July 14, 2010

(The Best) Patio Dining in and Around Dublin Ohio

Posted by irishattitude under Dublin Ohio Dining, Family Fun, Historic Dublin, Restaurants, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , |
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In the interest of helping Dublin, Ohio visitors learn more about popular local family friendly eateries (and good deals), we periodically feature guest posts by Dawn Scheurle, creator of the popular site: www.kidseatout.com. This is part one of a two-part post on great local patio dining.

I admit it. I’m a patio junkie.  When the weather begins to turn warm, you’ll never find me inside a restaurant, if I have any say in the matter. You just need to tally up the amount of time I have spent waiting to get a seat on the patio to see that I am not alone in my addiction!  Lucky for all of us, there are many ‘al fresco’ dining options in and around Dublin–ranging from the beautifully designed and landscaped, to those with just a few wrought iron tables and chairs on the front sidewalk.  If you want to eat outside this summer, check out this list.  :)

  • Oscar’s ~ Two tiered, patio and deck seating, on N. High St. in  Historic Dublin. You get a little traffic noise, but the quaint downtown setting and street-side, trendy feel all make up for that.
  • Tucci’s ~ Wonderful patio, umbrellas over every table. Also located on N. High St., but nicely separated from the street by the sidewalk and landscaping.
  • Cabo Cucina ~ It would be tough to beat this patio. It is located behind the restaurant along the Scioto River. You can’t see the river while seated but the stone walls, landscaping, and natural surroundings takes you to a whole new world….  one you may not be ready to leave once you’ve found it!
  • El Vaquero (Shawnee Hills location) ~ We loved this patio before they upgraded it! Now it is fully covered with open walls that can be closed if the weather demands it. Very nice.
  • Matt The Millers ~ (Located on Avery-Muirfield Rd.) There is a pond side patio on the east side of the building, so on hot nights you get the shade of the building. You get a little Avery Rd. traffic noise, but you won’t notice it much as you sip your wine under the umbrellas!
  • Luce’s (Powell) ~ Flowers + wrought iron + umbrellas = lovely. The patio is on the parking lot, but it’s not a busy one so it’s not much of an issue. It’s a little drive from Dublin, but we like it so much we thought it was worth the mention!
  • J Lui’s ~ It’s on Bridge Street (in Dublin’s Historic District) so there is a constant flow of traffic nearby, but just remember that everyone driving by is very jealous – wishing they were the ones dining on the patio!
  • Montgomery Inn ~ A little more formal than most patios because it has a full roof with closable walls so the tables, chairs, and decor can be more ‘inside’ style. It’s view from up on the hill is very pretty and we love the stone fireplace.
  • Digger and Finch ~ You wouldn’t know you were on Riverside Drive. This is a large patio located between the gorgeous stone building and the driving range. A relaxing getaway.
  • Dublin Village Tavern ~ In the heart of Historic downtown Dublin, this is a great casual outdoor patio. It fills up fast so get there early to get a seat!
  • Vittoria’s ~ (In Powell, OH) Offers one of the prettiest patios around. It is on the parking lot, but they have done a beautiful job of separating it with wrought iron trellises covered with climbing, flowering, vines.

And that’s just half of our list! (Check back in a few days to discover more of the prettiest patios in Central Ohio!) To learn more about these great local eateries (menus, specialties, prices, etc.), visit the Restaurant Section of the Dublin (OH) Convention & Visitors Bureau’s website: www.IrishisanAttitude.com

-Post by Dawn Scheurle

 

April 28, 2010

Part 3: KidsEatOut.com’s 12 Best Restaurants to Take the Kids

Posted by irishattitude under Dublin Ohio Dining, Family Fun, Insider tips, Restaurants | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |
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(In the interest of helping Dublin, Ohio visitors find deals on kids meals and family friendly eateries, we are featuring a series of guest posts by Dawn Scheurle, creator of the popular site: www.kidseatout.com – “restaurant reviews from a mom’s point of view.”   This is part 3 in a 4 part series.  

If you are like me, you are always on the search for family friendly restaurants that deliver on that magic combination of great value, nutritious choices, good food, convenience and ability to cater to kids. Here are a few more of my top choices (approved by my kids) …

Bravo.  Bravo is one of my favorite places to go with or without the kids!  It is a little more on the upscale side compared to some of the others on the list–so if you have particularly rambunctious children, it may not be for you.  The kids menu is huge, with chicken fingers (if you must), to all kinds of pasta and pizza. The servings are quite large, so for little appetites–you may want to share. They offer “Grande Kids, Meals for Small Adults” for more mature tastes (think Chicken Parmesan and Grilled Salmon). They even have a “Sides and Salads” section on the kids menu! Bravo has one of the most impressive kid’s menus out there.  The kids menu does come with crayons and activities, but you might have to ask for the raw dough to play with, as sometimes the wait staff forgets to bring it out!

