Eating out with large group of children

This last weekend, I got to eat out at Cheesecake Factory (this one here) in Rancho Cucamonga.
A mom called ahead, and every few minutes a mom carrying a bag and a toddler appeared, a snack plate landing on the table before anyone could make a hungry sound.
Six of us successfully ate there on a Sunday! it was a blast and afterwards we played at the playground and rode the train, trickling away as nap times and other factors weighed in.
I had the quesadilla off of the breakfast menu, wanting to save my sweet tooth for cheesecake later. So Foodie Baby had his snack plate of bananas and bread (previously mentioned here) black beans, bites of tortillas, pico de gallo, and various nibbles from my breakfast.

There were several factors that led to the success of the brunch out...

*First, there was an adult for every kid. Seating was odd, since the Cheesecake Factory mostly has booth and benches- we were seated at a long table with half of it a bench seat, so the kids could only be in the aisle. To help condense the group, I actually sat across from Foodie Baby, and he with a mom on each side. I did a lot of the work, but the other two moms were very helpful to have there! If he hadn't of been a very good boy that day, the arrangement might not have worked.
I also played with another one who was on the bench seat by me while his mom talked and helped keep him from climbing the table.
*We ate early. Cheesecake Factory opens at 10 am on Sundays. That made it more of a snack for the little ones, but also put it far enough away from nap time there were no tired meltdowns. The restaurant was also quiet, so not only did we have a lot of waiter attention, but errant toys would not be an issue to neighboring diners. There were also less people to care is someone shouted in their high chair.
*Eating kids are happy kids. Entertained with bread from a bread basket, a packed snack, or ordering an appetizer as soon as possible for them to share... whatever works. The snack plates made some of them happy the entire time we ate.
*We had a good waitress. She made sure the snack plates were there when everyone was seated and helped clear plates as they were emptied or condensed them.
* We enjoy the adult and baby company. Foodie Baby happily got attention from other moms while I played with another one. If I had been there just to talk with the other moms (which is always nice as well, and we had some nice conversations) it wouldn't have worked as well.

It worked with these factors, but seating wise Cheesecake Factory is not the best option for a group with many high chairs with the many booths in the restaurant.

Any other tips for eating out with a bigger group and multiple kids? Any restaurants you find success with? Why?

Dapper Snappers review and giveaway!

A few months ago, I was finishing up a nice early dinner with my mom and Foodie Baby at a Cheesecake Factory in Brea, CA (I had the luau salad, he had the butter-and-Parmesan-covered pasta, I forget what my mom had).
Being a tired mommy not used to her child's new tendency to hike wherever he wanted, when I got out of the booth I took him out of the high chair and put him down, then turned to grab the diaper bag.
It was a nice busy area of the restaurant, a birthday party across from our booth that had several ladies smiling when Foodie Baby clapped with the rest of the table, and multiple servers bringing their entrees.
Foodie Baby (as I think the more experienced mothers are now guessing) went toddling down the row of booths. Unfortunately, his pants, which had to be long enough to cover his slim legs in the cool weather, were too loose in the waist, and as I tried to dodge servers and catch my suddenly speeding wobbler, his pants started slipping down past his Pampers-clad booty and treating a traffic jam as he slowed.
I grabbed him in a swoop and carried him away, pulling up his pants as I did so. Thankfully, no one tripped over him, not even the nice waitress carrying multiple plates.

Foodie Baby has spent time rocking some seriously sagged jeans, and I hadn't found a solution yet besides letting him wear high-water jeans that fit his waist or folding the waistband over (not a good solution either).
(before picture, to the left)

I tried a Dapper Snapper belt, and the saggy pants haven't been a problem when wearing it. At all.

Seriously, I love this thing.

Foodie Baby's Dapper Snapper toddler belt fastens on through the back three loops of his pants.

It is totally adjustable depending on the size needed. Right now, Foodie Baby wears two snaps in on one side, one on the right. It is stretchy so there is give for active growing children.

Dapper Snappers come in many colors and several patterns, so you could match your boy's belt or girl's belt to their outfit- Foodie Baby's navy one goes well with his jeans.

He's a tee-shirt and jeans type of toddler.

(Also one that climbs tables, chairs and couches. But I digress.)

There's several other styles, including clips instead of snaps and an adult-sized Dapper Snapper belt (hello, expectant moms!)

Dapper Snappers are designed to be worn for children aged 9 months to six years- one size fits all.

