Cheer on the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, and Celtics at these family-friendly spots.
When you live in Boston — home to the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, and Celtics — there’s no need to catch the game from your living room, where you’ll be forced to watch “Frozen” for the 400th time! There are tons of great restaurants all over the city that are guaranteed to have a Boston game playing on every screen they’ve got. The trick is to find the ones that are truly “kid-friendly.”
And that’s where we come in.
From an unexpected A-list celebrity hangout that serves up Fluffernutter sandwiches, to a super-sized sports bar with 90 TVs, we rounded up the 10 most kid-friendly restaurants to cheer on your favorite Boston teams. So, whether you’re the parent of a B’s fan-in-the-making, or the babysitter or nanny of a hungry Red Sox devotee, these 10 restaurants should be at the top of your list.
J.J. Foley’s Cafe
Address: 117 E. Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02118
Hours: Monday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Tuesday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. | Sunday, 10:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Phone: 617-728-9101
Named one of the best bars in America by “Esquire” magazine, this South End Irish pub draws a crowd that has been known to include Justin Timberlake, Bono, Kate Hudson, and… milk-swilling toddlers! Order the truffle parmesan tater tots to keep wee ones busy while you wait for your food, though crayons and coloring pages will also entertain them.
The kids’ menu — for diners under 12 — offers fish and chips and Fluffernutter sandwiches, as well as the standard burger, chicken tenders, and pasta. And there are four flat-screen TVs in the restaurant, which means patrons will be too preoccupied to notice if your 3-year-old melts down because you cut his hot dog the wrong way.
Address and Hours: Click here to find a location near you.
You can’t go wrong with any of this chain’s five Greater Boston locations. Little sluggers ages 10 and under eat free the night after a Red Sox win. Plus, there’s bottomless bowls of complimentary popcorn, crayons for doodling, and menus that double as activity books, with tic-tac-toe and mazes. And if that isn’t reason enough to love the sports-obsessed restaurant, they offer gluten-free hamburger rolls upon request. Parents, don’t miss the $3.99 house margaritas!
Summer Shack
Locations:
-
Boston: 50 Dalton St., Boston, MA 02115 | P: 617-867-9955
-
Cambridge: 149 Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02140 | P: 617-520-9500
Hours:
- Boston
- Lunch Menu: Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Dinner Menu: Monday – Thursday, 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Friday, 4 p.m. – 11 p.m. | Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Cambridge
- Monday – Thursday, 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, noon – 11 p.m. | Sunday, noon – 10 p.m.
There’s usually a steady parade of strollers at this kitschy seafood spot, and that’s exactly the way celebrity chef and father of six Jasper White wants it! The $10 prix fixe kids’ menu, offered at both the Boston and Cambridge locations, features the usual suspects, as well as more unusual offerings, such as cornmeal fried fish fingers and grilled gulf shrimp.
While you watch the game and slurp down oysters, your kids can claw their way over to the 1,200-gallon lobster tank, where staff will happily remove an inhabitant for an up-close look.
Insider tip: You’ll find a balloon sculptor and make-your-own sundaes at the Cambridge flagship location every Sunday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Sweet Cheeks
Address: 1381 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02215
Hours:
- Lunch Menu: Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Dinner Menu: Monday – Wednesday, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Thursday & Friday, 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. | Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Phone: 617-266-1300
Tiffani Faison, a finalist on the first season of the reality cooking show “Top Chef,” serves up heaping trays of mouthwatering meats (think brisket and pork ribs) at her Southern-style barbecue joint, located in the heart of Fenway.
While the smokehouse doesn’t have an official kids’ menu, its regular offerings will please even the pickiest eater: creamy mac and cheese topped with Ritz crackers, buttermilk fried chicken, strawberry rhubarb crisp… and the list goes on. Faison’s signature biscuits are a must. Warm and flaky, they come in a paper-lined tin can, with a side of delicious honey butter. And don’t leave without making a trip to the loo. There’s a sticker machine in the ladies’ room!
