| News and Tips from OpenTable
Last week the OpenTable team threw our third annual Champagne and sushi party at Matsuhisa during the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. We were honored to be joined by Nobu Matsuhisa himself, the renowned chef and international restaurateur behind more than 30 restaurants featuring his signature Japanese fusion cuisine.
We took the opportunity to ask Nobu all about his success, challenges, and what he’s learned along the way. Read on for his best advice.Continue Reading
In London, dining out with kids doesn’t have to involve fast food or noisy theme restaurants. You can introduce your little ones to international flavours at family-friendly chains like Wahaca and Masala Zone, linger over lunch at a local gastropub, or snack on street food at local food markets. But what if you fancy something a little special? We’ve rounded up five restaurants that offer kid-friendly fine dining in London that the whole family will enjoy.
HIX Soho
At his buzzy Soho restaurant, chef Mark Hix celebrates the very best of British cuisine – from superb steaks and chops to fresh fish and classic British desserts. Hix has campaigned for better quality childrens’ menus in the past, so it’s no surprise that little foodies are well catered for in his restaurant. Young diners can enjoy dishes like prawn cocktail, chicken escalope with wild herb salad, or the classic fish fingers with chips and mushy peas. Budding artists are encouraged to draw a picture of their experience at HIX which is then entered into a prize draw. Make a reservation at HIX Soho.
Tredwell’s
Offering ‘modern London cooking’ in the heart of Seven Dials, Marcus Wareing’s Tredwell’s is a real treat for foodies. Last year, the restaurant was named AA Restaurant of the Year in London for 2015/2016. Younger diners have their own Junior Menu, but adventurous eaters might be tempted by dishes from the main menu like crispy buttermilk chicken and tomato soup with a basil pesto toastie for dipping. The dessert menu is in a league of its own, so don’t even think about getting your sugar fix at M&M World on Leicester Square. Kids will love the salted caramel soft serve with honeycomb, while the grown-ups tuck into gin & tonic cheesecake or a selection of cheeses from La Fromagerie. Make a reservation at Tredwell’s.
Heddon Street Kitchen
At Gordon Ramsay’s West End restaurant, kids can dine for free every day of the week from a menu created by his daughter Tilly. Choose from dishes like rigatoni bolognese, scampi and chips, and sticky chicken wings but save room for dessert – the Ramsay Whoopie Pie or make-your-own-ice-cream from the Ice Cream Bar. The restaurant is situated close to Piccadilly Circus, only a short walk from kid-friendly attractions like Hamleys Toy Shop and Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Don’t miss their Teddy Bear’s Brunch on July 17th! Make a reservation at Heddon Street Kitchen.
Foodie parents, stop worrying. Just because now have tiny tots in tow when you go out to dinner doesn’t mean you can only eat at places that have cartoon mascots, a video game room, and an all-deep-fried kids menu. In fact, when you’re in New York City or San Francisco, you can dine at some of the finest restaurants around. Not only do they have four stars, but they’re able to accommodate four-year-olds, too. Here are six big-ticket kid-friendly fine dining restaurants for little ones in the Big Apple and the Golden City.
Le Perigord
One of the finest and fanciest French restaurants in Manhattan is more than happy to host petits convives (little diners). Owner Georges Briguet, who has four children and seven grandchildren, loves having kids around. “I don’t even mind if they cry in the restaurant,” he says. “It’s better than music.” There is no children’s menu, so servers simply ask what dishes might work best. Favorites include the vegetable tart or lobster bisque for appetizers, while a variety of pastas, turbot filet, and the burger are the most often-ordered mains. Sometimes Briguet will serve diminutive diners snails, sweetbreads, or frogs’ legs. “I don’t tell them what they’re eating until they’re done,” he says. “It’s important they are exposed to such flavors so early.” Meals finish with a visit from the “Temptation Wagon,” a cart laden with options such as chocolate mousse, tarte tatin, and raspberry tart. Make a reservation at Le Perigord now.
The Back Room at One57
Now you can encourage your kid’s love of reading while you dine. The Feed Your Mind program pairs children’s books from Phaidon Publishing – which are “served” on a vintage library cart – with tyke-friendly fare from chef Chad Brauze. So while they dive into Doodle Cook or Harold’s Hungry Eyes, they can dig into a salmon bento box, a turkey dog dressed up with cheddar cheese, or the kale salad with honey vinaigrette. Not only are many options quite healthy, but the experience also means your child won’t be draining your iPhone battery during dinner while they watch Wild Kratts episodes. Make a reservation at the Back Room at One57 now.
