West Loop parents love trying restaurants with their little foodies. Every dining experience can be made better, though, when the spots you pick are child-friendly, making your entire family feel welcome and cared for. That’s why we asked TGS parents for their favorite kid-friendly restaurants in West Loop. Here is a list of a few of their go-to’s! We hope you see your favorites, too, or find a new spot to check out.
1. Lou Malnati’s on Randolph
Few things say family bonding quite like sharing a pizza. Lou Malnati’s on Randolph has you covered for all your Italian cravings, including pizza, pasta, salads, sandwiches, and desserts. Your little one will love so much on the menu, but there are a few items made special for them, such as spaghetti or cheese ravioli. With cost-friendly lunch specials, Lou Malnati’s might just be your new favorite pizza spot.
2. Windy City Cafe
Breakfast can be such a special time for families to connect and start their days on the right foot. You can make your breakfast dreams come true at Windy City Cafe. With everything from chicken and waffles to pulled pork benedicts, the menu covers a variety of flavors and preferences. Head on over for lunch, too, to try a handcrafted sandwich, wrap, or salad. Little ones will love the PB&B (peanut butter and banana) sandwich or the mini pancakes with fruit or chocolate chips inside.
3. Athena
Travel to Greece without ever leaving your neighborhood! Trying foods from other countries is a great way to teach your child about different cultures. Athena offers classic Greek favorites, such as spanakopita and gyros, so you and the family can explore what might become your new go-to dishes.
4. Velvet Taco
Delicious tacos, anyone? The answer to that is rarely no. If tacos are a favorite in your household, it’s time to head to Velvet Taco. For the adults, there is a wide variety of tacos with flavors from around the world—Indian, Cuban, and Korean, to name a few. For the younger crowd, Velvet Taco has kid-friendly dishes, including quesadillas, chicken and beef tacos, chicken tenders, and tater tots. There is truly something for everyone.
5. Rannalli’s
With all the Italian recommendations we got from our West Loop parents, it only felt appropriate to start and end the list this way. Rannalli’s has all the classic pizza toppings for your family to choose from. Or, the list of specialty pizzas is perfect for the more adventurous eater. The hot honey soppressata pizza immediately caught our attention. For the little ones, cheese pizza, chicken dinos, or grilled cheese will hit the spot!
The Gardner School Loves West Loop Families
Family meals are such special experiences. The Gardner School fosters that experience for our students in the Kids’ Cafe, teaching children the joy of trying new foods and sharing the foods we enjoy with those around us. That community-building experience is important for social-emotional learning, and we are proud that our TGS teachers can provide that hands-on learning opportunity. We hope you enjoyed this list of favorite kid-friendly restaurants in West Loop. To learn more about The Gardner School, please visit our website to schedule a tour! We’d love to chat about everything your child will enjoy about our engaging classrooms, Kids’ Cafe, indoor and outdoor playscapes, enrichment classes, and more.