Best Restaurant for Kids in Miami

So, today I read through the New Times Best of Miami 2009 issue--I love reading those "Best of" lists, and I don't take them too seriously, of course. So when I read the winner for "Best Restaurant for Kids" category, I couldn't help but give a big eye roll. Pacific Time was the winner; you can read the complete blurb here. Pacific Time is great and all, but seriously, I wouldn't say it is the BEST restaurant for kids. According to the blurb, the honor was bestowed because celeb-chef Jonathan Eismann's daughters, ages 3 and 8, inspired his "kids tasting menu". The "tasting menu" for over seven is a four-course meal of: "tuna tartare with Idaho chips, braised short rib with white beans, butter-grilled salmon, and grilled lamb chop." Price? $30. The tasting menu for the four to seven-year-olds is a three-course meal of: "Thai-style popcorn shrimp, heirloom tomato salad with mozzarella and basil, and organic chicken satay with soy ginger dipping sauce", for $20. Whatever. Both of my girls might be might be down with some of those items, but I wouldn't blow $20 or $30 to have them turn their noses up at some or all of their food, leaving them hungry and irritable for the rest of the meal. We make food like this at home to try, or they try from my plate or Erik's plate.

So this begs the question: what is the best restaurant in Miami for kids? For me, it's not necessarily about the food on the kids menu--the two-year-old can sample from our plates or eat an a la carte item, and the ten-year-old can order an adult meal. It's more about the atmosphere--is there an outdoor area that the kids can wander a tiny bit? Is there something entertaining to look at, like a fish tank, the bay, birds, or dogs? Is the service pretty quick? Do they have crayons or toys/games to offer? I'd argue that Pacific Time doesn't meet any of these qualifications, but I'll admit, I don't know for sure. In some ways, I'd say Scotty's in the Grove is super kid-friendly, if only because there is so much going on there visually (water, lots of people, birds, other kids, a band sometimes). Then again, I'm not crazy about the actual, um, food at Scotty's. I'm also a fan of the upscale play cafes, like my beloved Cool de Sac at Sunset Place. They have steak and seafood on their cafe menu, but the entire perimeter is a play area for kids.

What are your favorite restaurants for kids in Miami?

photo credit: rrss/sxc