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The Independent — Kid-friendly food at the Independent

19 of the Boston Area’s Most Kid-Friendly Dining Options

Where to eat with families around Greater Boston

by Dana Hatic@DanaHatic Updated Mar 8, 2019, 11:30am EST

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Kid-friendly food at the Independent

| The Independent/Official Site

by Dana Hatic@DanaHatic Updated Mar 8, 2019, 11:30am EST

1 comment / new

Breakfast places that accommodate kids and families are a dime a dozen, but the Boston area also offers some great options for lunch and dinner as well. From offering high-chair seating and designated kids’ menus to being particularly aware of food allergies, there are lots of family-friendly restaurants in the area.

Many of the kid-friendly restaurants on this map offer classic kids’ menu items like chicken fingers and french fries, while others stretch the scope of kid-friendly foods to include items like vegetable stir-fry, pulled chicken, meatballs, and cornmeal-crusted fish. All of these restaurants offer high chairs or booster chairs, and many have booths, large tables, and space for kids to move around easily.

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The Wellington

Recently opened in Belmont, the Wellington is easy to reach from Boston’s suburbs and has a designated menu for kids, and there are booster seats and high chairs available to make seating easier for small kids. Food options range from cheeseburgers and chicken to mac and cheese, a raw vegetable plate, and grilled cheese, and all dishes come with fries, tater tots, or salad. The large menu for adults features burgers, seafood and meat entrees, and raw bar items like oysters and crudo.

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75 Leonard St, Belmont, MA 02478

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The Wellington

The Independent

This Union Square restaurant offers a kids-eat-free option from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and it has a spacious interior that’s comfortable to navigate for families. There are veggie burgers, cheeseburgers, sandwiches, and more kid-friendly options, including grilled cheese, mashed potatoes, and fish and chips. For adults, there’s a good selection of cocktails, wine, and beer, plus assorted whiskey, tequila, and rum.

75 Union Square, Somerville, MA 02143

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The Independent — Grilled cheese and chicken fingers

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The Kirkland Tap & Trotter

With a designated kids’ menu, the Kirkland Tap & Trotter also has times when kids eat for free, Sunday through Thursday, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Menu items include burgers, fish and chips, crispy chicken, spaghetti with meat sauce, and hot dogs. Meals are served with french fries and a fresh vegetable.

425 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143

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The Kirkland Tap & Trotter

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Brewer's Fork

Outside of Brewer’s Fork in Charlestown, the expansive patio is perfect for accommodating families and large groups, and the restaurant provides high chairs. While there’s no designated kids’ menu, co-owner Michael Cooney says that the standard lunch, dinner, and brunch menus have fresh options for families. “We don’t believe in a kid-only menu,” he says. “Instead we encourage our families to order from the regular menu and allow their children to eat fresh food instead of fried chicken or a crappy little burger.”

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7 Moulton St, Charlestown, MA 02129

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Brewer’s Fork in Charlestown

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The Automatic

Though well-known for its stellar cocktail program and hearty burgers, the Automatic also offers a kids’ menu that doubles as a coloring page. It has a spacious interior and outdoor seating on a more quiet street in Cambridge. All kids’ menu items are $5, and options include grilled cheese, burgers, hot dogs, fries, and noodles.

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50 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Interior shot of a black-and-turquoise casual restaurant — The Automatic

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Granary Tavern

In seasonal months, dine outside with kids at Granary Tavern near the Greenway, steps from the New England Aquarium. Little ones can eat pizza, chicken fingers, and corn dogs for $8 each, including a drink and a Hoodsie Cup for dessert.

170 Milk St, Boston, MA 02110

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Granary Tavern French toast

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Stockyard

This longtime Allston spot has high chairs and booster seats, and its designated kids’ menu features items for $6. Options include grilled cheese, cheese pizza, a cheeseburger, grilled chicken, pasta, and chicken strips with french fries. The menu also has a few games and word scramble.

