Gonna be coming into the Metroplex this weekend to meet some family and dragging the kids along.

Looking for recommendations for kid friendly places to grab both lunch and dinner. Preferably places we can get good drinks or beer and not get judged for having kids in tow.

For your troubles

What part of the metroplex?

I would hate to give you recs that are an hour away from where you will be

Yeah forgot to add well be staying in Arlington.

So I live in Arlington. Not sure of your preferences, but sounds like you wanna eat, have a few and hang out.

1. Texas Live - Rangers are out of town, so it'll be easy to get in. Lots of different places to eat and hang out. From pizza to top shelf barbeque to gourmet hamburger joints.



2. Mariano's - Where the frozen margarita was created. Affordable good Mexican food with great drinks.



3. Campo Verde - It's always Christmas there - always.



4. Gloria's - Salvadoran food in upscale setting with great bar selection.

Good call on Mariano's, my kids love that place, but I think it's because of the coin-operated pony rides at the one in Lake Highlands.

If you can make it 20 and Bowen and like sports, Bobby V's is pretty cool. I loved that place as a kid. It's a sports bar, just to be clear, but might be fun if you've got sports-loving kids.

FYI - last time I went to Bobby V's, it really sucked. Maybe it was just a bad day as I used to love the place, but I haven't been back since then.

Might very well be true. I haven't been in 15 years or so, but I loved it when I was a kid in the 90s.

Since the Rangers are out of town I would definitely recommend Texas Live! Huge complex with great selections of restaurants and bars. Lots of gaming activities for kids.

Texas Live is like Vegas in Texas. If you have kids, this is a no brainer.

I'm always looking for places like this so keep it coming. We like Zoli's. It's right at Hulen and 30. Good pizza and has a play area for kids to run around. Rogers roundhouse is another good spot in the same area. No playground, but lots of space for kids to roam if need be. The menu is limited, but everything I've tried is really good. I always forget about Central Market, but have done that several times in the past too. I'm not sure if they all have playgrounds but the one in Fort Worth does.

Great suggestions! Thanks

I know it's hot as balls outside but any good patio lunch spots? Maybe a cool beer garden type place

Texas Live has outdoor areas as well.

I get that but we're visiting for 3 days.

While Texas Live is certainly on the must see list and we're definitely going at some point. I don't wanna eat all 9 meals there.

I'd like to get out see the city some.

Ag_07 said:

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I get that but we're visiting for 3 days.

While Texas Live is certainly on the must see list and we're definitely going at some point. I don't wanna eat all 9 meals there.

I'd like to get out see the city some.

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If you want to come into Dallas, Klyde Warren Park has foodtrucks at lunchtime and the kids can run around.

The hg supply in trophy club has a place for the kids to run around and is good eating. Little bit of a drive for y'all though.

Love babes and there's a bunch around the metroplex

Legacy Hall in Plano

Ag_07 said:

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Great suggestions! Thanks

I know it's hot as balls outside but any good patio lunch spots? Maybe a cool beer garden type place

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Old School Pizza has a patio. Nothing really for kids except pizza

El Gabacho has a patio. Both of these are in Arlington

Breakfast Brothers is in South Arlington. It's really good but super limited seating so expect a wait.

Tipsy Oak in Downtown Arlington is a good spot for what you are looking for. You can also walk to a few breweries and other places from there if you want to make a day out of it.

The Rustic in Dallas would work as they have an outdoor area and the kids could run around out there.

albatross said:

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Good call on Mariano's, my kids love that place, but I think it's because of the coin-operated pony rides at the one in Lake Highlands.

If you can make it 20 and Bowen and like sports, Bobby V's is pretty cool. I loved that place as a kid. It's a sports bar, just to be clear, but might be fun if you've got sports-loving kids.

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I would have assumed that closed 10 - 15 years ago.

Was a favorite of mine. Been 25 years probably since I was there last. Wasn't there a movie theater right by it?

I mean it's right by the Parks mall, maybe that's what you're thinking of. It was a pretty cool place to go in the 90s. Met Bobby himself there one time.

Still there and still looks the same as I remember it in 1988

I would recommend Hat Creek because it has a nice playground and serves beer. However, the burgers suck, so it's not worth it.

