By Jeff Freier, ZAGAT.com staff editor
For a truly happy meal, try one of these child-friendly restaurants
Tired of typical kiddie chain restaurants and their Lord of the Flies–like atmosphere? After a grueling day of swinging on the monkey bars, maybe your kids wouldn't mind a change of pace also – especially if it involves, say, a sandwich spot specializing in peanut butter or the promise of a post-dinner game of candlepin bowling. The following list of out-of-the-ordinary dining options could lure the pickiest of eaters from an avowed diet of chicken fingers and french fries (though you'll find that favorite fallback too). You may never get away from the screaming, crying and tantrum-throwing – and that's just the parents – but you just might escape the humdrum for an afternoon or evening.
Boston
Jasper White's Summer Shack
405 Centre St., Jamaica Plain; 617-524-6060
Does your little Kingpin or Dudette's first tattoo say "Born to Bowl"? – then roll on over to this JP Italian featuring a Little Dipper Menu and, best of all, the Milky Way Lounge & Lanes downstairs with candlepin bowling.
344 Huron Ave., Cambridge; 617-354-6699
This New American spot in Cambridge is the Cadillac of family-dining restaurants, and it shows with its full-scale play space with train table, kitchenette, dollhouse and more.
50 Dalton St.; 617-867-9955
149 Alewife Brook Pkwy., Cambridge; 617-520-9500
It's summer year-round at these shanties in Back Bay and Cambridge serving corn dogs, lobster and a whole lotta shacktastic family fun.
various locations
A step above the sort of fast-food joint where you order into a clown's mouth, these suburban family saviors serve American grub (including lots of salad options for health-conscious parents) in a casual setting.
1 Harvard St., Brookline; 617-566-3782
Bring your Billy the Kid and Wrangler Jane to this Texas BBQ house for some smokin' meat off the "For Young 'uns Under Twelve" menu – but better save the "Clint Eastwood" margaritas for when there's a babysitter.
Chicago
111 E. Chicago Ave.; 312-943-9400
At this dream-come-true Gold Coast American, your little girl can have a tea party (with a booster chair for her doll), see a show in the theater and much more.
2005 W. Roscoe St.; 773-248-7372
600 W. Chicago Ave.; 312-644-1500
Teach your kids what it was like back in the '70s when *** Van Patten was the arbiter of cool, Rerun showed us how to dance and The White Shadow healed a nation with his firm yet gentle guidance at these funky, groovy retro spots with Eclectic comfort-food eats.
1960 N. Western Ave.; 773-384-1035
1813 W. Montrose Ave.; 773-348-0400
Everyone (including the Beatles once upon a time) comes to these old-fashioned ice cream parlors for the homemade candy and ice cream – and let's face it, if it's good enough for Ringo, how can your mini mop top go wrong?
1376 Joliet Rd., Romeoville; 630-739-1720
The fowl and corn fritters are only the beginning at this Southwest Suburban American in a huge plantation house setting – with a petting zoo, old car museum, games and more, don't be surprised if your half-pint buzzes around like a drunk chicken.
3300 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-549-2663
1001 W. Washington Blvd.; 312-850-2663
6611 Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn; 708-749-1295
If your favorite reality TV show is So You Think You Can Eat More Fried Chicken Than John Goodman, then head on over to one of these down-home Southerners, where the kids' menu features items like the Rabbit Patch, Fowl Play and Thunderbird.
London
332-334 King's Rd., Chelsea; 020-7352 4071
The bayou comes to London at this King's Road American, whose crab-shack setting will cheer up any crabby kid.
15 Great Newport St., Covent Garden; 020-7836 0271
19 Rupert St., Piccadilly; 020-7287 1951
12 Moor St., Soho; 020-7439 1955
Shake, rattle and roll while you have a shake, burger and fries at these '50s-themed diners, which sport family-friendly wider aisles, buggy parks, activity sheets and jukeboxes.
various locations
If you're trying to wean your children off their all-chips-and-Mars-Bar diet, come to these healthy alternatives with a world music backdrop and Eclectic eats.
various locations
Throw on your stretchy "eating pants" and dig into the many varieties of giant burgers at these patty purveyors.
20-24 Shaftesbury Ave., Piccadilly; 020-7434 3111
Your family can have a relaxing American meal here while elephants and gorillas jump out at you, thunder and lightning crackle above you and tropical rain showers fall from the sky; ok, maybe not relaxing, but the kids love it.
Los Angeles
11623 Santa Monica Blvd., West LA; 310-479-1955
4609 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks; 818-906-1955
838 Lincoln Blvd., Venice; 310-399-1955
Your little Fonzie will say "Aaayyyy" to the classic diner fare at these Arnold's Drive-In–style throwbacks with '50s memorabilia, posters, poodle-skirted waitresses and rock 'n' roll jukeboxes.
734 Foothill Blvd., La Canada Flintridge; 818-790-5355
"Stack of flapjacks, please!" will be the new catchphrase sweeping the nation after your Punky Brewster orders from the kids' menu at this family-friendly Traditional American.
various locations
Hang 10 at these surfer-themed chainsters and yowl "kowabunga" while perusing the Gremmie ("little surfer") menu featuring the L'il Dogger, Sandcastle and Jr. Wave.
