For parents eating out with kids
Chaos Averted
How parents can get their time-out
By Camille Morgenstern | Illustrations by Cathy Raingarden
A peaceful moment at Headlands Brewing's Westbrae beer garden in Berkeley
PARENTS OF YOUNG KIDS know the story well: You want to enjoy a nice meal or a drink with your spouse, partner, or friend, but your kids are not as entertained by food as you are. The trick is to find places where young ones are so distracted that they forget to bother you for long enough that you can have an adult conversation, or their amusement amuses you and your grown-up companions as well and everyone goes home happy. As a parent of two young boys, I’ve gradually learned which elements at an eatery will set us up for success (moods notwithstanding). These include early opening hours, outdoor dining areas, kid-pleasing menus, quick service, and some kind of kid-accessible entertainment. Here are some spots that hit most of those marks.
Headlands Brewing
1280 Gilman St, Berkeley | headlandsbrewing.com/berkeley
Tucked away in West Berkeley, the Headlands Brewing Beer Garden welcomes families with open arms—and a designated “kids only” play area. Everyone can enjoy a smash burger, available in adult and kid versions, or just nosh on the biergarten pretzel with beer cheese. Parents can sit around firepits and sip beverages from a lineup of Headlands’ own creative brews, guest taps, local wines and ciders, and non-alcoholic options.
Wingen Bakery & Restaurant
50 S Livermore Ave, Livermore | wingenbakery.com
This spot has charmed Livermore families since it first opened as a bakery and coffee shop in 2021. Now expanded with a full dining room and adorable play area, the space lets kids have fun all day long, even during dinner service. In addition to the unbeatable baked goods, the dinner menu offers seasonal sourdough pizzas, Italian plates, salads, and desserts that will please all ages. And I must add that since becoming a parent, I have never met a more gracious group of servers.
Almanac Adventureland
651B W Tower Ave, Alameda | almanacbeer.com
Kids aren’t just welcomed, they are encouraged to love it here. Sandboxes, an arcade, and the occasional ball pit and bouncy house in this fully AstroTurf-ed beer garden honor the name given to this brewery destination. Almanac hosts Scolari’s and Marley G’s Pizzeria food trucks seven days a week, with additional food partners on weekends.
Sailing Goat
1900 Stenmark Dr, Richmond | sailinggoatrestaurant.com
Situated at the Point San Pablo Harbor, Sailing Goat offers views of the bay and outdoor seating. For dishes like the signature fish and chips, the kitchen often purchases directly from the harbor’s boats. A shortcoming is that there’s no kids’ menu, but they offer rotating pizza options and a cheese panini with tomato soup. The establishment’s local commitment also shows in a beer menu sourced predominantly from East Bay makers.
Drake’s Dealership
2325 Broadway, Oakland | drinkdrakes.com/places/dealership
Brick walls from the historic auto row architecture enclose a beautiful garden with firepits, trees, and ample seating. Kids are asked to stay at tables here, but the wood-fired pizzas come quickly, and the pizza menu also does not disappoint adults, with toppings like mozz curds, mortadella, and ‘nudja sausage on the original house creations. Parents can sample fresh house brews and tease adventurous young palates with butter chicken curry French fries or a mushroom banh mi.
The Backyard
205 Cutting Blvd, Richmond | richmondbackyard.com
Garden environments are a dream for parents with loud kids. The Backyard is just that, with the bonus of occasional live music and no fear of your kids’ decibels being disruptive. (After all, it’s right next to a railway.) This pet-friendly spot offers puppy-watching in between bites of burgers, sandwiches, and Tater Tots. They close in midwinter, so check for reopening around March 1. Then check the events calendar for seasonal family events, such as the upcoming Easter Egg Hunt.
NIDO’s Backyard
104 Oak St, Oakland | nidooakland.com
The decor at this favorite spot sparks joy at all ages. To keep kids entertained, there are adorable coloring pages and yard games. The entire family can share totopos con salsa y guacamole before the kids enjoy quesadillas or brunch items. Parents can choose from stews, platos, and traditional tacos and burritos. Come for the buenas vibras, stay for the creative cócteles.
Meadowlark Dairy Store
57 W Neal St, Pleasanton | meadowlarkdairy.com
Here is an inarguable offer for parents truly desperate to get out of the house: ice cream. Rain or shine, visiting the Meadowlark Drive-Thru is a hit. The soft-serve is available in classic favorites and rotating seasonal flavors like pumpkin, eggnog, watermelon, and mango. You can eat sitting on the grass nearby or live on the edge and hope the ice cream stays in the cone as you drive home.
Public Market
5959 Shellmound St, Emeryville | publicmarketemeryville.com
The diversity of counter-service options here gives you a solution on days when a family compromise seems impossible. Choose from barbecue at Pig in a Pickle, sushi from Naru, Peruvian plates at Paradita, or kid favorites like burgers and pizza from several vendors. You can order online from multiple purveyors at once and eat together in the communal spaces. Don’t skip a visit to the “whale” in the ocean-themed playground at Christie Park, located just behind the market. The large timber playhouse is inspired by “Pheena the Fin Whale,” a 50-foot whale play sculpture at the Lawrence Hall of Science.
Galpão Gaucho
1444 N California Blvd, Walnut Creek | galpaogauchousa.com
There are many perks to taking the family to this Brazilian all-you-can-eat steakhouse. Once you are seated, you may immediately visit the generous buffet of snacks and salad and start accepting tableside cuts of meat and seafood. The servers, who constantly visit your table with offerings, provide ongoing entertainment, and kids get a kick out of using the provided tongs to put freshly carved steak on their plates. I’m Brazilian, so the bustling dining room of Galpão Gaucho may be a biased choice for me, but I doubt anyone will leave without feeling immensely satisfied.
Camille Morgenstern is a culinary creative residing in the East Bay. Find her online at theriokitchen.com, where she shares recipes, Rio tips, and lifestyle inspo and also hosts a shop with elegant, joyful objects for the home and kitchen. She also shares her POV as a Brazilian in California on theriokitchen.substack.com
To learm more about urban sketcher and illustrator Cathy Raingarden, visit cathyraingarden.com.
