Cafe Pinot and Pinot Bistro are upscale offshoots of chic Patina that don't often come to mind when you're searching for family eats, and many kids are certainly too antsy to behave during an entire bistro meal. But the Pinot dynasty welcomes little ones with a special child-friendly menu, and kids under 11 can order anything from the menu free of charge. It's a great way to enjoy L.A.'s finest and stay close to your budget, too.
On the other end of the scale is Pink's Hot Dogs in Hollywood, an institution that has been serving politically incorrect franks for what seems like forever. Everyone loves Pink's chili dogs, but you may never get the orange grease stains out of your kids' clothes.
The Mexican minichain Kay 'n Dave's Cantina is a great spot to fuel up with the kids at the start of a long day. They serve five kinds of fluffy pancakes, a killer breakfast burrito, enchiladas, fajitas, and more -- all cooked lard-free -- plus there's a kids' menu and crayons at every table.
Miceli's, in Universal City, is a cavernous Italian restaurant that the whole family is sure to love. The gimmick? The waitstaff sings show tunes or opera favorites while serving (and sometimes instead of). Kids will love the boisterous atmosphere, which might even drown them out.
Jerry's Famous Deli, in Studio City, is frequented mostly by industry types who populate this Valley community; their kids often sport baseball caps or production T-shirts from Mom's or Dad's latest project. Jerry's has the most extensive deli menu in town and a casual, coffee-shop atmosphere. Families flock here for lunch, early dinner, and (crowded) weekend breakfast.
