KIDS welcome!
Eating out with little ones this March Break — or any time — doesn’t have to mean settling for limp chicken fingers or theme-park-style venues. Jessica Huras rounds up top Toronto dining destinations that are happy to help expand budding palates while the grown-ups enjoy an exceptional meal Richmond Station
As a parent himself, Richmond Station co-owner and executive chef Carl Heinrich understands the importance of making dining out a special experience for children. “We’ve always wanted to be the place where everybody feels welcome and everybody wants to come back, and that includes kids,” he says. “We have protocols for how to serve kids.” That means the culinary team prioritizes getting food in front of hungry littles quickly, kids’ water glasses are filled half-full to minimize spills and the chefs often make time for impromptu kitchen tours to make kids feel like serious VIPs.
1 Richmond St. W., richmondstation.ca
General Assembly
General Assembly Founder & CEO Ali Khan Lalani’s wife was pregnant when he was conceptualizing his restaurant, so fostering an atmosphere where families like his would be welcome was a priority from the beginning (the Mila Margarita pizza is even named after his daughter). In addition to free organic juice boxes and the kid-approved pizzeria menu, GA’s counter service format is convenient for families. “You don’t have to wait for a server, so if there’s a little temper tantrum or an accident and the parents need to go, they can get out the door quickly,” says Lalani.
331 Adelaide St. W., gapizza.com
Barque Smokehouse
“We give kids small portions of adult food — it’s not ‘kidified’,” says David Neinstein, owner of Barque Smokehouse. Indeed, the kids’ menu at Barque includes tried-and-true barbecue entrées like beef brisket and baby back ribs paired with sides like smoky dill-pickle slaw. The restaurant has always been kid-friendly, but Barque upped the ante last year with its “kids eat free on weeknights” promo, which runs from Sunday to Thursday. “I think parents can just let go a little bit here,” says Neinstein. ,“The atmosphere is fun and frenetic.”
299 Roncesvalles Ave., barque.ca
Auberge du Pommier
Executive chef Solomon Mason was inspired to launch Auberge du Pommier’s first kids’ tasting menu by his late initiation to fine dining, which didn’t occur until he turned 20. “That first experience was so intimidating,” he says. “This program allows guests to introduce their children to how fun white tablecloth service can be.” The three-course menu stays true to the exquisite French fare Auberge is known for. For example, the current starter is a house-made pain au lait cheese bread. “Every course is something the adults in the dining room will be looking over and wanting as well,” he says.
4150 Yonge St., aubergedupommier.com
Toca
Toca’s kids’ menu features approachable Italian mainstays like spaghetti al pomodoro, but executive sous chef Ignatius Prinsloo and his team are also willing to accommodate special requests from young diners. “Whatever they’re in the mood for — even if it’s not on our menu — we can make it happen,” he says. As soon as a family settles in, crudités with a selection of dips is served to get kids happily munching without delay. For entertainment, there’s colouring books as well as Toca’s impressive cheese cave (above) to explore.
181 Wellington St. W., tocarestaurant.com
Hong Shing
A relaxed ambience and a family-style menu that spans from classic Cantonese dishes to American Chinese favourites keeps diners coming back to Hong Shing after more than 25 years. “We see people bring their families, from grandmas and grandpas all the way down to the youngest generations,” says owner Colin Li. “It’s really cool to see that we can serve the full lineage of people’s families.” Families can count on kid-friendly staples like spring rolls and fried rice, while parents can explore the restaurant’s modern cocktail program, which centres on traditional Chinese spirit baijiu.
195 Dundas St. W., hongshing.com
East end brewery Avling’s airy interior is more than just a pretty backdrop for Instagram photos — it also makes the space an attractive spot for families. “There’s a lot of room in the restaurant, so we can accommodate strollers easily,” says owner Max Meighen, adding Avling also offers both table and bar-height high chairs to create more seating choices. The food and brew lineups are ever-changing and driven by seasonality, while the kids’ menu includes popular picks like house-made dino nuggets. Avling also hosts family-friendly workshops in the rooftop garden in the spring and summer.
1042 Queen St. E., avling.ca
The Drake
The Drake’s creative esthetic appeals to kids and parents alike. “We’re such a visual space,” says general manager Aileen Heatherington. “If the kids start to get antsy, we’re a fun place to walk around because there’s so much to look at — we have all these different, weird art installations.” The Drake’s kids’ menu includes plenty of crowd-pleasing bites like grilled cheese, all of which can be tailored to picky preferences. In line with the Drake’s arty ambience, the “Little Drake” menu also comes on a colouring page cool enough to make adults jealous.
1150 Queen St. W., thedrake.ca