Agree, they did so good on the atmosphere.

Baby Dolls?

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Good call on Mariano's, my kids love that place, but I think it's because of the coin-operated pony rides at the one in Lake Highlands.

If you can make it 20 and Bowen and like sports, Bobby V's is pretty cool. I loved that place as a kid. It's a sports bar, just to be clear, but might be fun if you've got sports-loving kids.

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You're joking. That place is still open? (And still there?)

I think the last/only time I went was early '90s.

Surprised no one has mentioned Dave and Busters. Another place that at least has some coin operated games and good enough food for the kids is J Gilligans. We were there a couple of weeks ago and they were a little understaffed, but who isn't?

planoaggie123 said:

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albatross said:

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Good call on Mariano's, my kids love that place, but I think it's because of the coin-operated pony rides at the one in Lake Highlands.

If you can make it 20 and Bowen and like sports, Bobby V's is pretty cool. I loved that place as a kid. It's a sports bar, just to be clear, but might be fun if you've got sports-loving kids.

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I would have assumed that closed 10 - 15 years ago.

Was a favorite of mine. Been 25 years probably since I was there last. Wasn't there a movie theater right by it?

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Yep, there used to be a Loews theatre there. Where I saw many a movie in the late 90s. Last I saw, that place had been converted into a self-storage place.

Squirrel Master said:

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planoaggie123 said:

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albatross said:

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Good call on Mariano's, my kids love that place, but I think it's because of the coin-operated pony rides at the one in Lake Highlands.

If you can make it 20 and Bowen and like sports, Bobby V's is pretty cool. I loved that place as a kid. It's a sports bar, just to be clear, but might be fun if you've got sports-loving kids.

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I would have assumed that closed 10 - 15 years ago.

Was a favorite of mine. Been 25 years probably since I was there last. Wasn't there a movie theater right by it?

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Yep, there used to be a Loews theatre there. Where I saw many a movie in the late 90s. Last I saw, that place had been converted into a self-storage place.

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Thank you! I almost posted something the other day about this but I didn't want to double-down on being crazy haha.

I went and did a google maps and I saw that storage and noticed the front window and strongly felt that was a ticket window and thus likely where I went to watch movie with my family....after which we often went to Bobby V's....

j. gilligan's. irish nachos.

Squirrel Master said:

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planoaggie123 said:

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albatross said:

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Good call on Mariano's, my kids love that place, but I think it's because of the coin-operated pony rides at the one in Lake Highlands.

If you can make it 20 and Bowen and like sports, Bobby V's is pretty cool. I loved that place as a kid. It's a sports bar, just to be clear, but might be fun if you've got sports-loving kids.

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I would have assumed that closed 10 - 15 years ago.

Was a favorite of mine. Been 25 years probably since I was there last. Wasn't there a movie theater right by it?

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Yep, there used to be a Loews theatre there. Where I saw many a movie in the late 90s. Last I saw, that place had been converted into a self-storage place.

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No way. That was the Bowen 8 United Artists theater. The Loews was down a ways off little road next to No Frills. They tore it down and built a QuikTrip in it's place. Of course in between those was the Green Oaks AMC 13.

Quinn said:

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The Rustic in Dallas would work as they have an outdoor area and the kids could run around out there.

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Please don't be the person that brings kids to a bar to let them "run around"

GAC06 said:

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Quinn said:

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The Rustic in Dallas would work as they have an outdoor area and the kids could run around out there.

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Please don't be the person that brings kids to a bar to let them "run around"

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I always thought young people liked it when i brought my screaming kids to a bar and had them run around their table like a track event....

GAC06 said:

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Quinn said:

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The Rustic in Dallas would work as they have an outdoor area and the kids could run around out there.

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Please don't be the person that brings kids to a bar to let them "run around"

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What about a brewery?

GAC06 said:

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Quinn said:

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The Rustic in Dallas would work as they have an outdoor area and the kids could run around out there.

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Please don't be the person that brings kids to a bar to let them "run around"

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I haven't been there in a 2 or 3 years, but there were often tweens running around the backyard area.

https://www.vectorbrewing.com/