The Best Family Friendly Restaurants In New Orleans

If you are looking for a place for a special celebration with your kids, then we suggest heading on over to this list!

Best Restaurants for Kids in New Orleans

It seems that just about every day someone asks us, “Is New Orleans kid friendly?” Absolutely! New Orleans Mom produces dozens of guides to enjoying New Orleans with kids year-round. If you are looking for a list of the very best restaurants in the New Orleans area for dining with kids, we have got you covered! These 36 Louisiana owned and operated restaurants capture the hospitality that this city embodies. If you are visiting New Orleans for the holidays, these are the New Orleans restaurants we recommend most often to families. They offer delicious food and an inviting atmosphere for the whole family! We’ve covered a range of locations, cuisines, and price ranges. We’ve acknowledged some long time favorites and tossed in a few new names we think are worth a night out in New Orleans with your kids in tow!

New Orleans (Southshore) Restaurants for Kids

Reginelli’s – Reginelli’s has the perfect atmosphere for any and all ages and food that pleases every member of your family. And, with locations throughout the New Orleans area, you have to add this restaurant to your eating out rotation. At many of the locations, kids can make their own pizzas. This is a New Orleans family dining staple for a reason!

Velvet Cactus – A backyard patio, delicious Mexican food, and an extensive Margarita menu for the adults. The Velvet Cactus is the perfect weekend destination for parents wanting to get out of the house, but need to bring the kids along for the night. It’s fun, delicious, and a crowd pleaser! The Velvet Cactus is located in Lakeview.

The Backyard – The back yard bbq inspired menu provides ample options for kids of all ages so they should be able to please even your pickiest eater. They have a huge “backyard” with plenty of picnic table style seating where kids have room to be kids. And don’t worry, they make sure to keep the parents happy with some delicious spins on traditional comfort foods, lots of local brews on tap, and an extensive cocktail menu. The Backyard is located in Lakeview.

Juan’s Flying Burrito – The kid’s meals at Juan’s range from $3-4 making it a great bargain for a delicious meal for your kids. They have 4 locations throughout New Orleans (Mid City, Lower Garden District, Uptown, and the CBD), and the staff caters to families making eating out with the kids more stress free than at other establishments. They have a huge menu and fantastic drinks.  At most locations you can eat inside or out. You are guaranteed to see other families wrangling kids along side yours making it a safe space for meltdowns, screen time, or toddler exploring.

Los Jefes Tortilleria and Grill – Known for it’s fun atmosphere and authentic Mexican dishes, Los Jefes is a favorite to those looking to dine in the Metairie area.

The Pizza Shoppe – The Pizza Shoppe, in Metairie, is a family favorite because you can make your own pizza, and they offer a delicious cauliflower crust option! It’s so good, your kids won’t even know they are eating something healthy!

Blue Oak BBQ – Blue Oak BBQ has a great location in Mid City, complete with a patio for your littles to explore. The award winning BBQ has a legion of fans in the New Orleans area, so it’s a great spot when you want to really satisfy your taste buds, but also want to take your kids out to dinner with you. Plus, there is nothing quite as cute as a little one chowing down on some bbq!

Pizza Delicious – Pizza Delicious, a Bywater treasure, is considered my many to be the best pizza in the city! Their New York style pizza pies come in one gigantic size, so there is always plenty to feed the whole family. If you don’t want a whole pie, order a slice or two! The interior is not large, so if it’s crowded, get yours to go and take a walk over to Crescent Park across the street for dinner with a view!

Company Burger – Burgers, tater tots, grilled cheeses, milk shakes, and soft serve! Company Burger is sure to be a hit with your kids at dinner time or lunch time. They have an uptown and a downtown location and both are about as family friendly as you can get. It’s as much a favorite of the kids as it is of the parents!

Fat Boy’s Pizza – Fat Boy’s Pizza quickly gained a reputation as a go to restaurant for families in the New Orleans area with 7 locations. The pies, measuring in at 30″, are sure to astound your kids and feed the whole family, and they offer gluten free pizza helping to insure that every member of your family can enjoy a meal here. They have their “2Ft Challenge” where if you are brave enough, you can win a t-shirt and gift card by eating an entire 2ft of pizza in less than 7 minutes? I don’t know about your kids, but I feel like mine stand a chance!

