by Gina Romero
TAble 6: Table 6 is my latest MOM approved restaurant in Anchorage.
I decided to take the kids to Table 6, a fairly new restaurant in Anchorage. Moments after being seated, my two-year-old son decided to unscrew the lid of the shaker and cover the table with pepper. My four-year-old daughter promptly decided to eat a handful of the spilled pepper. I cleaned the table in time for our soup to arrive. My toddler promptly dumped his entire cup onto the table. This is pretty much what it is like to take small children out to eat. However, I was relaxed the entire time because I was in a MOM approved restaurant.
That’s right people I have a MOM test for eating establishments. A positive Mindset toward children, healthy Options and an upbeat Mood make all the difference for parents who just want to eat out like a normal person.
Mindset: A kid-friendly place requires a certain attitude, one that will tolerate the possibility of screaming, crying, spilling and wandering. The mindset of decision makers within a business sets the tone for how children will be treated not only by staff, but also by other customers. The hostess and waiter treated us with smiles and were great with the kids. I also like the fact that Table 6 is active on Twitter. In fact, I decided to try them simply because they invited me, through Twitter, to bring the kids in for lunch. How cool is that?
Options: I try to provide a healthy diet for my kids, even when we go out. Table 6 has a variety of foods for lunch including soup, salads, wraps and burgers. We opted to go with the tomato soup, which costs $4.50 per cup and $6.50 per bowl. It was excellent.
Mood: A restaurant with long waits, dim lighting, lots of glass on the table and a quiet atmosphere will likely scare any parent of young children away. Table 6 is casual, offering booth seating (great for trapping toddlers) and has Dr. Seuss quotes on the walls throughout the restaurant.
To top it off, a waiter chased me to my car because I forgot to grab my change. Thanks Table 6 for the great customer service. You are now on my MOM approved list.
Other local family favorites include: Peppercini's Deli House, Bear Tooth Grill, and Sunrise Grill & Pancake House.
Parents: What local restaurants do you frequent? Why?
