Many readers have asked me to identify restaurants that are "child friendly". To me, a child-friendly restaurant is one at which the service can be fairly rapid if requested (to avoid children becoming bored and thus noisy); where at least some of the dishes are especially suited to young people; and where there is enough going on in the restaurant to keep children interested and for the most part, in their seats and not interfering with waiters or other diners.

One has to keep in mind that Israel is more like Europe than the United States in this issue, and even though some restaurants have special menus for children, very few provide the range of activities that one finds in American eateries. Also as in Europe, most restaurateurs and the vast majority of people who dine out (including those with children of their own), feel that the late evening hours in good restaurants should be reserved for adults and not for young children. My own very strong feeling is that noisy, highly active or uncontrollable children should not be taken to dine out because they will spoil the pleasure of others who have come to dine. If, on the other hand, children of any age are quiet and orderly and care enough to respect the rights of others, there should be no problem in taking them to dine.

The restaurants listed below are among those I consider best suited for meeting the needs of children. Although the fast food chains and pizza parlors are not listed (this guide is, after all, meant primarily for fine dining for adults), parents should keep in mind that children tend to adore these places and because children are often at their best in such places, these can be "good bets" for casual dining out. Restaurants that are kosher are noted with the symbol (K). To find more details about each of these places, click on the area in which the restaurant is located.

Tel Aviv

Restaurant / Location / Time of Day

Batia / Jewish / Afternoon or evening
Big Mama / Italian + Pizza / Afternoon
Bix / Fish + Seafood / Afternoon
Black Steer / Steaks, Burgers, Sausages / Afternoon or evening
Dixie Grill Bar / Steak House / Afternoon
Giraffe Noodles Bar / Oriental Noodle House / Afternoon
Kyoto / Japanese / Afternoon
Maganda (K) / Middle-Eastern / Afternoon or early evening
Red Chinese / Chinese / Afternoon
Sea Bar / Fish and Seafood / Afternoon or early evening
Shaul's Inn (K) / Middle-Eastern / Afternoon
Shipudai ha Tikva (K) / Middle-Eastern (mostly meat) / Afternoon or evening
Spaghettim / Spaghetti / Afternoon
Tamuz / French-Mediterranean / Afternoon
Tandoori / Indian / Afternoon or early evening
Manta Ray / Fish, Seafood, Salads / Afternoon
Osteria da Fiorella / Italian / Afternoon or early evening
Tzion Exclusive (K) / Yemeni-Middle Eastern / Afternoon or early evening
Yehuda Avazi (K) / Middle-Eastern (mostly meat) / Afternoon or early evening

Jaffa

Restaurant / Location / Time of Day

Succa Levana / Fish and Seafood / Afternoon
Mino ha Dayag / Fish and Seafood / Afternoon
Rauf et Atina / Fish and Seafood / Afternoon

Herzliya and the Coastal Area

Restaurant / Location / Time of Day

Al ha Maym / Fish and Seafood / Afternoon or early evening
Black Steer / Steaks, Burgers, Sausages / Afternoon
Coconut / Thai / Afternoon or early evening
Idi / Fish and Seafood / Afternoon
Tandoori / Indian / Afternoon
Yellow Chinese / Chinese / Afternoon
Zuzubara / Noodles and More / Afternoon

Jerusalem Area

Restaurant / Location / Time of Day

Darna (K) / Moroccan / Afternoon or early evening
El Maraksesh (K) / Moroccan / Afternoon or early evening
Pepperonis / Italian / Afternoon or evening
Rama's Kitchen / Mediterranean / Afternoon
Rungsit (K) / Thai / Afternoon
Spaghettim / Spaghetti / Afternoon

Haifa and The North

Restaurant / Location / Time of Day

Auberge Shulamit / French-Mediterranean / Afternoon
BaBayt Shel Rafa / South American (mostly meat) / Afternoon
Chavat Bat Ya'ar / Steak House / Afternoon or evening
Dag Dagan (K) / Fish / Afternoon
Elbabor / Middle-Eastern / Afternoon or evening
Jascala / Middle-Eastern / Afternoon
Siam / Thai / Afternoon or early evening
Tzela ha Tavor / International / Afternoon or early evening
Vered ha Galil / American-International / Afternoon or evening

Eilat and the South

Restaurant / Location / Time of Day

Giraffe Noodles Bar (K) / Far-Eastern Noodles / Afternoon or early evening
Last Refuge / Fish and Seafood / Afternoon
Pago Pago / Fish and Seafood / Afternoon
Tandoori / Indian / Afternoon or early evening

© Daniel Rogov