Springfield is a new and coming, family-friendly city filled with dining options. Whether you are a family with young children or teenagers, you'll be able to find some casual dining spots with engaging activities to restaurants offering special kids' menus and family deals.
In this article, we'll be highlighting some of the best restaurants that cater for both adults and children. Well discuss what makes them great for kids, and what features they have that you'll love too.
If you're looking for someone to take the little ones, read on!
Let's get into it.
Image Source: PaPPo's Pizzeria
PaPPo’s Pizzeria is a great, family-friendly Italian restaurant. Known for their never-ending range of stone hearth pizzas, it is a great compromise between child-friendly and quality food that adults love.
Their menu also boasts a long list of other classic Italian dishes, including pasta and American fusion classics, such as meatballs. For those fussy eaters, there is an option to build your own pizza. This makes pleasing the kids easy and takes the stress out of ordering the perfect meal for them.
PaPPo’s Pizzeria has happy hour specials from 3-6 pm with discounts on appetizers, liquor, and craft beers, making it great for families with younger children looking to enjoy an early dinner. They also have a lunch special from Monday to Friday, offering a pizza, calzone, sub, 6 wings or meatballs, and a salad for $11.99.
If you happen to be visiting Pappos’ Pizzeria for lunch, consider taking the kids to the Johnny Morris Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, which is just a 10-minute drive away. Alternatively, take the kids to McDaniel Park, a leisurely mile stroll from PaPPo’s Pizzeria.
Image Source: Buckingham Smokehouse Bar BQ
If you have kids who love making a mess when they eat, then bring them to Buckingham Smokehouse. Here, they are encouraged to gnaw on bones, mop up juices, and lick their fingers. There will be no need to enforce table manners or go red at their social grace.
It's a great place to go if you are on a budget, as kids eat free every day of the week. Not only that, but the food is amazing. The outdoor smoker gives you a mouth-watering feel for the food you are about to experience.
Parents will enjoy BBQ classics such as tender beef brisket, juicy ribs, pulled pork, hot links and smoked turkey. Whilst the kids can enjoy sandwiches, ribs and chicken trips off the kid's menu. Older children can also enjoy nachos, sandwiches and pies, for example.
The BBQ joint is conveniently located just across the street from the Bass Pro shop, as well as the wildlife museum. This makes it the perfect stop over after grabbing some fishing supplies, or taking the kids out for a day animal watching.
Image Source: Incredible Pizza
The Incredible Pizza is so much more than a restaurant. Whilst they do offer an all-you-can-eat buffet, along with classic American style pizza, they are really a fairground designed for children.
The dining room itself is 50s themed with red and black tables and booths, illuminated by the red neon lights that border the ceiling. Their pricing is affordable, and great for families enjoying a day out. Kids under the age of 3 also eat free.
Just outside the diner, the kids will enjoy a range of activities in the entertainment center. In fact, America’s Incredible Pizza Company has been voted as the #1 Family Entertainment Center in the world, twice.
Here, children can enjoy go karts, bumper cars, a trampoline park and laser tag. This is perfect for them to burn off some steam, whilst you enjoy a cup of coffee. Incredible Pizza also caters for birthday parties, and groups of children coming to enjoy the pleasures of being children with playful, energetic spirits.
Image Source: Big Whiskey's American Restaurant & Bar
Big Whiskey's American Bar and Restaurant is a great establishment for the whole family. Its laid back atmosphere makes it great for families with children.
Families can often be seen coming in on game day, the televisions will screen big games, and kids can roam around as the adults enjoy the game. On NFL playoff games, they serve 99-cent wings and great beverages all day long.
The children's menu offers classics such as mac ‘n’ cheese, chicken tenders, and corn dogs, making it perfect for those picky eaters. On Tuesdays, kids eat free, making it a great stop for a mid-week break from cooking.
Image Source: Black Sheep
Black Sheep Burger and Shakes is a popular, award-winning restaurant that adults and children enjoy equally. They are the proud winners of the Traveler’s Choice by TripAdvisor in 2023, along with the best burgers in Missouri.
The booth seating is great for families and offers comfortable seating for young ones.
Their burgers are made with top-quality ingredients, such as locally farmed wagyu and Angus beef which both parents and children love. For those craving some loaded fries, their signature smoked fries are rated some of the best in the state and are great to pop on the table and share with the whole family.
For kids, the shakes are extremely popular. Little children can split a shake, whilst adults can indulge in a boozy shake.
Image Source: Red Robin
Red Robin is a laid-back, burger joint that caters to the whole family.
The kid's menu offers meals such as pasta, burgers and pizza, as well as unlimited sides that include healthy options such as fruit salad. This makes it great for those who still want their children to eat healthily.
The restaurant also offers specials on family meals. These family meal options are perfect for parents and children and allow kids to pick and choose what they want to eat whilst saving you some precious money.
Adults who choose to order their own meals can choose from their range of classic and gourmet burgers or wraps, for those preferring a low-carb option. These meals also include unlimited sides, perfect for those with large appetites or who want to add some extra veg into their diet.
Image Source: Bambinos Cafe
Bambinos is an award-winning restaurant that has earned awards such as Best Italian Food, Best Place For Date-Night Dinner, and Best Restaurant by the Missouri State University newspaper The Standard and 417 Magazine.
They cater for families who want to enjoy a nice dinner out and are always happy to bring out a high chair, and accommodate for children’s taste. For rowdy kids, there is plenty of outdoor seating for those summer months.
The warm and welcoming atmosphere is complimented by their homely meals, and high quality pizzas. Kids can build their own pizza, making it a great option for those who need to cater for picky eaters.
Springfield’s family-friendly restaurants offer a great balance between entertaining the kids and offering great meals for the rest of the family. Whether your kids are the type to lick their fingers, run around, or are fussy, you'll find the perfect restaurant for the whole family on this list.
If you’re wanting to take the kids out, whether it's for the first time, for a special occasion or just to skip the meal prep, give these places a try and enjoy a beautiful stress-free meal you'll all enjoy.