15246 W. Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades; 310-459-8118
10543 W. Pico Blvd., Rancho Park; 310-446-8808
262 26th St., Santa Monica; 310-260-1355
Healthy Mexican fare draws families to these cantinas where little eaters make like Frida Kahlo and exhibit their crayon-drawn works of art on the walls.
395 N. Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena; 626-351-8885
Filled with small-town memorabilia, this family-friendly BBQ haven offers down-home grub; check ahead for their kids-eat-free nights.
NYC
Peanut Butter & Co.
Photo: Noah Kalina
519 Hudson St.; 212-633-1133
Tenderfoots mosey on over to this Village Southwestern for a real rootin'-tootin', boot-scootin' good time.
1271 Third Ave.; 212-472-0600
447 Amsterdam Ave.; 212-873-3444
The sign inside asks you to please fold your stroller, so you know you’ve stepped into kid-friendly land at these crowded, noisy East and West Side diners, where the children’s menu includes dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets (thankfully they’re not purple).
240 Sullivan St.; 212-677-3995
If you've ever wondered how many peanut butter sandwiches your junior King can devour in one sitting, come to this unique Village sandwich shop specializing in such gooey varieties as the Elvis and find out.
125 Chambers St.; 212-571-1100
Jump in the Wayback Machine and discover this small-town malt shop in the Financial District serving old-fashioned comfort food along with egg creams, ice cream sodas and other delights from your childhood.
various locations
This New Orleans–Italian pizza chain peddles unique pies with fun celeb, movie and TV character names (Seinfeld's Newman, anyone?), and some locations feature the Pizza Face – a full kid-sized pizza with a face made of toppings.
Philadelphia
108 N. Wayne Ave., Wayne; 610-687-6558
There are many reasons why Main Line moms hang out at this Wayne American: to soak up the super-kid-friendly atmosphere, to take advantage of the children's menu and – who are we kidding here? – to toss back a few from the extensive wine list.
2229 Spruce St.; 215-735-7357
Despite gruff Philly-style service, this Center City Italian specializing in brick-oven pizzas takes care of the kiddies.
180B Mill Rd., Oaks; 610-650-8014
This suburban American features a Just for Pups menu with a Wet Your Whistle section offering the likes of the Beetlejuice (grape juice and Sprite with gummy worms) and Junior Flamingo Fizz (Sprite and watermelon syrup with three cherries on top).
2491 Grant Ave.; 215-676-1950
2555 Street Rd., Bensalem; 215-638-1950
1900 MacDade Blvd., Folsom; 610-583-1950
Put on your blue suede shoes, hop into your Edsel and cruise on over to these '50s-style diners featuring the self-proclaimed "World's Largest Soda Fountain."
919 Baltimore Pike, Glen Mills; 610-358-1983
160 N. Gulph Rd., King of Prussia; 610-337-7829
5 Coulter Ave., Ardmore; 610-896-7829
You may have to be 65 or over to remember the '40s, but if you're 12 and under you can indulge in the Car Hop Kids' Menu that these nostalgia trips offer.
San Francisco/Bay Area
4226 Piedmont Ave., Oakland; 510-658-7000
Though you can get three meals at this Oakland ice-creamery, including a large selection of old-fashioned grilled sandwiches, you come here for the humongous homemade ice cream delicacies bigger than Barry Bonds' head.
151 Clement St.; 415-668-1266
Looking for a way to keep your seven-year-old off the streets? Bring him to the Kids' Happy Hour (Wednesdays from 4–6 PM) at this Clement Street pizza emporium, when urchins 12 and under can make their own pies.
10 29th St.; 415-970-2428
If you want a change of pace from burgers or pizza, come to this Middle Eastern spot that serves – you guessed it – good frikin' chicken, with a staff that's very accommodating of young 'uns.
The Embarcadero, 1 Ferry Bldg.; 866-328-3663
933 Main St., St. Helena; 707-963-3486
Like the classic comedy teams of old – Abbott & Costello, Laurel & Hardy, Reuben Kincaid & Danny Partridge – some things just go together, and families pack into these legends for great combinations like an old-fashioned burger and shake for the kids and an ahi burger and wine for the 'rents.
1799 University Ave., Berkeley; 510-849-4681
A faux Italian piazza is the setting for this Berkeleyite, where you can take the fam out for a meal from The Boot.
Washington, DC
Comet Ping Pong
3300 Wisconsin Ave. NW; 202-686-7222
Put Tex-Mex grub, crayons, coloring books and a circuslike atmosphere into a blender, press start and this Cleveland Parker will be the result.
3228 Wisconsin Ave. NW; 202-686-2233
4910 Elm St., Bethesda, MD; 301-656-3131
1800 International Dr., McLean, VA; 703-761-0600
Score a PB&J without the crust at this child-friendly American triplet.
5037 Connecticut Ave. NW; 202-364-0404
With pizza in the front and Ping-Pong in the back, this retro pie parlor epitomizes what the American dream is all about – the spirit of competition and cheese.
442 S. Washington St., Falls Church, VA; 703-237-4343
Healthy burger options are this Falls Church self-serve joint's stock in trade.
3715 Macomb St. NW; 202-885-5700
Enter a world where the streets are paved with mozzarella and oregano falls from the sky at this Cleveland Park Neapolitan pie-atorium, which is certified by the Italian pie-makers association.