Bob Evans.  Bob Evans is known for its family friendly atmosphere. You’ve probably eaten there at one time or another for breakfast.  Try it with your kids for dinner.  The kids menu is varied, with a complete Breakfast menu anytime, but lots of other options too–many very healthy. Their sides include low-fat strawberry yogurt, mashed potatoes and gravy, cottage cheese, broccoli, salad, fruit dish, baked potato, plus seven more. I love that they have grilled chicken strips (in addition to the usual fried), turkey, pancakes, etc. Everyone should be able to find something they like here. (Bonus deal: Bob Evans is a partner in the Dublin Ohio Convention & Visitors Bureau’s “Kids Eat FREE Columbus Zoo/Zoombezi Bay Getaway” package program. Book your online getaway and get FREE kids meal coupons to Bob Evans and up to five other restaurants!)

Noodles & Company. Noodles & Company is a great option when you are looking for something faster than a traditional sit-down restaurant but don’t want to do fast-food.  It’s in the fast-food category of restaurants, but that is where the connection ends.   For not quite two times what you would pay for a combo meal at another establishment, you can get a nice meal.  The restaurant recently added a selection of sandwiches too.

Instead of having a separate kids’ menu, all of the noodle bowls, soups and salads come in two sizes–small and large.  Small is great for older kids, and big enough to split between two smaller children.  Since every noodle dish is prepared to order, diners can customize–swapping or adding veggies and a protein like chicken or tofu. Mac ‘n’ cheese, buttered noodles and pasta with marinara sauce will appeal to picky eaters.  And be sure to ask for no spices or spices on the side for them too.  Food is served on real dishes and kids will love the colorful chopsticks holders.

Next….  The final 3.  Will your favorite be there?  :)  

 -Guest post by Dawn Scheurle, creator of www.kidseatout.com

 

 

April 21, 2010

Part 2: KidsEatOut.com’s 12 Best Restaurants to Take the Kids

Posted by irishattitude under Columbus Zoo, Dublin Ohio Dining, Family Fun, Insider tips, Restaurants | Tags: , , , , , , |
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(In the interest of helping Dublin, Ohio visitors find deals on kids meals and family friendly eateries, we are featuring a series of guest posts by Dawn Scheurle, creator of the popular site: www.kidseatout.com – “restaurant reviews from a mom’s point of view.”   This is part 2 in a 4 part series.  

As I mentioned before, there are so many things to consider when you are going out to eat with the kids. These include cost, nutritious options, convenience, value and ages of the kids (to name just a few).  I’ve compiled a list 12 of the best places to take your kids out to eat in the Dublin area. (I was going to do a top 10, but cutting the list down to 12 was hard enough!)  So, here are options #4-6, offering a little Italian flavor…

Bucca de Beppo. Buca di Beppo is a great choice for eating out with the family.  They treat the kids well, even taking them on a tour of the kitchen if they like!   The atmosphere is warm and busy enough to not worry about the kids being too loud.  They serve food family style in two sizes: Small feeds 2 – 3 people, Large feeds 4 – 6.  So if the kids like what you like, there is no need to order from the kids menu.  That being said, they do offer a kid’s menu with Italian choices (no chicken fingers, fries or hot dogs) that are very generous in size and a drink is included.  It’s also an ideal place to go if you have a large family or are celebrating a birthday or anniversary with extended family.  They take reservations and have lots of big tables. And, when you are passing the big food platters around, you can share multiple courses (including dessert). It’s a party! 

Olive Garden. Olive Garden is a family favorite. It seems to be a lot of people’s favorite given the lines we usually encounter!  The laid-back atmosphere and generous portions, the unlimited yummy salad and breadsticks, the killer lasagna, and the fact that mommy and daddy can have a glass of wine or Limoncello lemonade, make it worth the wait.  The kids menu is what you would expect at an Italian restaurant. Pizza, pasta, macaroni and cheese, plus chicken fingers with the option of broccoli instead of fries. Each meal comes with a drink in a take-home cup with a lid, and little diners are encouraged to share the grown-up’s salad and breadsticks.

Romano’s Macaroni Grill. They seriously love your kids.  Just the way they word their kids menu with things like ‘Filet of fish lightly crusted in-house’ and ‘Juicy, grilled chicken breast’ and ‘crisp salad’ lets you know kids aren’t an after-thought.  ‘Grilled Certified Angus Beef Kabobs with fresh broccoli’?  We’re impressed.  And it doesn’t stop there.  Along with an activity filled kids menu, the table are covered in paper so you can play tic-tac-toe with crayons, and they give the kids raw dough to play with to keep them occupied while they wait for their meals.  So sit back, relax, and enjoy the warm peasant bread and your glass of wine. There won’t be any arguing about choosing fries as a side over salad or broccoli either…. they don’t offer fries!   So you can feel okay about them finishing their meal with vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce for $.99!  All Kid’s items include a drink.

