Restaurants + Kids + Santa Monica
 

Any recommendations for restaurants with kids in Santa Monica, breakfast, lunch, dinner. Any restaurants that I have located are pricey and not very kid friendly.<BR><BR>Thanks, <BR>Amy

To seaair.<BR>On 3rd. street in Santa Monica, called the 3rd street mall, all restrauants will be kid friendly. It is a place for familys day or evening. Lots if fun.

I agree with the first post. Go down Third Street and there will be tons of inexpensive restaurants.<BR><BR>Are you looking for very casual or something a bit nicer? What is your price-range?<BR>

On Wilshire, (I think past 20th street) there is a pasta/Italian food type restaurant. It is called Earth, Wind &amp; Flour. I have taken my kids there whenever we were in town. They have pictures on the walls of kids &amp; when there have been magicians there. Don't know when the magicians are there -- have never been at the restaurant when the magicians are there. Also, part of the restaurant has the floor covered with either sawdust or some kind of ground up grain -- not a problem if kids' (or adults') food is spilled on the floor. Also, the food is good, the service good &amp; the kids tell me that they want to go back every time we are in town.

Third Street is definitely a good place for family grub. Breakfasts range from Broadway Deli (pricey) and Johnny Rocket's (cheaper, and kids love the diner atmosphere!) to two (!) Starbucks and a Coffee Bean &amp; Tea Leaf. There's a more &quot;greasy spoon&quot; diner on Main called Joe's Diner-- but it's at least a mile away from your hotel (if you're still staying at the Four Points on Pico). But it's flat....<BR><BR>For a bit of English flavor, lunch or dinner could be spent with some great fish &amp; chips at Ye Olde King's Head on Santa Monica. There's even a little tea house (Tudor House, I think it's called-- on Second) to get cakes, scones, and little cucumber sandwiches. A bit precious, but tasty.<BR><BR>A fun place with ocean views is Crocodile Caf&eacute; (corner of Santa Monica and Ocean). It's not that expensive, the food's just fine, and sitting out on the enclosed patio is quite pleasant.<BR><BR>It's a chain, but California Pizza Kitchen (Wilshire between Second and Third) is always a good choice. And it's fairly kid-friendly. The PF Chang up the street has good food too, but it's not nearly as kid-friendly.<BR><BR>Up Third Street from Johnny Rocket's is a bit of California fast-food history: Fatburger. I'm NOT being facetious-- it's good, it's cheap, and there are choices for cutting the fat (more of a concern for us adults).<BR><BR>The one thing Santa Monica needs and doesn't have yet is an In-'n'-Out Burger joint. If you've never experienced an In-'n'-Out Double Double, you're missing just about the best mass-market fast-food burger in the country. I'm a bit of a foodie, and can get snobbish about dining out, but every so often I get the urge, and I'd crawl a mile on my eyes for an In-'n'-Out fix. I'm glad I have *2* within 2 miles of my house...!

Islands<BR>Polly's<BR>Hamburger Hamlet

Forgot about Polly's. Not a bad choice! Islands might be a bit far away, down there on Washington (Venice/Marina del Rey area). But the kids will love its faux tropical feel and great burgers. The Hamburger Hamlet up in Brentwood...? Wow, it's been ages! It's still open?!<BR><BR>Has anyone gone to El Cholo yet on Wilshire? I've been to the one closer to downtown, and it was awesome.<BR><BR>A place to avoid is Buca di Beppo on Second Street. The atmosphere is &quot;TGI Friday meets Olive Garden&quot;, but the food was appalling both times I went (it was SO bad the first time, I went again because I couldn't believe that first experience-- but it was true).

El Cholo is a great place in Santa Monica for all. It gets really packed on the weekends though -- big bar area, but the whole place is also packed with families, and the food is good. That's a really good recommendation.

Not sure how old your kids are (are we talking puberty or high-chairs?) but Swingers on Broadway/Lincoln is a retro-looking place that has inexpensive eats. Good for breakfast and open late, too. And, I hesitate to mention it, but Hooters is also near the 3rd Street Promenade and they have the best wings around. Yankee Doodles is a fun place on the Promenade -- again, depending on how old your kids are, you could order some burgers and play some pool and watch sports on the big screens. Also, Mario's has pasta and pizza.<BR>Have fun!

Crocodile Cafe is a good casual place. I think it would be a good choice for family dining.