Eating Out with Kids and a Giveaway

Last weekend, on our drive back from a visit to Cape Cod, we stopped for dinner at an Italian place that had positive reviews on Yelp, white tablecloths, and an extensive wine list. It did not, however, have kids’ dishes. We figured this out after getting our son, 6, and daughter, 4, finally settled at the table. There was a split second when my husband and I considered leaving, but the wait staff was quick to offer a solution—a smaller portion of spaghetti with a side of meatballs—so we stayed. And, the meal was fine, though it cost a bit more than we would have liked to spend.

The lesson for us, of course, was that we should have done a bit more research before selecting our white tablecloth eatery. Typically, when we eat out with our kids—which we have done since they were small—we select restaurants that are family-friendly. For us, this means healthy kids meals, delicious food options for the adults, and a fun and flexible atmosphere. (And a place where the staff understands that sometimes kids spill milk—and they don’t freak out if it happens). Reasonable prices are important, too!

So, consider this blog post research for your next eating out adventure.

A few weeks ago, my husband, kids, and I were happy to check out a new family-friendly restaurant: SKYBOKX 109 GastroSports on Speen Street in Natick. Located close to the Natick Collection and a number of big box stores, SKYBOKX 109 celebrates one of the most beloved parts of New England: our sports teams. From the baseball bats surrounding the front desk to the wall of memorabilia celebrating New England sports milestones, the restaurant’s theme—and dozens of large televisions—provide a great place to cheer on the Red Sox, root for the Patriots, or just connect with friends.

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My family loved this flag of baseballs in the entry way of SKYBOKX 109

The SKYBOKX 109 miracle for us was that our daughter ate her entire meal. She’s in a picky stage, and dining out is often a challenge to get her to eat more than her burger bun. But at SKYBOKX 109, she ate everything, including the fruit they offered as a side dish, instead of the fries you always find in kids’ meals, which is always an A+ for me.

SKYBOKX 109’s commitment to families includes a special promotion every Monday night: kids eat free. This is a great option for families on a budget (which is all of us, isn’t it?). You can learn more about kids eat free here.

And, guess what? SKYBOKX 109 is giving one lucky Red Shutters reader a $25 gift card! To enter, comment on this blog post by Thursday, June 5, 2014 at midnight ET, sharing the item from the SKYBOKX 109 menu you’d order when you visit. And, be sure to read the giveaway guidelines below.

Giveaway Guidelines: Each comment to this post equals one entry and must include a name and valid email address to be eligible. One entry per household. Limited to entrants over 18 in the US and Canada. Contest begins as of the time of this post and ends on Thursday, June 5, 2014 at midnight ET. The winner will receive a SKYBOKX 109 gift card with a retail value of $25 US. The number of eligible entries received will determine the odds of winning. All comments will be numbered in the order they are received. Red Shutters will select the winner using the Random Number Generator at random.org.  Winner will be notified by email at the address given in their entry. The prize will be provided by SKYBOKX 109. Red Shutters is not responsible for any problems with receipt of the prize. This contest is governed by the rules of Massachusetts, void where prohibited.

Disclosure: Our meal at SKYBOKX 109 was complimentary. All ideas in this post, however, belong to me.

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  1. May 29, 2014
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  2. May 30, 2014