 So if you’re in the mood for a some Italian this week, give these places a try with your family.  Share with us what you think!  And stay tuned. We’re half way through with our list.  Six more of our favorite kid friendly restaurants more to go……… :)  

 -Guest post by Dawn Scheurle, creator of www.kidseatout.com

 

February 16, 2010

Dining Out with Kids in Central Ohio

Posted by irishattitude under Family Fun, Restaurants | Tags: , , , |
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(In the interest of helping Dublin, Ohio visitors find great deals on kids meals and family friendly eateries, we are featuring a guest post by Dawn Scheurle, creator of the popular site: www.kidseatout.com– “restaurant reviews from a mom’s point of view.”)

Going out to eat.  What a wonderful treat to be served, relax, enjoy great food, maybe have a glass of wine to unwind, and take a moment to reconnect with a friend or spouse.  Going out to eat with your kids.  Now that’s a little different………  

I’m not saying it can’t be great.  It just offers a few more challenges.

My name is Dawn and I am a Dublin resident, stay-at-home mom of 3 kids, and owner of a Web site called KidsEatOut.com: Restaurant reviews from a mom’s point of view.

So, a couple of years ago, I realized I had a problem.  My problem was this.  I like to eat out, I have 3 kids, and as much as I love Max & Erma’s for family dining, I needed someplace else to go! 

Living in Dublin, Ohio gives you a lot of choices, but I needed direction. I researched restaurant review sites online and found a lot of stuff, but nothing that pertained to the specific needs of families, let alone families in and around Dublin, Ohio.

I scoured the Internet for the kind of information I need as a mom, and just couldn’t find it.  I could find restaurant reviews, but they were mainly about the food (go figure!).  I could find a magazine article about the top 10 healthiest restaurants to take your kids, but only one on the list was in Ohio.  There were blogs listing kids eat free nights, but they weren’t located in Dublin, or even Columbus.  I just couldn’t find relevant, up to date information out there.  I began to think that if I was looking for this information, maybe other moms were, too. 

That’s how KidsEatOut.com was born. We do the research and visitors to the site can browse restaurants in the Columbus area, select one, and see just how ‘Kid Friendly’ the restaurant is.  Do they welcome families, have changing tables, kids deal days, booster seats, and kids menus?  Crayons?  

Something else I found in my research was the coveted, somewhat elusive, Holy Grail of eating out with kids.  Restaurants that offer Kids Eat Free days.  You’ve seen the sign in a window or heard about it from a friend, but remembering when and where?  That’s totally different.  So to help those out that don’t have a photographic memory (me), KidsEatOut.com has compiled a large list of over 50 local restaurants, sorted by days of the week, that offer discounts and free kids meals.  Everyone is cutting back in these tough economic times, so it’s a nice resource to have when you want to treat yourself and the family to a meal out.

Below are a few of the Dublin restaurants that offer kids deals. (Note:  Each restaurant has restrictions [age, time of day, purchase requirements, etc.])

  • Buffalo Wild Wings -  Kids meals are only $1.99 all day.  Balloon artist in the evening
  • Rise and Dine – Sawmill  -  Kids meals are $1.99, all day, every day
  • Max & Erma’s  -  Kids eat free on Tuesdays
  • Applebee’s  -  Kids eat free on Wednesdays
  • Hoggys  -  Kids eat free on Wednesdays
  • El Vaquero  -  Half price kids meals on Wednesdays
  • Baja Sol  –  Kids eat free Thursdays & Sundays

Dublin has some great kids menus too.  A few of KidsEatOut.com’s favorites are:

  • Jason’s Deli  -  Healthier and cheaper than fast food!  Plus free low-fat frozen yogurt for that little something sweet to finish off your meal!
  • Max & Erma’s  -  Still, and will always be, a family favorite.
  • Olive Garden  -  Unlimited family salad for sharing and good Italian food.
  • OutBack Steakhouse  -  Basic kid offerings PLUS grilled chicken, ribs, and steak
  • Bravo – Regular kids menu plus a ‘Grande kids’ menu for slightly older kids with more ‘sophisticated’ palates.
  • Panera  -  Each kids meal comes with an organic squeezable yogurt.
  • Bonefish Grill  -  Believe it or not!  (They even have changing tables!)
  • Matt the Millers – Fresh fruit is served with every kids meal.

Come visit www.kidseatout.com, and let us help you figure out where you’re going to go to dinner tonight!

-Guest Post by Dawn Scheurle

 

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