The slowly rising average temperatures in March have me itching to come out of my Winter hibernation and explore Massachusetts more thoroughly. 

Those who follow me on Instagram know that as a mama of three young boys, life is sometimes a little chaotic. But we are slowly emerging from the chaos of toddler life and into this new stage of “bigger” kids. One of the things we avoided like the plague when we had toddlers (who could never sit still) was restaurant dining. Over the last year, dining out has become increasingly less painful and, dare I say, fun!

Over the vacation week, we were trying to think of some new places we could try with the kids and we kept coming back to our favorites (which I will share SOON) and it got me thinking…why not make a list of favorite kid friendly places to eat in the Greater Boston area?! Thanks to my amazing clients who wrote in about their favorite spots to take their own kids, we have a great list going!

Double Chin in Chinatown

There’s a small closed off entry way for a toddler to walk around when they need to get up, it’s usually not super busy, they have highchairs, and the waitstaff are sweet and accommodating. Plus the menu is huge and has options for many kid and adult tastes.  It’s sometimes tricky to find kid friendly areas in Chinatown due to the size of the restaurants so we were so happy to find this place!

True North Ale – Ipswich MA 

The best place in summer! You can BYO food or check out their schedule for food trucks! There’s tons of space outside (and dog friendly) sometimes they bring out this giant connect four game if there’s lots of kids and there’s also games/puzzles inside to grab for your table **there’s TONS of options in Ipswich/Essex for fun family outdoor dining if you love seafood. Riverview pizza is always a fun experience but super hard to get into on weekends because it’s so popular. They serve you pizza on parchment paper and it’s absolutely delicious. Very very casual and old school inside and great for kids but we prefer grabbing a box to go and eating at cranes beach or bringing it to true north! 

Minglewood Harborside Gloucester MA 

This is right on the water and a great spot to visit post beach. It’s part of the serenitee rewards group restaurants (you NEED to sign up, it’s free!) the rewards aren’t something we acquire as much with kids since we dine out less frequently but on your birthday you get a free meal and dessert! 

Bellinos Wakefield 

We love walking the lake and there’s a playground right across the street. It’s also the perfect place for kite flying. They have amazing pizza and Italian food with views of the lake! They have good dessert too but you can also stop at the gingerbread factory afterwards which is next door! 

Rev Kitchen Beverly 

Super kid friendly! And allergen friendly. The view outside is nothing to write home about since it’s not on the water but the inside is fun and their menu is big so lots of options for picky eaters! They have amazing tacos and pizza. If you’re into craft beer they have an amazing selection! 

Lynnfield Marketplace

You seriously can’t go wrong here and we always make an afternoon of it so my daughter can walk around before we sit for food. Our favorites are The Yardhouse (the vampire tacos are insanely good) and tons of drink options. Temazcal is on the fancier side but they have outdoor eating space which always feels better with kids and really good margaritas and queso dip! After dinner we always go to JP Licks and there’s a faux grass area with giant chess pieces and other things for kids! Sometimes there’s even movie nights with a projector. 

Flying Saucer Pizza in Salem

It’s in the heart of downtown and all space/Star Wars themed! It’s pretty small inside but they also have outdoor seating and its just so fun! The pizza is amazing and gourmet and they also have a good drink selection. The space balls appetizer is a must if you like garlic knots. You could walk around Salem and then sit down to eat! There’s lots of good dining options in Salem but I find this place the best for kids! Melt ice cream is also close by and the famous goodnight fatty cookies! 

Lookout and Greenhouse at Lookout Farm, Natick.

They have live music, you can bring games for the kids to play, which makes dining fun and easy with the kiddos.

Border Cafe in Burlington

We love Border Cafe in Burlington. It is loud (so crying kids can’t be heard), great Mexican food, and a wonderful atmosphere. We would always take our kids when they were babies, but we enjoy it now too because the kids actually like the food and have fun!

Bartaco, Boston

Bartaco is near the Children’s museum in Boston, which also has a great pirate ship playground next to it with sprinklers going in the summer, so even if you don’t want to spend money at the Children’s museum, it’s still worth the trip. Bartaco has awesome dishes for kids, including one plate of multiple things like a taco of your choice, pineapple on a stick, and corn on the cob. My picky toddler eats it all! Also, you order and checkout at the same time through a QR code at the table, so if any meltdowns occur, you can leave without waiting for the check haha.

Tangerini’s Farm, Millis, MA

We’ve enjoyed Tangerini’s Farm! They have an outdoor patio for dining (breakfast and lunch) and it’s on their farm so you can explore the area before, after or even during the meal (to get out the wiggles). Lots of great u-pick options in the summer.