| One of the challenges we faced as new parents | | | | playground is in the center of a bunch of GREAT |
| was what to do on those nights when you just | | | | restaurants, most of which have patio dining so |
| need to go out and grab a quick bite - no time to | | | | you can watch them play while you linger over |
| plan for a sitter or make reservations. Nothing in | | | | your food. Mama Fu's does great pan-asian good, |
| the fridge, too tired to slice and dice, or an all too | | | | Austin Java is perfect for lunch or brunch, |
| common scenario in our household: "Wait, I | | | | Waterloo Ice House will fill your burger needs, and |
| thought YOU were doing dinner tonight!?" When | | | | at Jason's deli you can even get a box lunch and |
| our child was a baby, this was fairly easy - pop | | | | sit on a bench under the trees. I35 and Slaughter, |
| him in the car seat, pop him into a high chair, and | | | | across from Supertarget |
| keep the zwieback coming. As he got older, it got | | | | Freddie's Place: Freddie's makes one of the |
| harder. We of course insist on good manners, but | | | | greatest burgers in town, and its outdoor area is |
| what three and half year old (or four, five or six, | | | | right next to a babbling brook, under big oak |
| for that matter) can sit perfectly still and quiet, | | | | trees. Their playscape isn't huge, but they have |
| even with crayons and a funny menu? | | | | around 5 picnic tables right next to it, all with |
| Lots of them you say? Good on ya! Not ours! To | | | | great sightlines to the stage, so you can integrate |
| preserve the family dining night out tradition, we | | | | your meal, play and music. The atmosphere is |
| learned quickly that a place with a playscape could | | | | South Austin cool, and the food is terrific, and |
| accommodate our need for dinner out with a | | | | although parking can be an issue, it is worth it to |
| three year old's need to get his ya-ya's out. | | | | get their early and let the kids play while you and |
| Austinites are particularly lucky in this regard, | | | | your friends (or spouse, unless , as in my case, |
| because so much of the year is outdoor weather | | | | he's on the stage) catch up on adult talk. 1703 S |
| for us, and so many great places for family dining | | | | 1st St Austin, TX 78704 (512) 445-9197 |
| are out there. Here are our current favorite | | | | Patsy's Cowgirl Café: Patsy's playscape is |
| places to eat that have playscapes. | | | | outside of the dining area, but it is still a great help |
| Southpark Meadows: I had, shall we say, "issues" | | | | in burning off steam. Sometimes we get a drink |
| with finding good food and play in a shopping | | | | and hang out while he plays and slides and runs |
| center, but this place rocks. The playscapes are | | | | around with the other kids that are bound to be |
| HUGE and inventive - woven through enormous | | | | there. The décor inside is really fun, and |
| shade trees, with slides galores. There is a | | | | since we are usually there to see a band, we can |
| fantastic little area where water shoots up from | | | | usually work it to where he starts winding down |
| the ground - so perfect for letting the little guys | | | | and wanting dinner as the music starts. 5001 E. |
| cool off. They even have live music outside, | | | | Ben White Boulevard, Austin TX 78741. |
| periodically. The best part, though, is that the | | | | |