To despair at the quality and choice of kids menus?

[KerfuffleShuffle]

I'm currently in a major UK city with DD 5 years for 14 nights for DH's work. We're in a hotel so need to eat out at least once a day. I am absolutely fed up of the dross that makes ups kids menus. Just endless variations of cheap quality m nuggets/sausages and chips or bland pasta meals/margherita pizza. The only veg options are beans/peas or veggie stick starters.

I get that some children like the predictability of these meals, but what about the many children who don't? What about the children who enjoy a variety of foods and flavours? These aren't chain pubs where I understand these types of menu totally have their place and serve a need, but rather restaurants which have fresh and creative full adult menus.

I'm not anti junk at all, my DD is known to enjoy a happy meal more than I would like for admit -and thank goodness for fish fingers and potato waffles for a quick evening meal. But I wouldn't go out and order a freezer meal I can make at home, so why should children be expected to?

I always just ask the restaurant whether they can make a smaller/child sized version of their standard menu. Most are happy to oblige!

ETA - or get them an adults starter and side.

Yep. Not difficult really...

I always asked for a smaller portion of an adult meals, I've never been refused

I just order starters or share normal portions between them (luckily close in age) but, culturally, I think it's quite sad.

Completely agree with you.

But proper restaurants will make you a smaller plate for the children if you ask, IME.

I used to feel the same when mine were younger. You don't want to feed them crap (mine often wouldn't want anything on the kids menu but ordering an adult meal felt wasteful as they wouldn't eat a full portion). We liked Bistrot Pierre if there happens to be one nearby because they at least did a mini steak frites.

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.

@mrsscroodledoodle I think you've hit the nail on head much more concisely than I did in my rant 😂

In a couple of chain restaurants defence, both Wagamamas and Yo! Offer brilliant kids menus suitable for children with band to adventurous tastes.

Thank you, I'm doing to try this tonight.

It seems to be very much a UK thing. In other countries, offering smaller portions of anything on the menu for the very young and very old is a common courtesy.

This isn't my experience at all. Most chains and a lot of independents where I have asked will not agree to do this and insist on full price adult meal.

And a starter and a side isn't really a meal either!

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.

Most restaurants will adapt if you ask

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).

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.

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 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.

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!

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.

I just order off adult menu or share mine.

Theyre reacting to demand, thats all.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.