These 10 Minneapolis restaurants make dining with kids a breeze.
Having kids in your care doesn’t necessarily mean you have to limit your choices for a night out at a great restaurant. Sure, bringing small children out to eat may not always be the most relaxing way to dine, but it can make for fun memories and a chance to expand a child’s palate beyond the standard macaroni and cheese or chicken fingers a lot of caregivers fall back on so they’ll actually eat something.
There are plenty of fabulous places around the Twin Cities that welcome children and their parents, babysitters, or nannies and offer wholesome plates of high-quality, fresh, and interesting bites kids of every age will enjoy. Here are a few of my favorites.
Address: 1024 E. 38th St., Minneapolis, MN 55407
Hours: Open daily, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Phone: 612-767-3322
Tiny Diner is one of Minneapolis’ best places for kids to eat. Kids can explore outdoor flower gardens or cozy up in a funky twig structure and hang out until their food is ready. Parents can enjoy a moment of peace and quiet along the winding paths in Tiny Diner’s outside space before noshing on local fare.
Though the inside is, well, on the tiny side, they have a huge outdoor patio under solar panels, which makes for a perfect place to dine. Hearty breakfast fare is served, as well as a lot of fresh lunch and dinner options, including pastas and sandwiches. They change up the menu frequently, so you always have delicious options for your family.
Tilia
Address: 2726 W. 43rd St., Minneapolis, MN 55410
Hours: Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 9 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Phone: 612-354-2806
Tilia is a well-known neighborhood bistro, and diners big and small will feel welcomed as soon as they step through its doors. Children are given “Busy Boxes” containing rubber toys, tiny notepads, markers, stickers, and other trinkets and can dine on staples like cheeseburgers or chicken. If they’re feeling adventurous, other options are available, including stir fried shrimp. The best part? They get a cookie if they clear their plates!
Tilia’s menu is nothing short of spectacular and includes fish taco tortas, pan-roasted cauliflower, and Filipino-style chicken. With a dessert menu featuring items like butterscotch pot de crème, adults will also be cleaning their plates.
Longfellow Grill
Address: 2990 W. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Hours: Open daily, 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Phone: 612-721-2711
Longfellow Grill is a popular family destination serving up a lot of great options for kids and parents alike. If you have a wait, tots can run in circles around the statue right outside the restaurant. The fun, lively atmosphere won’t make you feel awkward if your kid decides to be a little loud. Homestyle favorites like chicken and waffles and beef stroganoff fill the menu, meaning you will not leave hungry.
The kids menu won’t disappoint, with items like spaghetti tacos (seriously) and chocolate waffles. They also serve breakfast all day, and their buttermilk pancakes come shaped like Mickey Mouse. All kid’s meals are served on adorable retro plastic trays like you used to get in the cafeteria at school.
Big Bowl
Locations:
- Galleria Edina: 3669 Galleria, Edina, MN 55435 | P: 952-928-7888
- Ridgedale Center: 12649 Wayzata Blvd., Minnetonka, MN 55305 | P: 952-797-9888
- Rosedale Center: 1595 Highway 36 W, Roseville, MN 55113 | P: 651-636-7173
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Yes, it’s a large national chain and yes, it’s Asian fusion cuisine, but stick with me here. Big Bowl serves up some of the freshest and tastiest food around, and their kids menu is no exception. Kids can choose from things like satays, pot stickers, or beef stir-fry with choice of vegetables — all in the $4.95 to $7.95 range. Or they can make their own bowl and fill it with fresh vegetables, sauces, and meats, leaving parents feeling good about what their child is eating.
Toy chopsticks, crayons, and organic milk are included with every meal. The atmosphere is always lively, so not to worry if your child fusses a bit. It’s also fairly easy to navigate strollers, and they give you enough food for taking home for lunch the next day.
Punch Pizza
Address, Hours & Phone: Click here for various locations.
With 10 area locations from Maple Grove to St. Paul, some of the best pizza in the Twin Cities is closer than you think. Punch has been firing pizzas in wood-burning ovens at a blistering 900 degrees for years, and they never disappoint. Punch uses the same techniques that Neapolitan masters use to create a truly authentic pizza experience, and it’s on all three of my kids’ go-to lists for dining out.