Agern
This past spring, Agern kicked off its Kids Table initiative. The chic, Danish-inspired restaurant and other high-end eateries in New York City hosted shorties-only meals for diners aged 7 to 14 years old, which raised money for the Melting Pot Foundation. “The idea is that kids should be trusted to try adult food and to challenge their palates,” says general manager Katie Bell. For the course of the meal, no adults were allowed in the restaurant, except the staff. The kitchen prepared a very grown-up menu for 55 small guests, including braised lamb. “One of the girls came to me and said, ‘It’s delicious, though it might be a little overcooked.’” Says Bell. “Only in New York.” Make a reservation at Agern now.
Farallon
The Instagram-worthy décor recalling 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea at this breezy sea-centric eatery in Union Square is enough to make it a hit with pint-sized eaters. Jellyfish- shaped fixtures emitting an otherworldly glow hang from the ceiling, columns mimic towers of kelp, and stools take the shape of octopuses. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s a “caviar staircase” covered in 50,000 iridescent indigo marbles leading up to the balcony overlooking the dining room. After your kid finishes ooh’ing and aah’ing, you can give them their first taste of caviar — or dare them to egg a sea urchin. Or you can simply order them a bowl of fettuccine – and forgo telling them it features smoked octopus (until after they finish devouring it). Make a reservation at Farallon now.
Restaurant staffers work overtime to create a warm, welcoming environment. But sometimes minors can cause them major headaches, and threaten to derail the establishment’s carefully crafted dining experience. By thinking quickly and being proactive, staffers can prevent your kid’s restaurant tantrums and make sure everyone goes home happy.
Walking through the dining room of Betony in New York City one evening, executive chef Bryce Shuman noticed something awry. A couple was dining with their six-year-old son, who clearly wasn’t enjoying himself. The youngster hadn’t touched the food on his plate, wore a grumpy expression, and was distractedly playing with his iPad. His dissatisfaction was impeding his parents’ ability to have a good time and enjoy their meal. So Shuman decided to try to turn around their experience. He sent a staffer out to the nearest grocery store to buy a bottle of ketchup and frozen curly fries. When they brought out the nicely plated treat soon afterwards, the kid’s face lit up and he dove in. The parents looked equally pleased. “It was a good moment,” says Shuman. “So much of what we do goes beyond simply serving food and wine; it’s about making people feel great. So anything I can do to make that happen, I’ll do it.”
Trummer’s on Main in Clifton, Virginia is used to hosting little diners, who usually don’t require much extra attention. But a few years ago, co-owner Victoria Trummer noticed a brother and sister – aged approximately five- and seven-years-old – were getting antsy during dinner and were itching to bolt. They had already finished their meal, but their parents’ entrees hadn’t arrived yet, so leaving wasn’t an option. The usual iPhone videos hadn’t worked as a diversion, so Trummer decided to come up with a better distraction. She and the kitchen crew assembled DIY sundae platter featuring scoops of vanilla and popcorn ice cream, candy, chocolate pecans, and housemade butterscotch. “The kids and the parents were elated,” she says. “The energy at the table and the dining room changed dramatically.” The experience help inspire the restaurant’s Petit Gourmand program, a high-end tasting menu for children that culminates with a make your own sundae that often makes the adults at the table jealous.
There’s an old saying, “When the mind wanders, happiness also strays.” This is certainly true with children in restaurants. Boredom can transform into a hissy fit in five seconds flat. That’s why Grace Abi-Najm Shea, co-owner of the Washington, D.C. area Lebanese Taverna restaurants is proactive in engaging children. If the smaller members of a party appear to need amusement, she uses a variety of techniques. Shea might take them into the kitchen to help make the eatery’s signature puffy pita bread. Another tactic is to bring them around the restaurant and introduce them to other guests, especially those with kids. If the children are a little older, she lets them play host and give guests their menus when they sit down. “The customers love it and the kids feel so important,” says Shea. “And the parents get a break, which is always nice.”Continue Reading
