WHAT IS A FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT?

Dining at restaurants—yes, in public— is a major component of any vacation. Plenty of resorts and family-oriented destinations offer restaurants that claim to be family-friendly, but what does that really mean? Hint: It’s not just offering a high chair and handing out a few crayons. • A family-friendly restaurant needs to have more than one high chair. Lots of high chairs is preferable. And if the chair straps actually work (more than half are typically broken), that is much appreciated. • A changing station in the bathroom is a must. Better yet, there ought to be a changing station in the unisex bathroom and, ideally, in the men’s room. • When the hostess sees a child enter, it’s a mega-plus if someone brings him or her something to eat immediately. The Cheesecake Factory, for example, immediately brings out a plate of bananas and sliced bread—and earns families’ undying loyalty. • Since half of the kids’ food is going to end up on the floor, no one should raise an eyebrow. ...  more