to change a baby in there. Still, try going for lunch on a weekend, and it shouldn't be too crowded, and they'll dote on you like you're family. Try the ahi tuna tower. They make them everywhere, but here, it's special.
5. Company Cafe
http://companycafe.net/
3136 Routh Street
This is the first case I've seen of breastfeeding in the wild. They have a huge outdoor area as well as indoor seating, and I've seen women giving their children the ol' boobie in both areas! No one so much as rolled an eye. They have a wide selection of gluten free goodies, which are always fun to make your doubtful spouse try as they will either love it or hate it. They also serve a phenomenal, fresh, and healthy breakfast menu with enormous portions that can, again, be split to save money and waistlines. I always get the farmer's scramble, which has just the right ratio of bacon, onion, egg, and cheese- not to mention the Texas toast with some seriously zesty jam. Go for the atmosphere, the killer coffee, the great breakfast, then go for a walk with the stroller on the Katy Trail right after. It will be the best morning you've spent in a long time, I promise.
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