Tell McDonald’s what’s important to you when eating out with your family - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED!

[EmmaMumsnet]

Whilst eating out with the family can provide a much-needed treat and opportunity to reconnect, it can also entail much compromise in order to ensure that all members are satisfied with the outing. McDonald’s UK is keen to find out what is running through your mind when it comes to making that often tricky dining decision whilst keeping smiles on everyone’s faces.

Here what McDonald’s has to say: “We’re looking at new options for our Happy Meal and invited Mumsnet behind the scenes as we started the food development journey! Our restaurants have changed, options like kiosk ordering and table service make it easier for families to enjoy our food but we want to know what you look for when eating out as a family.”

Whether you are celebrating a special occasion, visiting your favourite family restaurant or simply popping into a local take away, we want to know on what basis you make such decisions. Is it the provision of colouring sheets for the kids, or haute cuisine for the more mature members of the family? Maybe you find it difficult to identify a restaurant with menus capable of pleasing all parties and resort to visiting several locations? Is making sure your children’s meals are well balanced or that the location is family friendly important to you?

Whatever your main considerations are when choosing somewhere to eat out with your family, please share them below and you will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a £300 voucher of your choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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I would also add to the pp who have spoken about cleanliness. To be honest I usually avoid McDonalds because of the tables. I understand that people are expected to remove their own tray and rubbish but I absolutely hate sitting down to a table covered in crumbs and coffee and ketchup spillages. It's grim.

We always chose somewhere that has veggie options for me and a kids' menu that isn't just the usual sausages, chicken nuggets of fish fingers - I don't understand why some restaurants thinks that's all they will eat.

It is good to have other families around but not so many that it is noisy and if there are drawing and puzzle activities given out it always helps.

It's always better when there is not loud music being played too.

That it's clean with good service & reasonably priced.
I like McDonald's it's a treat. I've always found the happy meals perfect esp since you've been able to add the fruit bags.

If we are eating out on a trip away then it is often about a quick stop with food that everyone is happy with, inexpensive, suitable for children. If we are eating out as an experience then I want ethical, wholesome food, a nice ambiance etc. However, truth be told we rarely eat out preferring to pack lunches and snacks.

I like to decide first by looking at the menu before going into the restaurant. Not all restaurants display their menus on the front window and I don’t like going in and standing around whilst someone fetches a menu.
We choose somewhere which offers a wide variety of choice and where everyone can feel relaxed. I prefer table service and although my child is older and able to wait prompt service and delivery of drinks is important. We also prefer somewhere that is not too noisy or busy.

Good menu choices for all ages, special offers and a family friendly informal atmosphere

fast family friendly service and tables cleaned before you arrive not after

Cleanliness is paramount, I don't want to sit at a grubby table. Next is service, I like people to be polite and I like consistency- I don't need a drama because my children don't want a pickle in their burger and if it is going to take a while please ask me to sit down and offer to bring my order over when it's ready. Every generation loves McDonald's, I take my grandparents and children there as it is the epitome of a treat!

For my family it is choice, healthy options, quick service, and a clean and friendly atmosphere, all of which you find at Mcdonalds. we love Happy Meals , they are great value, and with the toy give hours of fun. For adults we love the signature collection, also the quick service means no bored children. When we have a meal it is really good value, and the ambience of the restaurant means we feel relaxed unrushed and satisfied.

For us it's important to have cleanliness and consistency. The quantity and quality of the food should be consistent so you know what you are getting and there must be somewhere clean to sit.

A nice clean restaurant and quick efficient service by a polite member of staff

It depends on the type of meal we are going for.
If its for a quick refuel, then McDonalds is great.
If its for a birthday, then we tend to go for a longer meal at a family orientated pub/restaurant.
Where we appreciate prompt service, and a well rounded childrens menu.

Different options on the menu including healthy choices for my children and me. Clean tables that are wiped down between customers. Friendly service, especially if they try and interact with my children. Child friendly toilets.

quick service (my kids hate waiting!) clean toliets and lots of seating are important too.

At the moment for us we need room for a pram and activity pack for the toddler!

It's important that the restaurant is clean and not too loud and that the food is good and reasonably priced.

I'd like more vegetarian options for my children, as all we seem to be able to order are fish fingers. Plus a new version of the fish burger would be nice. I'm sure it's been the same for a long time and is not very tasty!

Vegetarian and vegan options, including for children. McDonalds seem to be doing poorly on this one. Oh, and clear, accessible allergen information.

Our children love going to sit for a meal by the River in Symonds Yat. They always regard watching wildlife and relaxing a must to enjoying the meal. It amazes me they still ask if they can leave the table!

Good food, friendly staff and kid friendly loos.

Somewhere family friendly that caters for all ages

Although very very difficult nowadays, you have to make time for at least one meal together. It might be breakfast or dinner. But you have to keep the family together, helped by another member of the family, to validate the importance.

Mostly, a menu I can eat from! I've been coeliac for over 20 years, so my expectations aren't high, but being able to eat something that isn't a plain salad does come pretty far up on my criteria.
Alas, at McDonalds I can have fries if curly fries aren't on the menu and a burger with no bun. The introduction of the kiosk ordering system does mean that getting a burger with no bun is easier than it was, but it's no meal tbh. Even if I got the contents wrapped in a lettuce leaf I'd be a lot happier! And we'd visit more than once a year which is our current rate and even then when there are absolutely no other options available to me (so basically when on the motorway and there are no Starbucks close by as they do a GF panini)

When eating out with the kids, I look for places that have a very short waiting time, hate waiting too long with the kids, they usually start playing up!!

In terms of eating out, for our family it is an occasional treat so I'm not out looking for the healthiest food. It would be different if we ate out all the time. However, personally I don't really enjoy foods with high fat content unless accompanied by veg or salad, so I would always want these options available on adult and children's meals. I think children's meals should be a mixture of mini adult meals and also fish fingers etc to cater for all children.
As a family we like comfy seating and booths if available as we like tucking ourselves away a bit. It is a long time since I've used a high chair but, having very tall children, I do recall getting a long legged baby stuck in a highchair with a fixed tray. His little leg was bruised by the time we freed him and he was screaming. I know fixed trays are usually cheaper but babies come in all shapes and sizes and, although mine stopped using them quite young, some people like putting older toddlers in them so they really should be more adaptable.