Good Eats

Today the girls have a spa playdate with their friends, so this blog will be dedicated to food-related places to take the kids.

As far as entertainment being included, there are a few places the girls like:
Chick-Fil-A: there is a playland for the kids, and the chicken is good, and as you eat it, you don't feel like they are eating the pink slime that is pictured all over the internet.  They have plastic placemats that you can stick to the table for more sanitary eating, and you can trade in the crappy kids meal prize for ice cream. 

McDonald's: most of the McDonald's near us have a playland.  The girls LOVE the playland at the location in Brunswick on Pearl Rd.  There is a huge, 2 store play structure, and also video games that they have learned to play.  My kids love french fries, so that is always a must.  The playlands (on the inside) are disgusting.  They are sticky and if one of your kids is trapped at the top, and you have to get them, you will come out feeling like you need a shower.

Burger King: again, the kids like the playland here, much better than the food.  The playland at the Brunswick location is more open than the McDonald's playland, but the kids don't like the food as much.  Like the McDonald's playland, you will need to sanitize your kids when they come out.

Chuck E. Cheese:  Ok, so going here is similar to being handed a one way ticket to hell.  We have visited 2 locations: North Olmsted and Parma.  We always went to the North Olmsted location, and I have nothing positive to say.  It seems dirty, the food is bad, and the worst part is the crazy people who seem to flock to the place.  I was not very keen on it until Kaylee was invited to a birthday party at the Parma location.  We took her, with me keeping in mind that I would need a large adult beverage afterwards.  To my surprise, this one seems cleaner, and the people who were there were much more civilized than at the North Olmsted location.  So, if you have to choose between the two, definately go to Parma.

For food that is a little more edible (i.e. not everything is fried):
Red Robin: the food at Red Robin is good, there are a lot of decorations for the kids, and the robin often makes an appearance.  When they are done eating, the kids get a balloon. 

Yours Truly: This is one of the best places to take kids.  The food is good, it is not overpriced, and they have a train table for the kids to play with.  With every kids meal, they get a sundae with chocolate and sprinkles.  The one in Medina is great!

Applebee's: I am not sure why, but the kids seem to love Applebee's.  The Strongsville location also has a basket of books and coloring books to entertain the kids while waiting for their food.

Eat N Park: The kids love the kids meals here, and they are only around a dollar in the summer.  During Smiley's birthday, the kids get a bag with a bracelet and stickers, along with the Smiley cookie, that they get with every meal. 

Miss Molly's Tea Room: This is located in Medina Square.  It is set up with a Victorian theme and the kids LOVE it!  They actually trust your kids with their tea cups and tea pots.  Everyone gets their own teapot.  The kids tea cups are smaller than the adults ones.  They have things like mac and cheese, peanut butter and jelly and pizza for the kids.  Their chicken salad is wonderful for adults.  The kids get a cookie for dessert that is iced and it comes with candies to decorate it with. 

Frozen Treats:
Dairy Queen:  DQ is a favorite with my kids. They especially like the cones that are dipped in the hard shell chocolate.

Lemonberry: This is their absolute favorite....it is a frozen yogurt shop.  There is one in Strongsville on Pearl Rd. and another in Medina Square.  There are 6 flavors of yogurt each week and a wall full of toppings that you put on your yogurt.  You pay by weight. 

Malley's Chocolates: The one on Lorain Rd. is great.  It is at the corner of Lorain and Clague.  Inside, there is a carousel with tables, and you sit at the tables to eat your ice cream.  The carousel spins (slowly) while you eat.  We will be going here Monday, so pictures will be posted.  For kids, they will make a puppy or a clown out of the ice cream.

Mitchell's: We have now been to the locations at Southpark Mall and Avon.  The ice cream is good and there is a train that goes around the perimiter of the place.  Kids are entertained by the small tables with paper and crayons, where they can draw at while waiting for ice cream, or when the y are done eating.

Strickland's: We have been to the one on Route 18 in Medina.  The ice cream was good.  There wasn't really anything special there to entertain kids with though.