Dining Out With Kids … or Not

The canon of research that says dining together is good for families is longer than the line of folks waiting to get into Pancake Pantry. One survey from the American Heart Association found that 91 percent of parents noticed their family was less stressed when they all ate together.

But finding a place to have that family meal out of the house can be stressful. You can rule out places on both ends of the spectrum, from Chuck E. Cheese (too kid-centric) to Lower Broadway (too adult-focused). But finding places where you can have good food, practice dining-out etiquette, try new foods and not bother other patrons who might not be out with kids can feel tricky. 

Similarly, if you have a sitter and want to have a date night or a girls’ night, you might want to branch out from your old favorites. A few new 21-and-older spots have opened recently, offering options for getting out of the house for a grown-up meal. Here’s a list of six places to consider when you want the family to eat together — and six others for when you have a sitter.

For Families

Dicey’s Pizza and Tavern

425 Chestnut St.

OK, fine. Pizza doesn’t exactly pop off as a radical idea for a menu item for dinner with the kids. But the Wedgewood-Houston restaurant offers more than just a thin-crust slice. The large backyard area has plenty of room to run around. (And the sound of the nearby train is definitely louder than your kids.) There are ample tables with striped umbrellas for dining outside. The menu includes pizza that Dicey’s calls “party cut” (that’s a Chicago-style thin-crust cut in squares instead of triangles), plus salads, sandwiches, wings and plenty of adult beverage choices.

Bringle’s Smoking Oasis

4901 Centennial Blvd.

Our own Ashley Brantley summed it up well in this year’s Best of Nashville issue: “The outdoor area is effectively a giant playpen where you can watch sports, pet dogs, eat brisket, smear mac-and-cheese on tables, meet new parent friends and, of course, do it all with a cocktail in hand.” The menu at the barbecue hot spot in The Nations offers smoked turkey, pulled pork, beef brisket and other dishes that rotate weekly.

Elliston Place Soda Shop

2105 Elliston Place

Elliston Place Soda Shop began serving Nashville families back in 1939. The most recent iteration offers counter seating, booths and tables where you can appreciate vintage decor, modern upgrades and a time-honored menu. While the restaurant might be best-known for its milkshakes (there’s one on the neon sign, after all), in fact it is a classic meat-and-three, with breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, salads and, of course, pie. The options on the kids’ menu are just $5.49.

Supper Club on Belcourt

2000 Belcourt Ave.

This classic American steakhouse with bright, colorful, whimsical decor and a neighborhood feel opened in Hillsboro Village in September. It’s the second outpost of the concept (the first is in Memphis), and the idea is to offer a more casual approach to what would normally be a high-end steakhouse experience. As such, families with kids are welcome until 8 p.m. You’re probably not going to order the kids a tomahawk steak wrapped in 24-carat gold (yes, that’s a thing), but there are plenty of more reasonable dishes on the menu — including salads, vegan pasta and the Soul Roll (which is an egg roll with mac-and-cheese, yams and collard greens). Want to come back without the fam? Check out the Tuesday Date Night specials. 

The Pfunky Griddle

2800 Bransford Ave.

Since 2007, families have headed to Berry Hill to flip their own flapjacks on the skillets in their tables at The Pfunky Griddle. The DIY spot sells all-you-can-eat pancakes with the topping of your choice, plus eggs, some of the best potatoes in the city and French toast, all of which you fry up yourself at your table. Gluten-free batter is available. Don’t want to do the cooking yourself? Go for the omelets or biscuits-and-gravy. 

Noko

701 Porter Road

Noko is one of the hottest reservations in town, and the menu is not inexpensive. But with lots of high chairs and an Asian-inspired menu with plenty of wood-fired options, it’s a good choice for a celebratory family night out (book a table on the early side) or Sunday brunch. The chefs report that the crab fried rice, tuna crispy rice and Hurricane Fries (with furikake and truffle aioli) are popular with kids. But you can’t go wrong with broccolini on a wood-fired grill — or dumplings either.

For Grown-Ups

Sabell’s

1301 McGavock Pike

Recently opened Riverside Village spot Sabell’s engendered lots of online debate when it announced it would be 21-and-up. The small bar-slash-restaurant is designed to be a date-night-friendly place where you can grab dinner, have a conversation with your partner and drink a beer. Carly Rabasca, the chef from Riverside Village’s now-closed-but-still-missed Rudie’s Seafood and Sausage, is cooking up Mediterranean eats like an herby falafel, a mezze platter and other dishes, all sold at affordable prices with decent portion sizes. Happy Hour runs from 4 to 6 p.m. in case you have some time to decompress while the kids are at an after-school activity. And if you don’t have a sitter, the full menu is available for takeout. 

Schulman’s Neighborhood Bar

1201 Porter Road

Another newcomer to East Nashville that has been the subject of discussion among parents, Schulman’s is a 21-and-up bar with a good vinyl selection, a vintage cigarette machine and a tiny but mighty food menu. Check out the vegan chicken sandwich, the pastrami dip and the fried pickles, and wash it all down with a fall margarita, a negroni or one of many, many beers, including nonalcoholic options. Plus, Schulman’s is open seven days a week, from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m., increasing your odds of having a window in there to find a sitter. 

House of Cards

119 Third Ave. S.

If your idea of a night out means dinner and a show and a break from scrolling on your phone, the magic-themed House of Cards is an all-adult winner. Dine on classic steakhouse-style fare (including a terrific vegan surf-and-turf), then catch the acts of several magicians, mentalists and illusionists. You can have your phone with you in case of emergencies, but photo-taking is not allowed (wouldn’t want to spoil the tricks) — so it helps you focus on the company at your table. If your kids are jealous of your tales of sleight-of-hand, there is a family-friendly Sunday brunch. 

The Authentique Wine Bar and Creperie

925 Gallatin Ave.

This cozy East Nashville spot isn’t technically 21-and-up. Kids are welcome, but the space is tiny (you’ll be close to another table), and there’s no room to run around. The menu has recently expanded to include more wines and a food menu of small plates, boards and crepes (hence the change in the name of the place). Go for savory crepes and a glass of wine for dinner, or a sweet Nutella crepe and a nightcap after a night on the town. 

Miel

343 53rd Ave. N.

For 15 years, Seema Prasad’s Miel has been serving thoughtful, sustainable seasonal meals in West Nashville. Just as the restaurant is tucked away off Charlotte Avenue, sometimes it’s hidden from lists of must-eat restaurants. If it’s been a while since you dined at Miel, it’s time to find a sitter and make a reservation. The menu changes daily, but recent dishes have included short ribs, cassoulet and tuna poke. If you want to do something more interactive when the kids are otherwise engaged, sign up for Miel’s wine classes; the next session starts in January. 

Culture + Co.

3820 Charlotte Ave.

Yes, kids are welcome and often seen in L&L Market, the home of Culture + Co., the city’s cheese-conveyor-belt restaurant. And yes, kids can belly up to the bar and snag a covered dish as it makes its way ’round the corner. But its menu of artisan American cheeses paired with natural wines is perfect for catching up with a friend, celebrating a work victory or a date where you want to sit side by side. Dishes are paired with treats like freshly baked rosemary focaccia, apple butter and candied pumpkin seeds.