Aria

Cuisine: Italian

UG/L, Bonifacio High Street Central,

30th St. cor. 7th Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

 

Can’t seem to get the kids to sit still before their meal arrives? Aria has “Make Your Own Pizza” which should keep kids busy before their main course arrives.

 

It also lets them play with and appreciate the work that goes into their food—they can even watch as their pizzas are popped into the wood-fire oven for baking.

 

Rounding up the kiddie menu are kids’ classics spaghetti bolognese, penne al telefono, mac and cheese, fish and chips, and chicken nuggets. Fresh fruit shakes are sure-fire hits. Extras: Coloring place mats and crayons

 

Brasserie Ciçou

Cuisine: French

57 Annapolis St., Greenhills, San Juan

 

While a French restaurant may be the last place you’d think of bringing your kids, give Brasserie Ciçou a try. The family-friendly atmosphere and a play area stocked with toys for the little ones will get them settled in no time.

 

Reward your bébés’ good behavior with a delighted “merci beaucoup!” and then feed them with a hamburger served with Gruyere cheese, chicken leg confit, or goujonnette  (aka deep-fried breaded fish) and a glass of fresh fruit juice. You’ll get a “merci” in return, no doubt. Extras: Play area for kids

 

Cibo Bimbi

Cuisine: Italian

Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City

 

Maybe it’s how the dishes are presented, but eating vegetables is so much more fun at Cibo. This is the only place known to parents where kids willingly slurp their squash soup and munch on spinach and gorgonzola spread over a crostini. All these before chowing on their favorite pasta dish, be it a kid-size serving of farfalle alla Genovese, penne al telefono, or the classic bolognese. Served with grape or strawberry shake, of course. Kids can also make their own pizza, and toppings go beyond pepperoni and cheese. Choices range from peppers, mushroom, spinach, eggplant and squash flowers to porchetta, sausage, ham, sardines, shrimp and tuna. Extras: Coloring place mats and crayons. Club Bimbi members are entitled to freebies and other perks at Cibo Bimbi and/or any Cibo store.

 

Chili’s

Cuisine: American

Greenbelt, Greenhills, Alabang Town Center, Tomas Morato, Power Plant Mall, SM Megamall

 

Chili’s may remind you of margarita nights during your college years, but the place is as kid-friendly as can be. While munching on honey BBQ wings, chicken crispers, or a cheese sandwich with fries and a milkshake, kids can watch the Disney Channel on a TV mounted on a corner. Extras: Free balloons, activity pad and crayons

 

 

CPK

Cuisine: California-style

Glorietta 3, Alabang Town Center, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Greenhills Promenade, TriNoma, Power Plant Mall, Greenbelt 5

 

When you are craving for shrimp scampi pizza and original BBQ chicken chopped salad, let the kids tag along and order them a CPKids Meal with a choice of pizza, pasta or chicken. Each meal comes with a side of fresh sliced pineapples and seedless grapes and their pick of juice, milk or chocolate milk. Extras: Ask about the “kids eat for free” promo on weekday afternoons, where children get a pizza and drink when you reach a required minimum amount.

 

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

Cuisine: Japanese ramen

Glorietta, SM Mall of Asia

 

There is something comforting about a bowl of ramen, and nothing makes you feel more warm than sharing a parent-child set of ramen with your mini-me. The parent-child set comes with a regular-size ramen, a child-size ramen (which is about 1/3 the size of a regular bowl), and a toy from the Gacha machine. Don’t forget to toss in a green salad and some tofu to up the healthy ante.

 

Maple

Cuisine: All-day breakfast fare

San Antonio Plaza Arcade, Shangri-La Plaza Mall

 

From the same group that brought us Pancake House, Maple is its prettier, upscale version. It is more child-friendly, too, with a kiddie corner walled with books and toys to amuse and keep them from getting cranky before meals are served. Of its all-day breakfast fare, the fresh fruit smoothies, blueberry pancakes and truffle mac and cheese are winners for kids of all ages. Extras: Kids’ play and reading corner

 

 

Pancake House

Cuisine: American, Filipino

 

Pancakes and waffles are always fun to eat with the family, and they’re made healthier when topped with bananas and walnuts, blueberries, or seasonal fruits. Hearty main courses like fish steak or salmon fillet are healthy options, and the popular spaghetti and tacos are always a welcome treat. As an extra indulgence, order a round of Gurts, the restaurant’s 98-percent fat-free frozen yogurt, for dessert.

 

Extras: Crayons and coloring paper

 

 

Pepper Lunch

Cuisine: Japanese “fast-steak”

Power Plant Mall, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, Alabang Town Center, Robinsons Ermita, Greenbelt 5

 

Did you know that you can get beef pepper rice or chicken pepper rice at Pepper Lunch with no salt and no pepper? Kids will certainly enjoy the part where they get to “cook” their own meal, mixing everything on the hot plate and flavoring it with honey brown sauce, garlic soy sauce, or both.

Balance that meal with a shake! shake! salad and a bowl of miso soup.

 

Shi Lin

Cuisine: Taiwanese

Podium, Power Plant Mall, Bonifacio Global City

 

There is nothing more entertaining than watching men dressed in white making dumplings behind huge glass windows. Watch those dumplings disappear once you take the lid off their bamboo steamers and serve them to your kids with beef noodles or noodles in peanut sauce. Set a good example by ordering a plate of stir-fried bokchoy, or spinach. Sipping the soup from piping-hot xiao long bao is a must!

 

 

Sumo Sam

Cuisine: Japanese fusion

Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Power Plant Mall, TriNoma, Greenbelt, Gateway, Podium, select SM branches

 

While tempura, yakitori and chicken teriyaki will always be a hit with kids, soba, miso soup and sushi are adults’ all-time favorites, too. When it comes to Japanese food, Sumo Sam is at the top of the list of parents with young kids. Its modern vibe is always preferred over the formal/traditional Japanese restaurant ambiance, making it a family-friendly place for dining out.

 

Texas Roadhouse Grill

Cuisine: Western grill

Bonifacio High Street, Shangri-La Plaza Mall

 

Servings are generous, so much so that you can share an order of fajitas and a cobb salad with a family member or two. But if your child prefers to order separately, there’s more beyond the usual kiddie-menu staples of spaghetti, chicken tenders, burger and grilled cheese sandwich. A variety of nutritious side dishes, such as fresh vegetables, fresh sautéed mushrooms and corn on the cob, is available to accompany your child’s preferred dish. Extras: Crayons and activity sheets

 

Yabu

Cuisine: Japanese katsu

SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM South Mall

 

The kids’ katsu set meals are perfectly sized for them, and guarantee a healthy, balanced fare. With a choice of chicken, pork, cream dory or menchi, each breaded and deep-fried set meal comes with sidings of potato croquette, edamame, Japanese rice, cabbage and a bowl of fruit. For those with healthier appetites, order its delicious sidings of tofu or Japanese spinach.