District Donuts – District is known for two kid pleasing categories of food…donuts and sliders! It’s a great stop for a meal or a treat with your kids in tow. And, you can find locations throughout the New Orleans area making it easy to access. It’s also famous for its delicious coffee which makes it clutch for parents in need of a boost!

Picnic Provisions – This Uptown restaurant was designed with community in mind, and they nailed it! They created comfort food that you want to share with family and friends and the perfect atmosphere to do that. The portions are great for sharing. They offer indoor and outdoor seating. Order the crawfish boil fried chicken and biscuits, the pimento cheese dip, and finish it off with a cookie dough s’more. It’s a true experience the whole family can enjoy!

Blue Crab – Lakefront views, delicious seafood, and live music Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights! The Blue Crab gives you a meal experience that feels like you are on vacation. They have a family friendly environment and indoor and outdoor seating with beautiful views of Lake Pontchartrain. Come catch the sunset while enjoying dinner and make some special New Orleans memories together!

Rum House – The atmosphere here is loud and fun meaning your noisy kids will not distract anyone from their meal at the Rum House. This means it’s as relaxing for you as it is for everyone else! The food is delicious and well priced. The Magazine Street location is happening. The drinks are delightful and refreshing. It’s full of college students, young singles, families, and everyone in between. It’s got a great crowd at virtually any time of the day/week because it’s really figured out how to make dining out fun and delicious for everyone!

Camellia Grill – Pull up to the counter at this uptown diner opened in 1946 for a true retro feel! They are known for their burgers, breakfast food, and milkshakes so your kids will be as excited about the food as they are about the traditional diner experience! Plus, every New Orleans kid has to eat at this landmark location at least once!

Port Orleans Brewing Co. – This Uptown brewery offers it’s own craft beer and lots of delicious food options. The spacious interior, the patio, and the kid friendly backyard make this an ideal family outing when you need to get out of the house, but want to insure that you also get to relax and enjoy your time as well! They also have board games, toys, and coloring books that your kids can play with. This brewery is the perfect destination to catch a game with the family or enjoy a weekend afternoon.

Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar (Lakefront Location) – Come watch the boats from Felix’s deck and enjoy the scenery while eating some of New Orleans’ most famous oysters.

Dat Dog – It doesn’t get more family friendly than a restaurant that centers around hotdogs! You can get your hotdog any which way you desire and finish it off with loaded fries or tater tots. All of the New Orleans locations offer outdoor seating, but the Freret and Magazine Street locations offer a large patio that offers plenty of space to explore for the kiddos. The interior is spacious as well at all of the locations and there are tvs inside and out making it perfect for a quick family dinner or a Saints watch party destination with the kids!

Hummus and More – Hummus and More, located in Metairie, offers delicious Mediterranean entrees. The kids menu includes classics like chicken tenders and burgers, but also offers shrimp and gyros if you are looking to give your child’s palate something new!

Frankie and Johnny’s – This uptown neighborhood restaurant, established in 1942, serves up all the traditional New Orleans feels. The food, the atmosphere, and even the claw machine embody the classic New Orleans family dining experience. This restaurant is full of local families feasting on crawfish, po boys, and red beans. Indoor and outdoor seating available.

Superior Grill – Take the street car down to Superior Grill to load up on delicious Mexican food and some of the best Margaritas in the city! The restaurant welcomes noise and revelry, and the covered patio is the perfect dining spot for families.

Origami Restaurant – Feeling like sushi, but wondering which restaurant can handle your kids? This Ferret street sushi spot has a fenced in patio and ample interior space!  There is no kids menu, but there are lots of kid friendly options.

Parkway Bakery and Tavern – Hankering for a po boy? Then head to Mid City and order a famous Parkway Po Boy. Most of the seating is outside in a spacious patio that both contains and entertains your children. The food is award winning so go early to beat the much deserved crowds.

Gattuso’s – This Westbank restaurant offers the kid’s menu to beat all kid’s menus. They have appetizer, entree, and dessert options designed with your youngest family members in mind. The food choices are plentiful, and the courtyard dining makes it easier to let your kids roam free while you enjoy your meal.

RiverShack Gretna – Right down the street from Gattuso’s you also have the Rivershack! With its huge selection of food you are bound to find something for anyone. They have a large drink menu, TVs everywhere for game days, and a wonderful turfed area where kids can run and play in front of a beautiful mural or go sliding down the levee on a cardboard box. This is a great place to enjoy a meal and let the kids be kids.

