Eating out with children doesn't mean you are limited to Maccas. Taking the children to 'grown-up' restaurants lets them discover new dishes and practise eating-out etiquette. Three families discover local restaurants where kids and adults alike can dine in style, writes Annemarie Quill
Pre-children, my partner and I were regular restaurant-goers. When kids came along, going out to eat became an endurance test.
Meals were no longer relaxing convos over a bottle of wine, but became farces of hiding under tables, emptying sugar sachets, sending drinks flying and bolting down food.
And that was just us. The kids' low attention span meant they often took a wander around the restaurant under the resentful gaze of other diners.
The Europeans have it right - they take children to dine out with them at an early age. In a Spanish plaza, you find kids running around at 11pm while families eat. Parisian restaurants expect children. The Italians can't understand why anyone would dine without the kids.
This week, we try out some local restaurants where children are welcomed, but which appeal to adults, too. It is by no means a definitive list, as Tauranga has many great family restaurants, but they were chosen so that children could try out new flavours.
Lone Star
49-51 The Strand, Tauranga
Ph 571 4111
Annemarie Quill took Lily, 8, Jack, 6, and Poppy, 4.
Part of a franchise of 20 restaurants across New Zealand, Tauranga-based Lone Star on The Strand promises quality and quantity for all the family.
Super-friendly staff sat the kids down with crayons. The waitress immediately asked if I would like a glass of wine. I wondered if this was their normal procedure or I just looked like I needed it.
Maybe a bit of both, because this is Lone Star's strength - staff keep the children occupied but it is not an overly "kiddie" establishment. There is no plastic or bright lights, and the pleasant decor makes the grown-ups feel like they are in a proper restaurant.
Our waitress focused attention on all the family, not just the adults - unlike many other restaurants, where the kids are ignored, or kids' eateries where they treat the adults like they are wearing bibs, too.
The menu included the usual children's options, but they were able to try something new. Jack opted for Barney's Ribs - pork ribs smothered in sweet sauce ($15) - and learned to use a finger bowl to clean his hands. Poppy chose fish ($12), eagerly squeezing her own lemon.
The kids' meals were served first, which is always a good move, and offered super value for money - none above $15 and all came with coleslaw, chips, mashed potato or rice, a fizzy drink and a mudslide icecream dessert.
The adult menu didn't disappoint, either. I had crispy salt-and-pepper squid to start, a huge portion, then the special dish - pan-seared salmon fillet with potato salad and sauteed vegetables.
Dad had "Shank Williams" lamb shanks slowly braised with mushrooms, onions, tomato and red wine, and served with mash. These meals were Desperate Dan sizes and even Dad admitted he was on the full side. Adult mains ranged from $21 to $37.50
Staff were attentive to the kids throughout - when one plate came with an offending tomato, it was quickly whipped away. New colouring stuff was fetched when initial enthusiasm waned.
The kids' desserts were served at the same time as our mains, which kept them happy while we enjoyed our meal.
The restaurant was packed and the patrons pleasant. We liked it so much that we went back the following week and the kids want to know when we are going again.
As a special family treat, well worth the experience.
Armazem Restaurant & Bar
305 Maunganui Road, Mt Maunganui,
Ph 574 7773.
Martine Rolls took Jamie, 8, and Jordan, 6.
I love eating out and trying different flavours. Every now and again, I take my two boys to a restaurant, but because they are still quite young and rather boisterous, I am well aware that we can't waltz in just anywhere.
My experience is that there aren't many restaurants in Tauranga and surrounds - except for the obviously family-friendly places like Breakers and Cobb & Co - where you can take small children and have a relaxing and enjoyable time as adults, too.
The boys and I asked their dad Darren to come along and we chose to have dinner at Armazem on Maunganui Rd.
Armazem is a Brazilian restaurant with great food, a laid-back atmosphere and reasonable prices. I had been there before for a few drinks with friends and noticed then that it was a good place to take the kids. Host Alex Aragao and his team make everyone feel welcome, little ones included.
The restaurant opened just before Christmas 2009 and has since built a loyal customer base. Mains are priced from only $15 to $23 and include the popular Brazilian staple dish "PF" - seasoned rice, Brazilian beans, farofa (toasted and seasoned cassava flour), salad, and beef, chicken or fish.
We asked our boys if they'd like to try something authentically Brazilian. Our youngest, Jordan, 6, preferred pizza, but 8-year-old Jamie was a little more adventurous and tried one of the entrees, frango maresias - strips of chicken marinated in honey and mustard, served with grilled onions and bread. He loved it, and Jordan loved his pizza.
Armazem's children's menu is printed on a colouring-in poster, crayons provided, and the meals are only $8.50 each. Darren and I moved on to our main courses while the kids were busy with their artwork.
I chose muqueca de peixe; fresh fish of the day with prawns and coconut cream sauce, served with coriander, tomato, capsicum and onions. He went for the trango tropicalia - chicken breast wrapped in bacon on a Brazilian-style potato salad topped with passionfruit sauce.
We adults were too full to have dessert, but Jamie and Jordan had a sundae each with a funky-looking chocolate garnish.
Each Sunday throughout summer, between 3pm and 6pm, Armazem holds a Big Family Day Out. There is live music, movies and toys for the kids, and a relaxed atmosphere is guaranteed.
Zeytin On The Strand
83 The Strand, Tauranga,
Ph 579 0099.
Craig and Kathy Nicholson took their three children - Zac, 17, Yani, 15, and Taya, 11.
Our children have never been the most adventurous of eaters. They have always been happy to eat traditional children's fare like burgers or fish and chips if takeaway/eating out options were put before them.
As parents, we probably haven't pushed them hard enough to try the many different foods we've tasted during our travels around the world.
Zeytin offered a great opportunity to test their tastebuds and introduce them to the international world of food.
Zeytin's setting is certainly welcoming for youngsters, with a colourful, eclectic mix of furniture and ornaments.
The children found themselves a comfortable couch and observed a busy restaurant with patrons aged from 7 to 70.
We thought we should start the children with a dip platter ($17.50), which consisted of six beautiful chunks of Turkish bread and seven dips. They carefully tried all the dips and chatted about their favourites. It is fair to say there wasn't much left in any of the bowls by the end.
It was then time to move on to the selection of a main course.
There certainly wasn't any difficulty making a choice - if anything, it was about narrowing down some great menu options.
Taya opted for a bacon, chicken, prawn and guacamole salad ($21.50), which more than covered her needs. She loved the chicken and bacon but did find the dressing a little strong for her delicate tastebuds.
Yani, who is not big on eating meat, decided on spanakopita ($19.50) - baked layers of filo pastry with spinach and feta cheese, served with rice and salad.
She enjoyed the spicy flavour of the meal and ate every mouthful.
Zac (and I) tried the wood-fired spiced lamb ($19.50).
Served on a bed of hot hummus with grilled Turkish bread, we both loved this dish. The lamb was incredibly tender and the sauce it sat in was divine - Zac used his Turkish bread to mop up every last drop.
Kathy went with the halloumi salad ($19.50) and we all wanted a taste of her meal, particularly the delicious chunks of cheese.
The children finished off their meal with traditional desserts like cheesecake and icecream. Their adventurous spirit had been replaced by more simple desires.
Overall, the children thoroughly enjoyed their meals.
They all commented on the bright and cheery atmosphere of the restaurant and they enjoyed tasting and sharing other meals on the table.
Making children feel welcome in a restaurant is an important part of them enjoying the experience. My children were willing to try different things because they felt comfortable in the setting and with the service they received.