Birmingham is home to numerous restaurants which have drawn national attention for their cuisine. The white-tablecloth places have put us on the map, but the kid-friendly spots draw families seeking a place that is casual, where a bit of noise is welcome and where kids can be, well, kids. Fortunately, the Magic City has a host of places where children have fun – and can even bellow out a time or two – and parents won’t get nasty stares.
Following is a sampling of Birmingham-area, family-friendly restaurants. Use these for a jumping-off spot for finding your own favorites.
Baumhower’s – They call it legendary food and legendary fun for a reason. Kids have their own menu, a worksheet and coloring page of “Big Bob” in a football uniform. (Baumhower played for Coach “Bear” Bryant and the Miami Dolphins.) All day on Wednesday, two kids per a minimum $10 adult order may eat free. Lee Branch, 205-995-5151 and Patton Creek, 205-403-7474, baumhowers.com
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s – One child per paying adult eats free from the children’s menu on Thursday (4 to 8 p.m.) when there often are such fun activities as face painting. 5519 Grove Blvd., Hoover, 205-987-9464, beefobradys.com
Big Bad Breakfast – Both breakfast and lunch are served at breakfast and lunch; a kids menu includes several choices from PB&J to chicken “toes” and Pop-Tarts. 5361 Hwy 280, 205-490-7568, bigbadbreakfast.com
Brixx Wood Fried Pizza – Request pizza dough for your child to play with as you await your fried pizza. They’ll even cook your child’s creation. Kids can scrawl on chalkboards that line walls. Menu includes soup, pasta, salads and sandwiches. 181 Main St., Suite 241, Patton Creek, Hoover, 205-989-0091, brixxpizza.com
Chez Lulu – In an eclectic setting, a three-course children’s menu, available at lunch and dinner, has choices in the appetizer, entrée and dessert categories. Chocolate-chip cookies are a favorite. 1909 Cahaba Rd., Mountain Brook, 205- 870-7011, chezlulu.us
Chuy’s Restaurant – A fun atmosphere is the setting for dough made from scratch, never-frozen ingredients, 10 signature sauces and all-white chicken meat. A kids menu includes grilled tortillas, cheeseburger, burrito, chicken nuggets, mini tacos and enchilada. 216 Summit Blvd., Suite 135, 205-977-4224, chuys.com
Chick-fil-A- Families cluck about Family Night on Tuesday (5 to 7 p.m.) when kids get a four-count meal free (one per paying adult) and enjoy a craft while meeting the chain’s mascot which roams the dining room. Available at select locations, chick-fil-a.com
Dairy Queen and DQ Grill – Specials are as plentiful as the Blizzard treats – and on Wednesday, each combo meal comes with a free kid’s meal. Multiple locations, dq.com
Earth Fare – Healthy foods and, even better, in the deli (which has seating), a kids’ menu has $3 options including PB&J with carrot sticks and grapes, pizza and turkey rollup. 3230 Galleria Circle, Hoover, 205-988-2938, earthfare.com
Full Moon BBQ – Sports memorabilia on walls make the restaurant a fun spot. Even better is a Little Moon Meal for kids 12 and younger. Among kids’ choices are pork or chicken sandwich, chicken tenders, hamburger, chicken drumsticks, hot dog, grilled cheese. Each includes a side, Half Moon cookie, drink. Multiple locations, fullmoonbbq.com
Grille 29 Birmingham – The sophisticated yet casual steak and seafood restaurant known for hand-cut filet mignon, sushi grade ahi tuna and line-caught black grouper, caters to kids on Sunday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) with a junior brunch of cheesy eggs, bacon, muffin, fruit. 971 Brookwood Village, 205-783-1295, grille29.com
Jason’s Deli – Healthy kids’ meals, a gluten-free menu, vegetarian sandwiches, natural ingredients, a salad bar with organic choices and what the restaurant describes as “the world’s best Reuben” distinguish the eatery which gives children free ice cream and coloring pages. Multiple locations, jasonsdeli.com
Jim ‘N Nick’s – Coloring pages and a kids’ menu with such choices as a barbecue slider with side and drink make this a popular family spot. Multiple locations, jimnnicks.com
