Happy Friday!
The other thing that I am very excited to do on Future Foodie Fridays is to review restaurants for Family Friendliness. We have always made it a point to take our kids out, it is a good way to practice manners, try new foods and have a fun time as a family. We have noticed in our experiences that there is family Friendly, there is family Tolerant…and there is plain Uncomfortable.
I find myself getting annoyed when eating at a fantastic restaurant known for creatively well crafted food … the kids menu is received, we see cheeseburger, chicken fingers and man n cheese. Come on! The same thing happens sometimes when eating at different ethnic restaurants… we are eating roti and are expected to give our kids easy mac? If we wanted to eat burgers, we would go somewhere where we would get Good burgers. This is, to me, a missed opportunity to grow your future business. It is so sad! We wouldn’t be bringing our children to your establishment if we didn’t care about teaching our kids to eat delicious food that is made well and gives them variety in their diet! Obviously, I am pretty passionate about this…
So, I would like to start documenting and sharing our restaurant adventures. Calling out those that are lacking and giving mad props to those that appreciate even the smallest of foodies. I will also be including LBL and LL’s opinions and favorite dishes. They will be giving the restaurants either a thumbs up, a thumbs sideways or a thumbs down.
Family Friendly: They provide comfortable seating, a delicious and varied children’s menu, and a welcoming atmosphere.
Family Tolerant: Half hearted attempt at comfortable seating, a children’s menu, maybe not as welcoming.
Okay, but YOU have to do the work: They may have one high chair hiding in the basement, it needs to be dusted and may not buckle, no children’s menu but “you can order an appetizer!” , your arrival is greeted with surprise, but you don’t necessarily feel unwanted.
Don’t take your Kids here: No seating available for families, no menus or even options, they just don’t want you here and it is their loss.
I want to start our reviews off with a shiny bright star!
Located in NE Minneapolis. An area that considering the amount of young families there, isn’t always super friendly, but it is getting there. We have been here many, many, many times! The first time we took a kid there was LBL’s 2nd birthday. We had always hesitated, not sure if we would be welcome in this newer hipster atmosphere, but we loved the food and were craving it that night. When the server found out that we were celebrating his birthday she sweetly brought him a small pumpkin to decorate (his birthday is Halloween) Score!
We are always greeted here with smiles and no surprise. They provide both boosters and high chairs. They do a great job of trying to get families either by the open kitchen or the large windows facing the street… providing visual entertainment and a bit of noise barrier. I especially like to be close to the kitchen as they like to watch the action and it is close to the restrooms. They provide crayons and their Children’s Menu is also a pretty nature scene that they can color.
This is a supperclub so their Children’s Menu is pretty classic american, but well crafted. I don’t mind letting LBL order a restaurant Pb&J when it is on freshly baked bread, includes restaurant made jam and is served with a side of freshly made potato crisps. Unfortunately, I noticed too late that their Children’s Menu was not online so I will have to add that this weekend.
When we go to Red Stag, we go in the early evening… probably no later than 6:30. I would love to hear anyone’s opinion if they have gone at a later time. It just seems like more of “adult time” after that and frankly my kids are usually asleep by 7. They take reservations but also save tables for walk ins. Red Stag also offers a delicious brunch on the weekends and this is definitely a wonderful time to take your kiddos there! Best part, they give samples of their coffee cake right away which gives mommy and daddy a moment of quiet to drink some coffee. They do not have a kid specific brunch menu, but have always been very willing to work with us. We usually split between the two of them fresh berries(brought out right away), a pancake(they are large) and sausage.
We LOVE Red Stag Supperclub!!!
LBL’s review: His favorite is the PB&J, described above… he usually orders this unless gnocchi is on their app menu. He loves the gnocchi! He is also a big fan of the buffalo plaid attire and watching the kitchen. Thumbs up!
LL’s review: She really likes the fish bites and if there for brunch I have to hide my lobster egg salad sandwich from her lest she eat it all! She really appreciates that she can flip her coaster and receive bubble water instead of still and she is also fond of the fish art in the entryway. Thumbs up!
Thank you Red Stag for being awesome and welcoming!
Yoga Mama in Minneapolis 