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135 Market St, Brighton, MA 02135

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stockyard brighton — Stockyard

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The Paramount

Aside from the breakfast menu, which is inherently kid-friendly, the dinner menu at the Paramount includes mac and cheese, burgers, fries, vegetables, salad, and fruit, with several soft drinks and juices available for kids. The restaurant is on the smaller side, but there are high chairs and booster seats available for kids.

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44 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114

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Kids inspect a breakfast dish at the Paramount

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12 Excellent Beacon Hill Restaurants That Deliver

Flatbread Company Brighton

A large upstairs space at Flatbread in Brighton has movable tables and plenty of space for kids to run around in between bites of pizza. Plus, there’s a good beer selection for parents and several varieties of pizza and salads. Stay for some bowling after dinner.

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76 Guest St, Brighton, MA 02135

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flatbread company brighton — Flatbread Company Brighton

Lumière Restaurant

Lumière offers a family meal on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, which consists of a shared entree plus bread, salad, vegetable sides, and a dessert to share. The meal costs $60 and is available for both dine-in and take-out. It will feed up to two adults and two children. The restaurant provides a sample menu on its website.

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1293 Washington St, West Newton, MA 02465

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Lumière

Max Brenner

Boston’s chocolate-filled Max Brenner has a storybook-style kids’ menu that includes mac and cheese, chicken fingers, pasta, mini cheeseburgers, pizza, and sweet options like crepes and waffles. The expansive restaurant has booths and large tables to accommodate families both large and small.

745 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116

Visit Website

Desserts at Max Brenner

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Blue Dragon

Chef Ming Tsai famously accommodates families in his restaurants and pays special attention to how the kitchen treats food allergies. Though his well-known Wellesley restaurant Blue Ginger has closed, he runs a similar system at Blue Dragon in Fort Point: The kitchen is nut-free, and there are gluten-free lunch and dinner menus, in addition to accommodations for allergies like dairy and seafood. Additionally, the sprawling restaurant offers plenty of room for families to dine without feeling cramped.

324 A St, Boston, MA 02210

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Blue Dragon chicken

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Picco

Picco serves one simple but tasty menu for adults and kids, consisting of assorted pizzas, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, calzones, and appetizers. What better way to satisfy kids than plates full of carbs? End with Picco’s acclaimed ice cream, of course.

513 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

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Closeup shot of a charred, thick pepperoni pizza, where the pepperoni is curled up into little cups. — Pepperoni pizza at Picco

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Otto

In the heart of Coolidge Corner, Otto offers a large space that’s good for families dining with kids. The menu keeps it simple with a variety of salads and pizzas, which range from basic cheese to an elaborate one topped with blue cheese, arugula, and roasted pear. There are even gluten-free and vegan options.

289 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446

Visit Website

otto pizza — Otto’s mashed potato, bacon, and scallion pizza

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The Frogmore

Kids eat for free every day between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Frogmore in Jamaica Plain. After 6:30, menu items for kids are $6. Options include a green salad, crispy chicken tenders, a cheeseburger, mac and cheese, and glazed carrots. It also offers patio seating.

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365 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Visit Website

A restaurant interior features two different eye-catching wallpapers; one is white with a yellow and green pineapple pattern, and the other has teal and gold diamonds. Red velvet curtains hang in several places. — The Frogmore

Canary Square

With a kid-specific menu and plenty of kid-friendly options on the regular menu as well, Canary Square has high ceilings and ample seating for families, plus crayons to entertain kids and adults alike.

435 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

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Canary Square

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City Feed and Supply

City Feed is both market and deli, so it’s doubly poised to satisfy any kids’ dining needs. From peanut butter and jelly with banana or apple slices to grilled cheeses and egg sandwiches, there are plenty of simple, homey options available. Plus, it’s a short walk from Jamaica Pond, so it’s a perfect option for picnic food and dining outdoors.

