Dining with the kids: Three restaurants your children will love

It's a challenge that parents face whenever they eat out with their kids: Where is the best child-friendly destination that has activities exciting enough to hold a child's attention? Which restaurant offers food delicious enough to pass a child's meticulous standards?

To help find the answer to these questions, "Pop Talk" host Tonipet Gaba ate and played with daddy and son tandem Matthew and Jake Llamas, mommy and food blogger Yen Dreyfuss, and Kapuso child actress Jillian Ward. Their search turned out to be fruitful, and in the end, they concluded that these places are not only for kids but also for kids at heart.



Blue Whale Grill
Frontera Verde, Ortigas Ave. cor. C5, Pasig City
Price starts at: P175

Blue Whale Grill is a restaurant targeted to children, but it doesn't mean it can't appeal to the whole family. Its menu includes children food favorites like spaghetti, sandwiches, burgers, waffles and fries, Pinoy picks like kare-kare, fish fingers, pork barbecue, fried tuna belly, Asian mixed rice and more. "Aside from the comfort food ng kids and adults, meron din siyang mga activities for children so definitely hindi mabo-bore yung mga kids na kasama mo," Ana del Rosario, Marketing Manager of Blue Whale Grill, said.



This aquatic-themed resto also features bumper boats and playgrounds where parents and kids can play together. "It's very safe," daddy Matthew assured after trying the bumper boats with son Jake.

Are the food as kid-friendly as the rides? Matthew gestures to his son and shares: "Ito sobrang pihikan nito tapos the fact na kumakain siya, it's a good sign."

"It's a place na maraming magagawa," observed Yen.

Matthew added: "Sobrang sarap. Definitely worth it. Babalik kami dito, buong pamilya."

Final verdict: 9 pop points



Circus Café
ActiveFun Bldg, 9th Ave., cor. 28th Street Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Price starts at: P165

Kids who want unlimited passes to games and playgrounds will surely maximize their playtime if they eat at Circus Café. This is because this kiddie restaurant is situated right inside Active Fun, an activity center specifically made for children.

"We opened November 2011," Vina Millado, marketing manager of Circus Café, explained. "It's a one-stop shop. While kids are busy playing, the adults can stay here in Circus Café and enjoy our delectable food."

The most popular treat in Circus Café is their wood fire brick oven pizza. It doesn't stop there because they also have clubhouse sandwiches, salads, pork barbecue, chicken nuggets, Vietnamese spring rolls and more. Yen praised the restaurant’s specialty pizza: "Parang homemade lang… gusto ko ‘yung pagka-thin ng crust."

"Sobrang sarap ng food. Tumatak ‘yung pizza," added Matthew.

Child actress Jillian, on the other hand, was amused with Circus Café's black pasta and the clubhouse sandwiches. "Sasabihin ko po kay mommy na babalik po kami dito."

Final verdict: 7 pop points



Big Red Barn
Westgate Center, Filinvest, Alabang
Package: P1000 to P1500 meal for a family of four with free 30-minute play tickets for two

"People come here to play but we want to make sure for them to keep coming back by giving them really good food,” Big Red Barn President Vince Padilla shared.

What sets this kiddie restaurant apart is their selection of the favorite Pinoy comfort food. Guests could enjoy beef pot pie, tempura, barbecue, fried chicken, spaghetti, fries and more.

"Marami silang mga function room para sa inyong mga birthday parties para sa mga anak niyo," Tonipet revealed. Big Red Barn also offer meal packages for the whole family inclusive of 30-minute passes to their indoor playground called the Playdium.

"Yung pot pie nila masarap. Perfect siya sa kids. Meron siyang mushrooms, meron siyang mashed potato tapos soaked talaga siya sa gravy," Yen commented. On the other hand, Jake loved the spaghetti while Matthew and Jillian are partial to the tempura and liempo.

"Definitely, pag weekend panalo ‘yung ganitong place," concluded Matthew.

Final verdict: 9 pop points