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

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

We seek out family friendly restaurants that have crayons or a play area. The highchairs should be clean and look like they are well looked after and that having one at the table doesn't mean the room around the table is cramped with the chance of people passing and knocking into it. Also being able to see the pram and it being close by helps to keep us all relaxed.
Also the baby changing room having a toilet in it is a big bonus for not only mums when changing babies but also for dads who are out with their toddlers and have the choice of using this instead of having to negotiate the mens toilets with a toddler of either sex.

That it's clean, child friendly and that it's got some decent healthy choices - don't mind them having a little burger or chips as a treat but I like that you can get fruit bags and salads too in McDonald's

We like a quality, varied menu and value for money first off. Once we've looked at a menu and decided that, we always have a look round and make sure the place is clean. I can't stand sitting down at a table and putting your feet on the previous customers napkins, cutlery and half bread roll their child threw on the floor and hasn't been retrieved! We do choose McDonalds when eating on the hoof, as it ticks these boxes for us, and the choice is always there, no matter what we fancy - chicken, meat, fish, a salad. If we have more time (and the budget allows!) we will go for a high street restaurant that can also provide what I've mentioned.

Quick service, cleanliness, lots of tables/chairs to sit down and on the lower ground if possible, toilets

keep the child occupied with games, paper etc. plenty of choice on the menu and relax]

Cleanliness is a priority - I am increasingly finding that eating establishments do not have clean tables, like serving people is a priority, but the clearing and cleaning of tables is not. I don't want to sit at a dirty table full of other people's mess when I am waiting to eat.

A puzzle/colouring sheet for the kids whilst they wait is always appreciated with some crayons or pencils. Stickers would also be great.

Small drinks for kids too - sometimes the regular sizes are just too large.

Price and having a good variety of options

Clean facilities for us all!! Nice easy menu don't want it all fussy we just want to eat out. Good service and quick. My family are usually good but sometimes odd melt down . So please no disapproving looks

Having my family and a good conversation, without everyone sitting on their phone! Some nice food and good service where you don't have to chase up orders or bills.

I think it is important to feel comfortable when eating out with children. I wouldn't enjoy being somewhere where children are expected to be seen and not heard.

The most important thing for me is food quality and cleanliness of the establishment. There is nothing worse than your food arriving and it's of poor standard or is lukewarm.

The environment in number 1 for me and my family. Clean, hygenic and safe eating area's that are not dominated by anti social displays of poor behaviour from older teens. Designated family areas in restaurants, where table service is an option. So often it is a choice between leaving the children at a table with the shopping while I queue up (this I feel is increasingly unsafe) or standing in line with the children and shopping, then grappling with a tray full of food to hunt for a table. Dedicated table service for parents with young children would make a big difference.

My main concerns when eating out with children is that there's food they'll eat! If it's healthy, that's a bonus, but it's a tad unreasonable to go to a fast food place and grumble about the fast food :/
Clean toilets is a must!

It is important to us to have a good choice for the kids, service that is good and efficient rather than having to wait long periods and a restaurant that even though it is kid friendly still feels like a treat for us

We just want quick service, clean restaurant, child friendly staff and sometimes a little distraction for my daughter (something fun and unusual).

My daughter is a shuffler, so an activity pack is always great but I'd love to see one that involves the family. Like a little paper board game or family quiz :)

Clean tables and loos. My 2 are always on the go so speedy service is a must and it's a bonus if there is anything provided to entertain them - balloons, crayons etc.

I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old-so, a variety of foods they will want to eat (nothing too fancy for mine!), comfy seating, colourful bright surroundings, friendly service-no stress.

Clean
Cost
Suitability for a fiesty 2 year old where I can keep her occupied
Includes veg as a normal and standard item, rather than an extra
Meal deal
Vegetarian food for adults

Somewhere with a nice kids menu. We particularly like Pizza Express and our DD loves the Bambinoccino at the end!

Being able to check menu options before visiting. Menus on websites are so useful for helping to make sure everyone going can find something to eat that they are happy with and that caters for various dietary requirements.

Gluten free options, including children’s menu

Quick service, good quality food for all the family, reasonably priced!

My daughter gets bored easily so ideally I aim to go somewhere that has some form of entertainment for kids, usually little magazines or colouring pages.

A menu that caters for the whole family. I particularly tend to focus on choosing somewhere that has an online menu that I can view before booking. The kids menu really sells it to me! If its healthy (without being too obvious... e.g. hidden veggies are a winner!) & varied then that's even better!

A menu for kids which offers different portion sizes for younger and older children. Obviously I want healthy options for the whole family but I also like it when a restaurant offers more imaginative options on the kids menu such as smaller versions of the grown up menu.