Family Friendly Restaurants

Ben's Bistro -- In the Franklin Institute at Logan Circle, Ben's is well set up for kids, serving cafeteria food, hamburgers, and hot dogs. You can enter without museum admission. (Never mind that Ben himself contracted gout from his own poor eating habits.)

Continental Mid-Town -- This colorful corner restau-bar is about good times and surprisingly good food -- including some potentially kid-friendly fare such as peanut butter and jam ice-cream sandwiches and a lobster mac and cheese that you might not want to share with junior.

Delicatessen -- "Modern Jewish" translates to overstuffed corned beef sandwiches, matzo ball pho, "Sephardic" (salmon) seviche, pressed pastrami, brown mustard, pickles and American cheese "Jubano" sandwiches -- served to customers seated along wooden pews.

Famous 4th Street Delicatessen -- This classic Jewish deli serves up portions big enough to share: scrambled eggs, pastrami dogs, matzo ball soup, kosher bologna sandwiches, potato knishes -- and free chocolate chip cookies.

The Food Court at Liberty Place -- At this spotless, large, and reasonably priced court, on the second floor of a gleaming urban mall in the heart of Center City, are quick-grab favorites like Sarku Japan, Café Spice, along with Subway, Saladworks, and Chick-Fil-A.

Franklin Fountain -- This old-fashioned ice cream "saloon" is for after the kids clean their plates. Open daily until late in the heart of Old City, the polished parlor offers throwback sundaes, banana splits, egg creams, and plain ol' scoops. 116 Market St. tel. 215/627-1899. www.franklinfountain.com.

Jones -- Close to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, this stylish lunch, dinner, and brunch eatery serves an all-encompassing menu that includes burgers, salads, and meat-and-potatoes platters.

Marathon On The Square -- You can dine on wonderful grilled salmon and have a nice glass of sauvignon blanc at this modern former diner just off Rittenhouse Square, while the kids choose from chicken fingers, pastas, and burgers. If they're noisy, no problem -- the atmosphere is very casual. Weekend brunch is incredibly popular here, too.

Winnie's LeBus -- This Manayunk eatery offers kids toys and crayons, plus more healthful -- but no less delicious -- versions of the grilled cheeses and burgers they would no doubt eat elsewhere.