Kid Friendly Upscale Restaurants
Aug/26/06 04:27 PM | Dining
The Oregonian's article yesterday on
kid-positive upscale restaurants, while great,
missed a few excellent Pearl District spots.
Silk and Park Kitchen never fail to provide a
great dining experience for our entire family.
Park Kitchen is a sentimental favorite, since they opened right after The Kid was born and I spent most of my maternity leave eating salmon terrine at the tables out front. The location across from the Park is excellent - if the view of basketball and bocce doesn't keep The Kid occupied, it's easy to burn off some energy between courses. And the staff have always been amazing, enjoying indulgent moments like The Kid's early verbal moment where he called the twist in my martini a snake. But it's the carbs that really captured Jake's heart. I have had to spear adult's hands with my fork to keep them from stealing the child's pasta (fresh pasta, plenty of butter) that was ordered for Jake. And the crackers on the bread plate have no equal. For a child who mostly eats beige, this is a dream restaurant.
Silk, the new incarnation of Pho Van, seems way too hip and smooth to be good for kids. But the happy hour in the bar cannot be beat, and children are welcome. The owners and staff are caring and understanding - expediting orders for small diners and understanding their need to play with the rice in a basket near the door. The lighting, including the snaking lights behind the banquet, is enthralling and calming to Jake. And the music can charm and relax the most stressed out parent. Again, carbs rule. Rice comes in a precious blue china pot with a lid, and chop sticks. And the bartender is adept at making mocktails in small glasses for small diners, complete with flowers.
Park Kitchen is a sentimental favorite, since they opened right after The Kid was born and I spent most of my maternity leave eating salmon terrine at the tables out front. The location across from the Park is excellent - if the view of basketball and bocce doesn't keep The Kid occupied, it's easy to burn off some energy between courses. And the staff have always been amazing, enjoying indulgent moments like The Kid's early verbal moment where he called the twist in my martini a snake. But it's the carbs that really captured Jake's heart. I have had to spear adult's hands with my fork to keep them from stealing the child's pasta (fresh pasta, plenty of butter) that was ordered for Jake. And the crackers on the bread plate have no equal. For a child who mostly eats beige, this is a dream restaurant.
Silk, the new incarnation of Pho Van, seems way too hip and smooth to be good for kids. But the happy hour in the bar cannot be beat, and children are welcome. The owners and staff are caring and understanding - expediting orders for small diners and understanding their need to play with the rice in a basket near the door. The lighting, including the snaking lights behind the banquet, is enthralling and calming to Jake. And the music can charm and relax the most stressed out parent. Again, carbs rule. Rice comes in a precious blue china pot with a lid, and chop sticks. And the bartender is adept at making mocktails in small glasses for small diners, complete with flowers.