Our Top 5 Picks for Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Memphis

Hip: Check. Trendy: Check. Delicious Food: Check. Kid-Friendly: Ummmm… When you want to go out to eat as a family, it’s not as simple as choosing from the top ten list on Yelp. You want a chance to unwind, relax with your partner and have a variety of menu options that sound delicious to your whole family. 

For Millennials in Memphis, the list of restaurants we’re dying to try is often pretty much endless, until, of course, we’ve got to come up with a place to take the kids. Choose the wrong spot and there’s a whole lot that can turn your family night into a disaster. That’s why we put together this list of the top kid-friendly restaurants in Memphis, so you won’t have to settle for so-so food from a theme park, brace for another night of fast food, or smile through the inevitable awkward moments when your kids decide to redecorate a top-rated eatery by breaking dishes or writing on the table with crayons. 

Many of our recommendations take reservations, have comfortable booth seating, easy take-out options, booster seats, spectacular kid’s menus, and other amenities to make your family night out a big success for everyone. Here are some of the best family friendly restaurants in memphis! 

Arcade Restaurant: No visit to Memphis would be complete without a visit to the city’s oldest cafe. With their iconic history, they’re not only a family-friendly spot, but their also one of the best family restaurants in Memphis! Opened in 1919, Arcade Restaurant serves breakfast all day. Southern-style lunch specials throughout the week, along with dinner specials Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. You and your kids will enjoy taking a step back in time at this classic American diner. You might even recognize it from such movies as Walk the Line, The Client, and Great Balls of Fire—or have fun playing them on family movie night and pausing to show your kids that they’ve been there too. You might get extra lucky and sit at the table where Elvis once ate. 

photo from gcd interiors

Belly Acres: Build your own burgers with farm-fresh ingredients inside this colorful restaurant on family-friendly Overton Square. You may want to move family-night-out to Wednesdays when adult meal purchases earn a free kid’s meal.

Central BBQ: Go where the locals go… and rest assured, Memphians know great BBQ. Since Central BBQ opened in 2002, they have been considered as a local favorite for BBQ in Memphis. Guests are encouraged to unwind, get messy, and most importantly, savor every minute… On Mondays and Tuesdays, at this hometown favorite, kids’ meals are free with the purchase of an adult plate (up to two free kids’ meals). 

Huey’s: Voted #1 Kid-Friendly Restaurant in Memphis as well as Best Burger in Memphis since 1984, at Hueys you’ll enjoy live music on Sundays, sip on a local brew, shoot frill picks in the ceiling, and write on the graffiti walls. There are several Memphis locations. 

RailGarten: Memphis’s first dedicated pong bar is where delicious food and drink meet indoor games and outdoor entertainment. The 1.5-acre unique space once served as midtown’s rail station. Explore their Diner, Ping Pong Bar, Tiki Bar, Ice Cream Parlor, Outdoor area with Playground, Volleyball, Secret spaces, surprise games, and much more!

You may also like: Memphis breweries you have to try!

 

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