Got kids? St. Louis offers immersive experiences that will spark their imagination, activate their adrenaline and expand their minds, but they’ll need to reenergize in between activities. This list of the best kid-friendly restaurants in the Gateway City can help with that!
From stacks of fluffy pancakes to plates of cheesy pasta to over-the-top milkshakes, these local eateries will prepare your family for the next adventure on your itinerary.
5 Star Burgers
Premium Black Angus from the Midwest’s Creekstone Farms is the foundation for 5 Star Burgers in Clayton. Kid’s burgers come plain or with cheese, and they go down best with frosty milkshakes made with vanilla, salted caramel or dark chocolate-mint ice cream. Picky eaters might also like the turkey burger, chicken tenders or corn dog.
Baileys’ Range
Every meal at Baileys’ Range should begin with the Famous Fries. Smothered with queso, brisket chili, Cheddar and green onion, they’re perfect for sharing with your ménage. Complete your meal with specialty burgers crafted with 100 percent grass-fed beef and housemade buns – plus, scratch-made ice cream for a sweet finish.
The Biscuit Joint
Start your St. Louis getaway at The Biscuit Joint. Made from scratch, baked fresh daily and served to order, the flaky, buttery beauties anchor a menu built for comfort. Settle in with classic biscuits and gravy or sink your teeth into towering breakfast sandwiches loaded with bacon, fried chicken or smashed breakfast sausage, American cheese, fried eggs, sorghum aïoli and “juke jam” made with strawberry and peach.
Blueberry Hill
This memorabilia-filled landmark has everything kids crave: mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, grilled cheese and entertainment. The Delmar Loop hangout is a treasure trove of curiosities, from vintage Pez dispensers to shiny pinball machines and Wurlitzer jukeboxes to baseball cards.
Cardinals Nation
A delicious destination in Ballpark Village, your family will never go hungry – and never miss a play – at Cardinals Nation. The restaurant menu covers all the bases with soft pretzel bites, garlic cheese curds, toasted ravioli and chicken quesadillas – plus bowls, salads, sandwiches and smash burgers – and every Wednesday, kids eat free! For every purchase of an adult meal, one kid can eat free, and on select Wednesday evenings during the off-season, Fredbird stops by Family Night.
Chris’ Pancake & Dining
Proudly serving St. Louis for more than 30 years, Chris’ Pancake & Dining welcomes every guest as if they’re family. Here, you can enjoy brunch with your brood every day from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Alongside the must-try pancakes, dig into biscuits and gravy, chili mac and potato skins.
The Clover and the Bee
An Instagrammable interior design and a young, buzzy vibe make The Clover and the Bee a brunch hotspot in St. Louis. Luckily, kids will find something to appreciate in the pastry case – think cinnamon rolls, cookie butter blondies, banana-chocolate chip muffins and hot fudge sundae pop-tarts.
Crown Candy
Travel back in time at Crown Candy. From the striped awning and wooden booths to the soda fountain and candy case, not much has changed at this family-owned and -operated restaurant since it opened in 1913. Stop by the beloved landmark for a Heart-Stopping BLT and chocolate malt. Your littlest ones will also love the grilled cheese and beef frank followed by a scoop of their favorite ice cream flavor – think vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and Oreo.
Epic Pizza & Subs
In pizza we crust! Epic Pizza & Subs in Soulard serves cheese and pepperoni slices as well as 14- and 16-inch pies that your kids will love. For subs, you can’t go wrong with the Chicken Parmesan and the Single Cheeseburger.
Fitz’s
Fitz’s Root Beer was developed in St. Louis in 1947, and today, Fitz’s Bottling Co. still makes the flagship soft drink according to the original recipe. At both Fitz’s locations – Delmar Loop and South County – your little ones can enjoy miniature corn dogs, mac ‘n’ cheese and pulled pork sliders while watching the bottling line churn out a bottle of root beer – or more modern flavors such as Hip Hop Pop, Berry Pomegranate Soda and Kaldi’s Coffee Cola – every second!
The Fountain on Locust
Servers don’t have to ask twice about dessert at The Fountain on Locust. Home to the ice cream martini, the retro-glam restaurant also offers old-fashioned ice cream desserts – think Zanzibar chocolate ice cream topped with hot fudge, marshmallow sauce, whipped cream, bananas and a chocolate coin. If you don’t save room, you can always resort to ordering the world’s smallest hot fudge sundae.
The Frisco Barroom
Known for its lively tavern atmosphere, The Frisco Barroom welcomes epicures of all ages. If your youngsters are adventurous eaters, give them a taste of the Swedish meatballs, potato and mushroom pasties or farmer’s cheese pierogi. The kitchen also delights with desserts such as sticky toffee pudding and Key lime pie.
Grace Meat + Three
Tucked into The Grove, Grace Meat + Three is an obvious – and delicious – choice when it comes to kid-friendly restaurants. Owners Rick and Elisa Lewis value every customer as if they’re family, and they happily serve their award-winning fried chicken alongside cornbread, collard greens and garlic mashed potatoes to patrons from near and far.
Hi-Pointe Drive-In
Burgers are the name of the game at Hi-Pointe Drive-In. Using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, chef-owner Mike Johnson adds his flair to dishes such as The Taco Burger piled with Cool Ranch Doritos, Chili Cheese Fritos, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, avocado ranch and sauce from Session Taco. Although the kid’s menu isn’t as creative, it satisfies with burger sliders, chicken nuggets, grilled cheese and mac ‘n’ cheese with cut-up hot dogs.
Katie’s
Casual, bustling and noisy enough that small squeals won’t disturb, Katie’s delights developing palates with small pizzas – cheese, pepperoni and sausage – and simple noodles with butter or red sauce. If you’re dining at one of the area restaurants, your server might even offer balls of dough for little ones to play chef.