(Below is a supplied photo from Dapper Snapper)

In restaurant situations, you can have a fidgety, squirmy, wiggly little one being lifted in and out of a high chair or booster. Having a belt for an outfit a little on the baggy side can be helpful.

Not only by less risk of the pants coming off when they are lifted out of the high chair (thank goodness, only at home has that happened) or to help keep errant food out of their diaper (excellent place for cracker crumbs... a fun surprise during diaper changes!)

Learned from experience: I recommend to put the Dapper Snapper belt on the pants before putting them on your toddler when you're getting dressed, otherwise you have a melodramatic kid not wanting to stand or sit patiently while you thread it through, or you will have to undress them to put the belt on, then chase them to pin them down and get them dressed again.

At least if they are like Foodie Baby.

Authorized Giveaway

One lucky winner will win a $25 gift certificate to the Dapper Snapper website!

You must do the following and post separate comments for each entry (including an email address)

Follow Foodie Baby on Google and/or on Facebook (if you already do, please say so)

Follow Dapper Snappers on Facebook and post on their wall

Bonus entry!

Follow Dapper Snappers on Twitter

Contest will run a week. Winner will be chosen at random on Monday, January 3rd at noon.

Good way to start a new year, right?

December 29, 2010- Contest extended due to lack of entries. Winner will be announced Monday, January 10, 2010.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: I was given a Dapper Snapper belt to review for this blog. I received no monetary compensation for my review.

Cheesecake Factory, Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga

Foodie Baby

As soon as I was seated and comfortable, a really cute waitress brought me a plate of bread and bananas. Now that's service! I dove into that and Mommy was happy she could look at the menu without wrestling me. Usually Mommy finds a snack in the bag or
It was nice to sit in the aisle, lean back and get every waitress to smile at me. Especially after that guy in the red suit wanting me to take pictures with him. I was cool with a total stranger handing me candy, but pictures with him were a bit much. And my mommy, daddy and uncle were laughing.

Mommy

We went to go see the best Santa Claus in our area (according to me! We've seen him the last two years, which makes total Santa visits for Foodie Baby... two.)
It was a nice rainy Saturday (which turned into a rainy Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and now Wednesday) which made the line for Santa a short two minutes (my friend wanted to go see the South Coast Plaza one, which was a 3 hour wait. They didn't make it).
I hinted and hinted and soon my husband, Foodie Baby, his uncle and I were sitting in Cheesecake Factory.
I have been to that location before, and outside on the patio is a nice place to eat with a child in a stroller (as well as nurse on a nice spring day).
I stepped into the rest room (only changing table in the handicapped stall) and when I was back, Foodie Baby was seated at the end of a booth waiting for me.
After getting the high chair replaced quickly (the strap was broken) Foodie Baby was brought a snack plate.
We had never gotten one anywhere, and since it was a cold rainy day and past lunch time, both Foodie baby and I were appreciative of the offering of bananas and bread.
Note: Foodie Baby did not wait for me to take a picture before he starting devouring banana.

Since he filed up on his little plate of food, we didn't order him a separate meal.
For lunch, we all split an order of the avocado egg rolls (Foodie Baby bit to bite into part of a whole egg roll, or you could pull out some of the avocado) and then had bites of my portabella on a bun burger (cut into bites for him) with sweet potato fries.
I highly recommend the avocado egg rolls. And the green tea (I even order a green tea at Starbucks, iced, sweetened, and I get the venti with one pump of peppermint besides the classic sweetener, just to pretend it's the Cheesecake Factory green tea).

The children's menu is disappointingly not online. Luckily, I snapped a quick pic of it in the restaurant. (click for bigger pic).

I have tried the butter-and Parmesan-covered noodles before for Foodie Baby, but he loved then a little too much and they gave him a tummy ache.

Unless you're willing to feed your baby or you have an older child adept with a fork, I would stay away from any of the pastas.

The pizza, like all Cheesecake Factory pizza, is thin crust.

Another great option would be to supplement some of the food off of your plate with something from the small bites menu.

As long as you're OK with having fried foods items like the fried zucchini, corn fritters, or opt instead for helping them with a dish of dish of edamame (shell for them) or sharing hummus with some flatbread with them for a smaller meal.

You could also add a side of broccoli or another choice to create a mini-meal.

Checklist

Changing table in handicapped stall

High chairs available

Much of the seating is booths or close together- plan to park stroller and use high chair if eating inside (especially if it's busy) dining outside easily accommodates use of stroller

Kid's menu/appetizers/small plates available

Kid's menu items come with choice of milk, apple juice, lemonade, or a soft drink