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672 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

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A bagel with peanut butter and bananas at City Feed

Evergreen Eatery

This restaurant, from the same folks behind JP Seafood, offers all-day breakfast, with basic options like pancakes and eggs, as well as cinnamon brioche French toast, corned beef hash, and veggie croquettes. Evergreen offers both sit-down and takeout service.

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154 Green St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

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Avocado toast with smoked salmon and ikura at Evergreen Eatery

El Oriental De Cuba

The menu at El Oriental de Cuba is vast, with options ranging from empanadas and sandwiches to platters. There’s also a specific kids menu, which includes chicken fricassee with rice and beans, cheeseburgers, and more.

416 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

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Exterior shot of a casual corner restaurant with brick walls, large windows decorated with flower boxes, and mint green signage with bright red and yellow lettering — El Oriental de Cuba

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The Wellington

75 Leonard St, Belmont, MA 02478

Recently opened in Belmont, the Wellington is easy to reach from Boston’s suburbs and has a designated menu for kids, and there are booster seats and high chairs available to make seating easier for small kids. Food options range from cheeseburgers and chicken to mac and cheese, a raw vegetable plate, and grilled cheese, and all dishes come with fries, tater tots, or salad. The large menu for adults features burgers, seafood and meat entrees, and raw bar items like oysters and crudo.

Open in Google Maps

75 Leonard St, Belmont, MA 02478

Visit Website

The Wellington

The Independent

75 Union Square, Somerville, MA 02143

This Union Square restaurant offers a kids-eat-free option from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and it has a spacious interior that’s comfortable to navigate for families. There are veggie burgers, cheeseburgers, sandwiches, and more kid-friendly options, including grilled cheese, mashed potatoes, and fish and chips. For adults, there’s a good selection of cocktails, wine, and beer, plus assorted whiskey, tequila, and rum.

75 Union Square, Somerville, MA 02143

Visit Website

The Independent — Grilled cheese and chicken fingers

The Kirkland Tap & Trotter

425 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143

With a designated kids’ menu, the Kirkland Tap & Trotter also has times when kids eat for free, Sunday through Thursday, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Menu items include burgers, fish and chips, crispy chicken, spaghetti with meat sauce, and hot dogs. Meals are served with french fries and a fresh vegetable.

425 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143

Visit Website

The Kirkland Tap & Trotter

Brewer's Fork

7 Moulton St, Charlestown, MA 02129

Outside of Brewer’s Fork in Charlestown, the expansive patio is perfect for accommodating families and large groups, and the restaurant provides high chairs. While there’s no designated kids’ menu, co-owner Michael Cooney says that the standard lunch, dinner, and brunch menus have fresh options for families. “We don’t believe in a kid-only menu,” he says. “Instead we encourage our families to order from the regular menu and allow their children to eat fresh food instead of fried chicken or a crappy little burger.”

Open in Google Maps

7 Moulton St, Charlestown, MA 02129

Visit Website

Brewer’s Fork in Charlestown

The Automatic

50 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Though well-known for its stellar cocktail program and hearty burgers, the Automatic also offers a kids’ menu that doubles as a coloring page. It has a spacious interior and outdoor seating on a more quiet street in Cambridge. All kids’ menu items are $5, and options include grilled cheese, burgers, hot dogs, fries, and noodles.

Open in Google Maps

50 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Visit Website

Interior shot of a black-and-turquoise casual restaurant — The Automatic

Granary Tavern

170 Milk St, Boston, MA 02110

In seasonal months, dine outside with kids at Granary Tavern near the Greenway, steps from the New England Aquarium. Little ones can eat pizza, chicken fingers, and corn dogs for $8 each, including a drink and a Hoodsie Cup for dessert.

170 Milk St, Boston, MA 02110

Visit Website

Granary Tavern French toast

Stockyard

135 Market St, Brighton, MA 02135

This longtime Allston spot has high chairs and booster seats, and its designated kids’ menu features items for $6. Options include grilled cheese, cheese pizza, a cheeseburger, grilled chicken, pasta, and chicken strips with french fries. The menu also has a few games and word scramble.

