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

Cafe Bambini Play Cafe

I wanted to post a quick report/review of the new Cafe Bambini play cafe in the Sunny Isles area of Miami. I visited yesterday with my Hip Mama meetup group, and we had a blast! You all know of my near fanatic devotion to my local play cafe, Cool de Sac, at Sunset Place in South Miami. I figured this would be kind of similar, and it was in some ways. I would say, Cool de Sac is kind of like a Chuck E Cheese, but way more upscale. Cafe Bambini is like a Starbucks or sandwich shop with half the space dedicated as a kids play area.

Cafe Bambini is smaller than Cool de Sac, and is geared to a younger crowd. There is a small ball pit, lots of foamy, different shaped blocks and structures to climb on, chairs in the play area for adults to sit on, a really cute kitchen set with lots of play food and utensils, costumes for both girls and boys, a little vanity table and chair, a train set, a mini piano, dolls, a giant chalkboard and more. For older kids, there is a Wii, but really, this place is not geared to the over 5 crowd, in my opinion. Skyler (10 years old) would have been bored after she tired of the Wii games. Elle (2.5 years old) on the other hand, had a BLAST. We were there from 10 - 2, and she played most of the time, taking snack breaks periodically like she does at Cool de Sac. The entire play area is gated, with two safety gate entries. You can easily see your child from any point in the cafe area, which is great.

The cafe has a nice little menu for adults and kids. One great item that they offer on their kids menu is a snack plate for $5 that allows you to choose 5 items from a lengthy list (bananas, strawberry slices, pita chips, corn, applesauce, carrots, peanut butter, etc). For adults, there is a full menu of sandwiches, pizzas, coffee drinks, etc. Because we were there in the morning, I didn't notice whether or not they offered beer and wine like Cool de Sac does. One thing I wasn't crazy about--the large gelato display case that is *right there* in front of the play area. I mean, come on. What parent wants to listen to their child beg for ice cream because they are staring at 8 different flavors while they play? A bit manipulative, I think.

The price for the play area is definitely right--$5 all day open play per child. Woo Hoo!

Overall, as I said, I had a great time, and so did the other moms that I was with. One more thing--they offer free WiFi, so bring your laptop! The website has a great picture of the play area on the home page, so check it out here.

photo credit: anissat/sxc.hu