Best Family Friendly Restaurants In New Orleans
River Shack Gretna

Toast – The new Gretna location for this beloved breakfast spot caters specifically to kids! With an amazing menu and fun atmosphere, this is the perfect place to grab a bite and stay a while. They have a large, covered outdoor seating area AND a play place for the kids that is surrounded by a brick mural. You can keep the chaos contained while sipping a mimosa, what else could you need? Find our full review of this great restaurant here.

Ralph’s on the Park – Looking for something a little fancier to help celebrate a special occasion? Ralph’s is the perfect introduction to finer dining for New Orleans children. They offer a kid’s menu and crayons, and they are located steps away from City Park so you can run some of the wiggles out before or/and after dinner.

Mopho – Kid’s menus don’t have to be boring, and family friendly restaurants can offer more than just burgers and chicken fingers. The children’s menu at Mopho offers steamed buns, spring rolls, and pho! Yes, please! The staff is great with kids and they love to see families enter their doors. This is the perfect destination when you really want to kick it up a notch and try something new as a family! Mopho is located in Mid City.

Ruby Slipper – This restaurant is synonymous with brunch in the New Orleans area, and with over 7 New Orleans locations operating or in the works, you can find one pretty close to your neighborhood! Ruby Slipper caters to families and their restaurants make brunching with kids delightful at any time of day! We should also tell you that this summer you can order nectar snowball stuffed French toast, and that sound AMAZING!

Northshore

Hambone – This Mandeville eatery is truly kid friendly! They offer picnic style seating outside in addition to a beautiful interior. The food, created by a former Commander’s Palace chef, is outstanding so you won’t be sacrificing quality of food for quality of experience here!

The Beach House – The Beach House brings that laid-back beach vibe to Mandeville! A wide menu selection, a coffee bar, tropical drinks, and a sandpit with toys make this a home run pick for a meal out with the family.

El Paso – A favorite of Slidell Parents! El Paso has a playground so you can enjoy your meal from the patio while they are fully entertained!

The Anchor – This Madisonville gem is perfect for families with kids of all ages (and your four legged friends too)! It features an amazing playground and with its open air concept, there is plenty of room to relax AND play. Read our full review here!

Blind Tiger – This waterfront Slidell restaurant offers great views and a wonderful sand play area complete with toys! It serves up a relaxed Caribbean vibe and it’s known for it’s seafood and tacos. You can visit their Covington location as well!

Pizza Platoon – If you’ve ever eaten out with kids, you know that sometimes you just want something FAST! Well Pizza Platoon in Slidell manages to deliver super delicious pizza at super fast speeds. And, as an added bonus, they have a gated patio making it easier to wrangle your kids in the short time you do have to wait. This restaurant has strong Military ties, and it gives a portion of its profits to Camp NORA, a transition home for Veterans who need a hand. Dining with a purpose is a great example to show your kids!

Middendorf’s – Middendorf’s has been serving Louisiana families for 85 years from its Manchac location, and they have a second location in Slidell! They are famous for their thin fried catfish and family friendly atmosphere. The experience and the food are worth the drive!

The Shack – Family friendly atmosphere with backyard games for kids of all ages and outdoor seating. You can sit back, relax, and watch the kids have a good time!

We hope this list can serve as a guide the next time you find yourself wondering, “where am I going to take the family to eat in New Orleans tonight?”

Have you tried any of these restaurants? What did you think? What did we miss? Where is your go to New Orleans family restaurant?

Catherine Karas
Catherine followed her college sweetheart (and now wife) Claire to New Orleans after they both graduated from the University of Georgia. She is a twin mom, a stay at home mom, a boy mom, a Disney mom, and a 2 mom family mom...just to name a few. She throws a mean toddler play date and loves to host small humans in her home for themed out events! She is often planning her next great family adventure, and she is never scared to pack her twins up for a trip solo! Her parenting mantra is "embrace the chaos", and there is plenty of that when raising twin boys! You can follow her family adventures on instagram @krewedekaras

2 COMMENTS

  1. Great list! You included some of ours favs: Rum House, District Donuts and Superior Grill. Have you tried Willie Mae’s Scotch House for fried chicken, mashed potatoes and lima beans?…..so good!

  2. You left off The Shack in Covington. They have a huge outdoor play yard in the back with picnic tables and toys for the kiddos. Plus their food and drinks are amazing!!

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