Grapevine TX - dining suggestions
 

Planning a trip there. Have 2 kids ages 11 & 12. Any neat places to eat?

Love any suggestions!

Absolutely...in the Grapevine Mall, try the Rainforest Restaurant. The food is reasonable enough, but the animatronic show is fantabulous!!! The kids will never know where to look next. If they're like our granddaughter, they'll get so mesermized, they'll forget to eat!

Where do you live? We have lots of chains, but if you don't have them locally, they can be fun. There is a Rainforest Cafe in Grapvine Mills Mall that is always fun. In the pad sites on the Grapevine Mills parking area there is a Steak 'N Shake, which is my personal favorite burger joint (I'm originally from Illinois.) Also good for burgers and ice cream are Braums' and Sonic (a drive in). Cozymels at Grapevine Mills is good for Mexican. Texas is not a mecca for good pizza, but I like ZuRoma's for pizza and Italian. Folks will tell you to go to Esparza's for Mexican, but I really don't like it...the cheese is that cheese wizzy stuff. If you drive into Southlake on Southlake Blvd. you have Chipotles for burritos; also Blue Mesa has terrific Mexican Food. Coulter's and Sonny Bryan have good barbeque. El Fenix is okay for Mexican...very typical tex mex if that is a treat for you. Cantina Laredo is good for Mexican, too. Next to Cantina Laredo is Cotton Patch Cafe which is "home cookin'" (chicken fried steak, meat loaf, etc.)

Are you coming up for the Games of Texas?

Forgot to mention...the Gaylord Texan has a great River Walk...it's inside and away from the heat. While this place is great for a more adult audience, with a good selection of great food, the Rainforest is IMHO the place for 11 and 12 year olds.

Are you into the outdoors at all...fishing, camping, hunting, etc. If so, don't miss the Bass Shop. It's is beyond belief. It includes an aquarium with a bunch of bass which are beyond belief...makes you want to buy a pole and start fishing.

Note that unless you take the free shuttle from downtown Grapevine, you have to pay to park at the Gaylord Texan...I think it's $16 for valet and $10 or $12 for self park.

Speaking of the Bass Pro shop...there is a mico-brewery/restaurant connected to the Bass Pro...the atmosphere is cool but we thought the food was average and over priced.

I live in Grapevine, Texas, and I eat out on a regular basis. :-) Two of my favorites:

Esparza's Mexican, just off Main in downtown Grapevine. Killer margaritas and a super happy hour!

Feed Store BBQ, (on White Chapel Road, south of 114 and Southlake Blvd) local place with awesome BBQ and cobblers!

Since you'll have the kids with you, there are also plenty of chain restaurants in Grapevine that they will like:
TGI Friday's (114 and William D. Tate)
Rainforest Cafe (at the G. Mills mall)
Fuddrucker's (near Bass Pro)
California Pizza Kitchen (next to Friday's)
Steak & Shake (several area locations)
Trail Dust Steak House (at the Mall) has a big slide that the kids can go down, plus good steaks.
Joe's Crab Shack (114 and Main Street)
Spring Creek BBQ (next to Joe's)
Chili's (across 114 from Friday's)

Have a great trip! If you need any other questions answered about Grapevine, just ask!!

See, I told you someone would recommend Esparzas! I just don't get the attraction. Try Tia's for Mexican...they give kids a lump of tortilla flour to play with.

Tia's is a CHAIN. Esparza's is UNIQUE. When given the choice, I'd much rather eat somewhere unique than a chain.

But Christie, that cheese that Esparza's uses is just nasty!!! I agree that the margertitas and happy hour are great, but the 11 and 12 yr olds won't get much out of that!

Okay, I remembered the place to recommend for Mexican and a good "destination" restaurant (we ate there last night). La Hacienda Ranch on 121 South. It's huge and has a rustic "ranch" decor, with lots of taxidermied animals and animal heads all over the place. They have Mexican food and other kinds, too.

missypie.....I've eaten at the one on the I35 and Frankford.....great atmosphere and the food/service was tops.When we pulled up there were 3 vans from First Baptist Church of somewhere.....knew it HAD to be good and reasonable and I was not disappointed.I would go back.