Johnny Rockets – You’ll find age-old favorites of burgers and fries plus kid-sized shakes, a kids’ menu and coloring pages. Created by clever staff, ketchup-made dots, drizzles and streaks decorate food presentations. Riverchase Galleria, 205-560-0600 and The Summit, 205-298-0700, johnnyrockets.com
Little Donkey – Patio seating makes a fun setting at the Mexican eatery whose fried chicken was named to the dining website The Daily Meal’s 2015 list of best fried chicken spots. (Birmingham’s Café Dupont also won.) Color the back side of the kids’ menu and you have a mask to wear home. For dessert, have a frozen treat at nearby Steel City Pops. 2821 Central Ave., Homewood, 205-703-7000, thelittledonkey.com
McWane Science Center – The Smart Café has several options: Build-A-Bowl, allowing kids to become chefs, selecting sauce, meats and veggies to concoct a personalized Italian pasta or Asian noodle dish; Hot Off the Grill Station offers leaner burgers and sandwiches cooked on an automatic broiler and fries cooked in a hot-air-fryer; Subway; Red Mango Frozen Yogurt, and Pizza Hut with a choice of traditional or whole-wheat dough and low-fat cheese. 200 19th St. North, 205-714-8300, mcwane.org
Mr. Wang’s Chinese Restaurant – Choices are abundant at the all-day buffet (with special pricing for children) that includes such kid favorites as fries, Jell-O and soft-serve ice cream. A full menu and lunch specials also are available. 217 Lakeshore Pkwy., Homewood/Wildwood, 205-945-9000, mrwangsbuffet.com
Moe’s Original Bar B Que – Great ’que and sides and, even better, kids dining-in eat free on Tuesday from 5 p.m. until closing (one per adult; not at the Lakeside location). Some evenings, the television is tuned to cartoons. Multiple locations, moesoriginalbbq.com
Moe’s Southwest Grill – It’s fun to create your own dish from the fresh ingredients. Kids dining in eat free after 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Multiple locations. moes.com
Mugshots Grill & Bar – A comfortable place has all kinds of award-winning specialty burgers. Pasta, chicken, pb&j, grilled cheese and a burger are on the children’s menu. Vestavia Hills, 205-824-9030 and Uptown, 205-933-7575, mugshotsgrillandbar.com
Nabeel’s Café – The café’s aromas and Old World feel make it easy to imagine you’re eating in a friendly European neighborhood. Authentic Greek, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine appeal to adults; kids favor chicken fingers with Greek fries. 1706 Oxmoor Rd., Homewood, 205-879-9292, nabeels.com
Pie 5 – Kids and adults love the freedom to choose from abundant toppings and a variety of crusts for a pizza that’s ready in less than five minutes – and all at one (very reasonable) price. Better yet, a kids’ menu offers less expensive options, all with create-your-own possibilities. 4741 Chace Circle, Suite 114, 205-989-4964, piefivepizza.com
Post Office Pies – It’s super cool in this eatery to build your own pizza. 209 41st St. South, Avondale, 205-599-9900, postofficepies.com
Ruby Tuesday – After 5 p.m. on Tuesday, one child eats free with each adult entrée. The salad bar is an adult favorite. Various locations, rubytuesday.com
Slice Pizza and Brewhouse – Chef Terrill allows children to toss pizza dough as they await their pizza’s arrival. (Ask your server.) 725 29th St. South, 205-715- 9300, slicebirmingham.com
Steak ’n Shake – Since 1934, the restaurant has prospered selling premium burgers and milk shakes. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, kids eat free (one per adult). Alabaster, Hoover and Inverness, steaknshake.com
Vecchia Pizzeria & Mercato – Families like sitting outside on a wrap-around veranda or on their own blankets or playing ball as they share a meal in the heart of the Preserve in Moss Rock. Inside guests may watch their dinner being prepared on a wood-fired brick oven from Italy. Kids can draw with chalk on brick and sidewalk. 610 Preserve Parkway, Suite 100, Hoover, 205-637-3036, vecchiabirmingham.com
Zaxby’s- The food is always a hit with children. Some locations offer kid specials and kids-eat-free days. Various locations, zaxbys.com
Note: While the information was accurate at press time, offers can change so call before visiting.
A professional writer and author of six books, Lynn Grisard Fullman has written for newspapers, magazines, and blogs. Follow her on Twitter @lynnfullman