Customers can choose from a variety of pizza toppings and the service is quick — from ordering to eating takes less than five minutes, assuming the place isn’t packed, which can happen. They also have many salad options and gluten-free crust available. The casual atmosphere and friendly staff make Punch an easy place for families to dine. They even let little kids play with pieces of dough while they wait.
Lions Tap
Address: 16180 Flying Cloud Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55343
Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Phone: 952-934-5299
Lions Tap has been rated as having one of the best hamburgers in the Twin Cities area by almost all surveys around and has been recognized as one of the top 500 restaurants in the nation. If you don’t eat red meat, this is not the place for you. All they serve are burgers and fries. That’s it. But you have not lived until you’ve tried one.
The restaurant is large, inviting, and noisy because they always have a packed house. There is plenty of root beer and adult beverages to go around — just make sure you grab a stack of napkins with your burger, because you will need them. I dare you to leave here hungry!
Pinstripes
Address: 3849 Gallagher Drive, Edina, MN 55435
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 1 a.m. | Saturday, 10 a.m. – 1 a.m. | Sunday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Bowling & bocce open daily at 10 a.m.)
Phone: 952-835-6440
Pinstripes is the perfect place to have lunch and play bocce or bowl while you’re at it. They have an extensive menu and offer kids-only bowling every weekday, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to noon. Unlimited games are $5 per child. Adults bowl free with a paid child. Kids eat for half price on Sundays starting at 5 p.m.
They also have a big fire pit outside. Blankets are available if you want to cozy up with the kids or your partner while you wait or just to get some fresh air. Its large interior makes it a perfect place for kids to run around and play while you try to sneak in some adult conversation.
Snuffy’s Malt Shop
Locations:
- Edina: 4502 Valley View Road, Edina, MN 55424 | P: 952-920-0949
- Highland: 244 Cleveland Ave. S, St. Paul, MN 55105 | P: 651-690-1846
- Minnetonka: 17519 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka, MN 55345 | P: 952-475-1850
Hours:
- Edina & Highland: Open daily, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Minnetonka: Sunday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Snuffy’s, a Minnesota mainstay, opened its first shop in 1983 in St. Paul and hasn’t looked back since. The décor is 1950s drive-in themed, and you won’t find better malts around. If you can make it past their huge selection of malts (think: flavors like Dreamsicle and Fudge-Scotchie) and still have room for lunch or dinner, the burgers are out of this world.
If burgers aren’t your thing, they also serve fish, chicken, and cold sandwiches, and kids meals come with fries or fruit options. Their menu has everything a kid could want and will not disappoint.
Mill Valley Kitchen
Address: 3906 Excelsior Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Hours: Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Saturday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Sunday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Phone: 952-358-2000
Mill Valley Kitchen is a restaurant and bar featuring Northern California-inspired cuisine served up in a family-friendly environment. They use fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and the fare leans toward healthy living. But kids are sure to love their options of flatbreads, chicken, burgers, and more.
Kids under 12 eat free every Sunday starting at 4 p.m. Miniature desserts are served, so if you just can’t decide, order a few and try them all. With an extensive wine and cocktail list and delicious menu items to choose from, Mill Valley is fun for the whole family. They also host family-friendly events like petting zoos, so check out the Events section on their website.
Cossetta
Address: 211 Seventh St. W, St. Paul, MN 55102
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Sunday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Phone: 651-222-3476
In 1911, Michael Cossetta opened a tiny food market that drew customers from everywhere for its quality foods and hospitality. In 1984, Cossetta’s added on its restaurant and has been serving award-winning pizza, homemade sauces, and handmade Italian sausages ever since.
Cosetta’s still has the feel of an Italian marketplace, but you get to stay for the food. Food is served cafeteria style, and with so many options, it will be hard to choose. Just don’t leave without their authentic cannoli because you will regret it. Cossetta’s is the perfect pit stop if you are headed with kids to the Xcel Energy Center or Science Museum.