Open in Google Maps

135 Market St, Brighton, MA 02135

Visit Website

stockyard brighton — Stockyard

The Paramount

44 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114

Aside from the breakfast menu, which is inherently kid-friendly, the dinner menu at the Paramount includes mac and cheese, burgers, fries, vegetables, salad, and fruit, with several soft drinks and juices available for kids. The restaurant is on the smaller side, but there are high chairs and booster seats available for kids.

Open in Google Maps

44 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114

Visit Website

Kids inspect a breakfast dish at the Paramount

Flatbread Company Brighton

76 Guest St, Brighton, MA 02135

A large upstairs space at Flatbread in Brighton has movable tables and plenty of space for kids to run around in between bites of pizza. Plus, there’s a good beer selection for parents and several varieties of pizza and salads. Stay for some bowling after dinner.

Open in Google Maps

76 Guest St, Brighton, MA 02135

Visit Website

flatbread company brighton — Flatbread Company Brighton

Lumière Restaurant

1293 Washington St, West Newton, MA 02465

Lumière offers a family meal on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, which consists of a shared entree plus bread, salad, vegetable sides, and a dessert to share. The meal costs $60 and is available for both dine-in and take-out. It will feed up to two adults and two children. The restaurant provides a sample menu on its website.

Open in Google Maps

1293 Washington St, West Newton, MA 02465

Visit Website

Lumière

Max Brenner

745 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116

Boston’s chocolate-filled Max Brenner has a storybook-style kids’ menu that includes mac and cheese, chicken fingers, pasta, mini cheeseburgers, pizza, and sweet options like crepes and waffles. The expansive restaurant has booths and large tables to accommodate families both large and small.

745 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116

Visit Website

Desserts at Max Brenner

Blue Dragon

324 A St, Boston, MA 02210

Chef Ming Tsai famously accommodates families in his restaurants and pays special attention to how the kitchen treats food allergies. Though his well-known Wellesley restaurant Blue Ginger has closed, he runs a similar system at Blue Dragon in Fort Point: The kitchen is nut-free, and there are gluten-free lunch and dinner menus, in addition to accommodations for allergies like dairy and seafood. Additionally, the sprawling restaurant offers plenty of room for families to dine without feeling cramped.

324 A St, Boston, MA 02210

Visit Website

Blue Dragon chicken

Picco

513 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Picco serves one simple but tasty menu for adults and kids, consisting of assorted pizzas, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, calzones, and appetizers. What better way to satisfy kids than plates full of carbs? End with Picco’s acclaimed ice cream, of course.

513 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Visit Website

Closeup shot of a charred, thick pepperoni pizza, where the pepperoni is curled up into little cups. — Pepperoni pizza at Picco

Otto

289 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446

In the heart of Coolidge Corner, Otto offers a large space that’s good for families dining with kids. The menu keeps it simple with a variety of salads and pizzas, which range from basic cheese to an elaborate one topped with blue cheese, arugula, and roasted pear. There are even gluten-free and vegan options.

289 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446

Visit Website

otto pizza — Otto’s mashed potato, bacon, and scallion pizza

The Frogmore

365 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Kids eat for free every day between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Frogmore in Jamaica Plain. After 6:30, menu items for kids are $6. Options include a green salad, crispy chicken tenders, a cheeseburger, mac and cheese, and glazed carrots. It also offers patio seating.

Open in Google Maps

365 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Visit Website

A restaurant interior features two different eye-catching wallpapers; one is white with a yellow and green pineapple pattern, and the other has teal and gold diamonds. Red velvet curtains hang in several places. — The Frogmore

Related Maps

Canary Square

435 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

With a kid-specific menu and plenty of kid-friendly options on the regular menu as well, Canary Square has high ceilings and ample seating for families, plus crayons to entertain kids and adults alike.

435 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Visit Website