Let’s Eat Kids!
Post by Scott 9/12/2024
I measure brewery trips by how many beers each activity equals. Board games? At least a beer. A good sized patch of grass? Same. Food? Two beers. The first beer when we order and wait, the second with the food. 72 minutes of quality family time out in the world is all I can ask for! This is not a rundown of every brewery with a kitchen, but a spotlight on some great places to grab lunch and a beer with your kids. It’s a modest proposal, but if you can make a straight up grilled cheese on white bread or a plain cheese pizza, take my money!
Resident Culture (South End and Plaza Midwood)
Both locations offer great BBQ for everyone including an awesome brisket sandwich, but a kid’s menu with mac and cheese, chicken tenders, and pulled pork sliders means a happy family. Get it with an included side and a juice box and you’re an amazing parent. You earned that Lightning Drops hazy IPA or Island Time lager!
Come for: Kids eat free Tuesday-Thursday!
I know I shout this place out a lot, but hear me out! It’s at the mall! Your kids want to be there anyway. Why not get a Day Dream Lager or a craft cocktail, an order of perfectly crispy Brussels Sprouts, and a grilled cheese? No one complains about a trip to the Lego store, running around on a playground, drinking an Autumn Mule, and then dinner. This is literally what I’ll be doing this Sunday late afternoon. Come join me!
Come for: Kids eat free Sunday from 4-close!
When I tell my kids we’re going to a brewery, again, I get an eye roll. When I tell my kids we’re going to Protagonist, that’s a different story. The pizza is massive. It’s very good, but if you want to get a kid’s attention, bring out a pizza bigger than a 4 year old and they’ll ooh and ahh. Settle in with a Mercury hazy IPA and try to put a dent in that monstrosity of cheese, bread, and sauce.
Come for: Tuesday-Wednesday Hank Lager and a slice for $7!
Monday Night Brewing (South End)
Monday Night keeps it simple: pizza and salad. I can vouch for both because that’s our go-to order at Monday Night. A cheese pizza for the kids, a funghi pizza for the adults, Caesar salad for everyone and maybe some of the cheesy bread if I’ve already had a Blind Pirate IPA. Grab a cocktail and head to the grassy hill outside to burn off some of that pizza. Adults included.
Come for: Tuesday $10 Margherita Pizza and $5 Taco Tuesday pints!
Heist Barrel Arts (Double Oaks)
This list is pizza heavy, sure, but beer and pizza go together as well as kids and pizza. Don’t fight it! Heist has some of the best pizza in town paired with some of the best beer in town housed at one of the best brewery lawns in town. Everyone wins! My kids learned the pizza term “leoparding” because of Heist. They’re fancy. Order your pizza at the counter and something new off the Freshie Friday beer menu and then find a picnic table while your kids play disc golf. Go back for another beer and some cannolis.
Come for: The football weekend! This place has TVs everywhere!
Protagonist Brewing in LoSo
A pizza bigger than a four year old. You heard it here first. I’m still searching for the burger as big as a two year old like a questing beast.