To think most kids menus are awful

[ditziness]

Is it just me that always ends up getting ds a starter rather than anything off the kids menu? Why are they usually just chips, chips, chips, goujons, Chios and fishfingers?

Surely a veg soup, a pasta dish, an omlette, bangers and mash and peas, a spag bol, lasagne, would all be healthier and more balanced and still popular?

[AnnOdyne]

most of them do have that stuff
dunno where You eat

[manicbmc]

Our local Italian (quite cheap) does a lovely kids menu. Just mini versions of some of the ordinary menu and homemade ice cream for pudd.

[AnnOdyne]

wagamama kids menu

pub menu
giraffe menu

[AnnOdyne]

strada menu

[QueenOfFeckingEverything]

The pub where DP works doesn't have a children's menu at all.

They do half portions of most of the dishes, and will give you a chunk of bread for babies/toddlers to gnaw whilst waiting for the food.

How it should be IMO.

[2shoes]

ds loved kids menu's dd always had adult stuff, I would just ask for a smaller portion. don't know what the big deal is tbh.

[Shanghaidiva]

Agree.
Don't understand the need for kids' meals at all. Just offer smaller portions of what is on the menu. Why the assumption that kids want to eat chicken nuggets, dinosaur shaped potatoes and other deep fried crap?

[muminthecity]

Most restaurants will do a child-sized portion of anything from their menu for half the price if you ask.

I do hate the children's menus at our leisure centre cafe and softplay though. They offer a choice of chicken nuggets, burger or fishfingers with chips and peas or beans and that's it!

[CharlotteBronteSaurus]

loads of places will do you half portions of any main dish that lends itself to that sort of thing
or you can order starters for them. or a few sides and then they can share with you. or let them share off the main menu if you've 2 dc . no rules to asy you have to order off a kids menu.

[ditziness]

It's not a big deal, just a thread on a website talking about something.

There have been a few places that have had decent things, but mist if the places I've been are just chips and goujons.

Agree that it should be possible to order small portions off normal menu. I've never had anywhere agree to do this though!

[worldgonecrazy]

YANBU but you missed out chicken, chicken and more chicken.

I had a quick look at the Strada menu which looked okay and then I looked at the adult menu which was far more interesting.

I never look at the Kids' menu anyway, we just order a starter or sides to bulk out our dishes, then share.

The wagamama menu looked interesting.

[SenoritaViva]

I agree that often the children's menus are hideous. It is always chips, burger, fish fingers and maybe a token pasta dish. Agree with others that if you choose your places well or ask for small portions it's much better.

[MonsterBookOfTysons]

Where I am you can have a choice of chips, mash or jacket potato.

[Carrotsandcelery]

We get frustrated by the lack of vegetarian options on a lot of children's menus.

Main menus have improved enormously on the vegetarian front but the kids menus still have cheese and tomato pizza or pasta and sauce. My dcs like both of these options but it does get a bit predictable.

Granted they can order from the starters or have a half portion from the main menu but I do think it lacks imagination. Meat eaters don't always eat either!

[Groovee]

it peeves me off when beans or pea's is the veg option as my kids don't like pea's or beans. They'd prefer brocoli, carrots, sweetcorn or salad.

[ditziness]

Ok there's ways round it, but why are most so rubbish?

Went out for lunch today to a nice goody pub, with lovely menu for adults, great specials. Kids menu was cheese on toast, chips and beans, fish finger sandwhich. Ds shared my veg soup and mussels and salad and tWas fine. But just wondering why they are so rubbish?

[onepieceofcremeegg]

We went to Wagamama for the first time at the weekend. We actually went for dh as he has to have gluten free and they are great for that.

One of my children had a kind of soup with loads of chicken, noodles and veg. The other had sliced chicken breast and noodles, with veg (cucumber sweetcorn and carrot. Sauce for dipping on the side). They both had freshly squeezed juice. Icecream was £1.15 and chococino (frothy milk) free.

They both loved their meals, especially the "easy" chopsticks. The food looked tasty and healthy.

The overall bill was just under £40. Main courses about £4 for children and £8-£9 for adults.

However we have been to some fairly terrible places with awful children's menus.

[ditziness]

Are there any cafe/ restaurant owners/ head chefs Reading this that can shed some light? Is it most cost effective to choose these cheap things?

[BawbagBiggins]

Agree, usually awful. We went for a meal at a seafood restaurant whilst on holiday in Ireland.
DS1 (6) wanted the seafood pasta but it wasn't on the kids menu....I asked if they would do him a childs portion and they refused, saying it was an adult meal and it would be an adult portion he would be served....20 euros!!!
Madness.

[onepieceofcremeegg]

*ditziness" I think you are right actually, there are ways round it as you say, and there are some more reasonable chains. I live in a fairly boring Midlands city. We have to travel to a "better" area for Wagamama, Giraffe etc.

Round here we have plenty of "Sizzle" pubs and Hungry Horses etc. Those are the type of place that specialise in cheapo turkey shapes and smily face potatoes.

[spiderlight]

Carrotsandcelery - I was just going to say the same thing! Fortunately my son loves pasta, and most places are happy to do a small portion of pasta with a tomatoey sauce and olives, but it would be so nice for him to have a choice occasionally. Vegetarian options generally seem to be a bit of an afterthought, and even more so for children.

[BawbagBiggins]

The kids menu, by the way, was all deep fried crap

[onepieceofcremeegg]

I have had that experience on occasion Biggins. i.e. in fairly reasonable, but non-chain restaurants. They look at you if you ask for a smaller portion. I can just about understand say if it is a pie or lasagne in an individual dish. But surely they could just put a bit of seafood pasta on a smaller plate!

[supergreenuk]

I don't mind getting nuggets or fish fingers but when they arrive they can be pretty rubbish. If there is veg it's inedible and dry.

I agree that your wish list of food can be found on most childrens menus I have seen. The food can often feel a little over priced though so we mainly share what we order with dd while we still can.

[thursday]

speaking as ex waitress and wife of a chef it's because people complain and ask for such things if you dont. swanky hotel we worked at had a really nice healthy varied kids menu (or small main menu choice) and people just kept asking for oven chips and chicken nuggets. eventually they reverted back to goujons and mini fish n chip etc.