Tony C’s Sports Bar & Grill
Address: 699 Assembly Row, Somerville, MA 02145
Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Phone: 617-666-8282
From the ambiance to the portions, everything is larger than life at this massive bar and grill nestled in Somerville’s Assembly Row shopping center. Named after Red Sox legend Tony Conigliaro, the 11,000-square-foot gathering spot boasts 90 state-of-the-art televisions, a four-sided Jumbotron, and an outdoor patio with sweeping views of the Mystic River.
Little sluggers score crayons and paper menus with word searches, jokes, and sports trivia to distract them while they wait for their flatbread pizza or burgers. Be sure to save room for a warm chocolate brownie, and then walk a few steps over to Legoland Discovery Center, where kids can burn off their sugar rush.
Lulu’s Allston
Address: 421 Cambridge St., Allston, MA 02134
Hours: Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 2 a.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 10:30 a.m. – 2 a.m.
Phone: 617-787-1117
Kids and parents alike love the warm pretzel rolls, s’mores pancakes, tater tots, and chicken pot pie at this neighborhood bistro, famed for its quirky comfort food. In addition to the whopping 50 craft beers on tap, the Saturday and Sunday brunch service (which runs from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) features booze-infused iced coffee and spiked milk that tastes like Cinnamon Toast Crunch! This is the place to come if you want to watch premier soccer, local college sports, and the Red Sox.
A note: Brunch reservations are available for parties of six or more only. And call ahead about high chairs, as there are only three on site.
Boston Beer Works – Fenway
Address: 61 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215 | Check here for other Boston area locations.
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Phone: 617-536-2337
There’s something for even the pickiest pint-size Patriots fan at this mini-chain of brewpubs. Entrees on the kids’ menu — for guests 12 and under — range from barbecue ribs to cheese-smothered nachos. And if your tyke has a sweet tooth, the root-beer float won’t disappoint.
Game days are when the Fenway flagship location really shines, with 19 strategically placed TVs offering views from every corner of the restaurant. And, best of all, the space gets loud and crowded, so you don’t have to worry about getting dirty looks when your toddler has her 10th tantrum.
Coppersmith
Address: 40 W. Third St., South Boston, MA, 02127
Hours: Click here for cafe and restaurant hours.
Phone: 617-658-3452
A café, restaurant, rooftop bar, and event space, this industrial 15,000-square-foot venue comes complete with two indoor food trucks that will blow your kids’ minds. Grab a table in the main dining room, where you’ll find 10 TVs, a 12-foot projection screen, and a special menu for children. Did we mention there’s speedy Wi-Fi throughout?
During football season, executive chef Jason Heard rolls out a “Rivals’ Specials” series designed to give diners a taste of the local fare from the Patriots’ opposing team (think Baltimore crab cake BLTs). They are active on Twitter, so check their social media for updates on events.
The Fours
Address: 166 Canal St., Boston, MA 02114
Hours:
- Lunch Menu: Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Dinner Menu: Monday – Saturday, 3 p.m. – midnight | Open all day Sunday
Phone: 617-720-4455
Boston families flock to this watering hole, recognized by “Sports Illustrated” as the best sports bar in America. Order the “Doug Flutie” — a fried chicken sandwich topped with melted cheese and buffalo sauce, and then check out the two-story venue’s more than 200 pieces of Boston sports memorabilia mounted on the walls.
The Fours has 42 TVs, so you won’t miss a play! And there’s no need to stuff your bag with toys: The kids’ menu is also an activity pad.
Bleacher Bar
Address: 82A Lansdowne St., Boston, MA 02215
Hours: Sunday – Wednesday, 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. | Thursday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.
Phone: 617-262-2424
Wicked cool! Tucked beneath Fenway Park’s center field seats, this iconic venue — formerly the visiting team’s batting cage — offers a direct view of the diamond. But be warned: The prime tables closest to the windows go fast, and they’re not high-chair friendly. Fortunately, there are plenty of TVs! And the men’s room features see-through glass above the urinals, so you won’t miss a minute of the action.
While Bleacher Bar doesn’t have a kids’ menu, the staff is happy to whip up a modified version of their grilled cheese and french fries for your little one. Before you go, know that Bleacher Bar doesn’t take reservations on game days, so you’ll want to come prepared with books and iPads in case there’s a wait.
Where do you like to take your Little Leaguers? Let us know in the comment section below!
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