Nudo House
Slurping is encouraged at Nudo House. Alongside spicy kimchi, aromatic pho and comforting bánh mì, the restaurant dishes out steaming bowls of rich ramen. Since its inception, chef-owner Qui Tran has refined the menu, and today, one of the most popular noodle dishes is Shroomed Out, featuring mushroom broth, king oyster mushrooms, bok choy, menma (bamboo shoots), Ajitsuke Tamago (ramen egg) and black garlic. Bonus: If your kids are eager to practice their chopstick skills, this is the perfect place to do it.
The Old Spaghetti Factory
It doesn’t get more family-friendly than this! At The Old Spaghetti Factory, slurping your spaghetti is encouraged, and you can do it inside a vintage trolley car. Thirsty? Don’t overlook the Italian cream sodas in flavors such as strawberry, raspberry, orange and vanilla.
The Pasta House Co.
Cheers to 50 years! Since opening in 1974, The Pasta House Co. has become a beloved St. Louis tradition, welcoming families and friends from the region and beyond. Be sure to bring your kids – they eat free on Sundays!
Pastaria
Meet Carlos Cellentani, Felisa Farfalle, Romana Rigati and Tino Tortellini. These characters illustrate the kid’s menu at Pastaria, helping them learn about different types of pasta as they order. The family-oriented Italian restaurant in Clayton comes from James Beard Award-winning chef Gerard Craft, who makes every diner feel special.
Rooster
As breakfast cooks, see who at your table can draw roosters fitting for the walls of this eatery. Then take your fork and knife to one of Rooster’s slingers. Inexplicably linked to St. Louis, the slinger is an amalgamation of potato, egg, chili, cheese and protein quite literally slung together on a plate. Craving something sweet? Both St. Louis locations dole out Nutella crêpes, chocolate chip pancakes and stuffed French toast, too.
Rosalita’s Cantina
Feasting at Rosalita’s Cantina won’t break the bank. Approximately $60, the restaurant’s family packs feature chicken quesadillas, beef tacos, chicken fajitas, rice and beans, chile con queso, salsa and chips. If none of that appeals to your palate, check out the daily specials ranging from stuffed nachos to pork tinga to spicy salmon.
Rush Bowls
Strawberry, mango, pineapple, spinach, spirulina, blueberry, açaí, pitaya – at Rush Bowls, kids can eat the rainbow. Toppings include granola, sprinkles, graham crackers and chocolate chips, and the restaurant offers dairy alternatives such as oat, almond and soy milks.
Salt + Smoke
A trip to the Gateway City isn’t complete until you’ve sunk your teeth into St. Louis barbecue. Following tried-and-true recipes, Salt + Smoke dazzles diners with burnt end toasted ravioli, St. Louis-style ribs and brisket paired with delectable sides such as creamed corn, pit beans with smoked bacon and the famous White Cheddar Cracker Mac. The restaurant offers a kid’s menu to match, and it happens to have jokes and games to keep them entertained.
Sauce on the Side
Did you hear about Sauce on the Side? It folded. Now it only serves calzones. Don’t worry – you don’t have to find dad jokes funny to enjoy a repast at this local restaurant chain. Travel Channel’s Food Paradise featured the Cock-A-Doodle Noodle calzone stuffed with mac ‘n’ cheese, roasted chicken, applewood bacon, Provel, mozzarella, green onion, garlic oil and Buffalo butter, but there are options for everyone.
The Shack
A restaurant where you can write on the walls? That’s our kind of kid-friendly! After leaving your mark at The Shack, indulge in creative brunch dishes such as the Kitchen Sink Skillet piled with ham, bacon, sausage, bell peppers, mushrooms, onions and white Cheddar cheese or the French toast sticks served with maple syrup and vanilla icing for dipping.
The Soda Fountain
A blast from the past, The Soda Fountain serves sweets, treats and eats. With locations at St. Louis Union Station and Westport Plaza, the dressed-up diner offers unique spins on ice cream sundaes, phosphate sodas, old-time candy and Instagram-worthy Freak Shakes – massive ice cream concoctions that offer a fun, unexpected take on traditional milkshakes, with garnishes such as brownies, snickerdoodles, cotton candy, pop-tarts, potato chips and peanut butter cups.
Spencer’s Grill
If breakfast released a greatest hits album, Spencer’s Grill would be on the track list. At the Route 66 diner, snag a red vinyl barstool – kids tall enough welcome – right at the griddle, where seasoned hands turn out hearty, no-nonsense plates. Numbered breakfast specials deliver the classics – eggs, scrapple, hash browns and toast – while à la carte comforts such as biscuits smothered in sausage gravy, fries loaded with savory chili and fluffy pancakes with perfectly crisp edges complete the playlist.
Steve’s Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are a kid classic, and Steve’s Hot Dogs carefully considers every aspect – from the cold-smoked, fire-grilled dog to the locally sourced Companion Baking Co. bun – to please even the pickiest eaters. Insider tip: Don’t forget a side of crinkle fries.
Sugarfire Smoke House
From brisket to ribs to sausage, Sugarfire Smoke House has mastered the art of barbecue, but we predict that your kids will be more interested in the milkshakes. Housemade with local ice cream, they come in chocolate, vanilla and strawberry – brain freeze insurance not included.
Taco Buddha
With its playful “peace points” rewards for repeat visitors, Taco Buddha is a go-to, kid-friendly spot for lunch or dinner. Almost everything on the menu is gluten-free – flour tortillas are the exception – and little hands have no trouble tackling quesadillas, tacos and tortilla chips smothered in salsa roja, queso blanco and fresh guacamole.
