To despair at the quality and choice of kids menus?

I always just made up a meal for mine from starters and sides. So maybe chicken wings starter and vegetable sides.

It's not a cohesive meal just because it contains all the nutrient requirements. E.g. my child loves things like a roast dinner, risotto, hunters chicken. You can't usually put something together that will be an equivalent from starters and sides.

Don’t most people on holiday eat out 14 nights in a row? It’s not that unusual. Plenty of people come to the UK or holiday within the UK for two weeks, and we have plenty of non self catering hotels that would indicate not everyone is self catering on those holidays (and I for one can think of nothing worse than self catering).

You've already said that you will ask tonight

But when I waitressed at uni pretty much anything on the specials board or in a sauce could be given as a child portion.
e.g. the roast beef dinner or chilli or chicken curry or stew.
Something like steak or salmon - not so much

This is why I would be picking self catering accomodation for that length of time. Eating out is better as an occasional thing

And yes, we just offered from the adult menu /shared a main and starter or similar

I've seen an increasing number of pubs and independents around my way that offer smaller portions of all their meals. Not labelled as kids but just a regular or small plate price. To cater for kids, my Nan who has a smaller appetite, and anyone trying to keep their calorie consumption to a normal rather than extreme level I presume. At 4ft10 I love these places. Adult food in a petite plate size.

I have found they are happy to make a smaller plate but will still charge full price! Or only knock off a quid or two. I can't afford 4 x £19 main course, I need the children's menu to be reasonable, cheaply priced and have more vegetables as an option than "peas and beans". I can't see why keeping some carrots, broccoli, sugar snap peas etc would be so impossible and they can be used in adult dishes too.

Surely ypu just share all the food including the main?
That's what I did.

Thing is starter and sides don't make a coherent meal do they? I might start asking for smaller plate version from the main menu.

It depends on the type of restaurant, but I don't really see why not? You find components and build a meal with some protein, carbs and veg. Often starter for the protein, sides for the other two - although not always.

Many years ago on a UK holiday we came across a restaurant that claimed to offer child size portions of anything on the menu. Great we thought as both dd loved food, all food, pies, curries , roast dinners.... Tried to order a child size salad to be told no as children don't eat salad. I despair .Incidentally both dgc are huge fans of a Greek meze

I always ordered an extra starter or side, and an extra plate and shared with Dd.
We'd choose what to have together.
The only things she didn't like were hummous, feta and baked beans.
Her and her Bf were 15 and 16 when they got together, they went to a Michelin starred restaurant for their first anniversary, 10 years on food is one of their favourite things, whether cooking or eating out.

I would much prefer to do this, and my DD would find something she'd enjoy, but as soon as she knows there is a kid's menu she's not interested in anything else. I agree OP kids menus are abysmal. If I ever run a resturant (i won't!) I'd go for smaller versions of adult dishes or a pick and mix type of menu which would include some VEG!

I don't think my kids have ever ordered from a kids menu.

If they're little just order a couple of starters, or order a starter and a main and re-organise who eats what.

We do that quite a bit, as DS2 is fussy, me and DS1 less so, so we order, then re-arrange our plates based on who likes what from where. Cooked breakfasts are the most roundabout as DS2 hijacks all the beans, and most of the toast, I donate my bacon to DS1, and DS1 and DS2 gives me their tomatoes then I also get DS1's tea.

ABsolutely agree with you that the expectation for a kid's meal is so basic. But i also eat out a fair amount with grown up people who don't like 'strange food' and want chicken and chips.

But yes many places will do a smaller portion from the main menu. Or order a main and a side and something else and 2 plates.

My nephew who’s 8 always has the adult size of serving or a smaller size if they do it. He eats anything though.

I either ask for a half portion of the adult meal they want and most will do this- or if they can’t I order the main that they want with two plates- I have half and they have the other half and then I order a starter for me. I wouldn’t even let my child look at the children’s menu.

I just order off adult menu or share mine.

Theyre reacting to demand, thats all.

This has never crossed my mind. I just buy a smaller adult’s meal or get something for myself to share with him with sides etc.

Well, chains are very unlikely to do this, obviously. But given the OP is in a big city, they'll be plenty of independents to choose from - and they're normally much more accommodating. I'm sorry to hear you've not had the same experience!

I don't ever remember eating from a kids menu when I was a child. And I wouldn't feed my own kids from one either unless I knew they specifically wanted nuggets and chips. But I could make that at home!

I think you'd be better off just asking for a starter portion of something, or half portion. Or have the child share your meal?

I guess they must play it safe as some kids do have quite limited palates. And the profit margin is microscopic. But just because you've got a child doesn't mean you need to use the children's menu.

Yep this is my daughters complaint, she often wants what we’re having not boring nuggets/sausage and chips (not that she doesn’t love those)
I’m going to try asking for a small portion from the adult menu next time.
The Lounge chain do a good kids menu if you can find one

I don’t think eating out 14 nights in a row would be seen as the norm. The odd occasion of eating out off the kids’ menu as a treat interspersed with a variety of healthy meals at home is more usual.

Italian restaurants are often quite good for this, e.g. pasta dishes often have starter size (so you are not just restricted to penne with tomato).

From what I recall, different cuisine restaurants had better selections, e.g Indian restaurants will do a small korma etc.

It was less of an issue for us because we have 2 DCs so we used to be able to order an adult meal between them. Now they both want adult meals, the cheek! (They are 18 and 16).

Most restaurants will adapt if you ask

Most places do “light bites” or a starter. I don’t think I ever ordered from a children’s menu. Picnics are a great solution in this weather when a full meal isn’t really very appealing.