This evening we’re basking in the glow of a successful Mexican-restaurant meal. By successful, I mean that Tate sat in his high chair the entire time and was a very pleasant dinner companion.

Many other restaurant visits have been, well, less than successful. Tonight, I think the food may have been the key distraction. We never know what he’ll be willing to eat at a given meal, if anything. But he loved the chips and salsa and ate an entire cheese quesadilla! Ice water in a fun kiddy cup didn’t hurt either.

For more salsa action, check out the video at the end…

Our other restaurant strategies have included:

Going early: Like 4:30pm-early! When there are fewer people in the restaurant, your food comes out quicker! I’m also less worried about ruining someone else’s date night away from their own kids. 

Taking turns: One parent “enjoys” their meal while the other parent walks around outside with the antsy child. Switch places and repeat.

10-minute meals: No, not a great blog about getting dinner on the table quickly. This is where we inhale our meal because Tate is melting down and we need to get home quickly.

Know when to fold ‘em: We were enjoying an egg roll appetizer, and feeling optimistic about the steamed broccoli we’d ordered for Tate. He was less enthusiastic, and it was soon clear that he would be ruining not only our dinner but soon that of the other patrons as well. Our sit-down Chinese meal became takeout.

I don’t mean to paint a completely negative picture of my son. Sometimes the right snacks or a stack of books will keep him happy. Other times, it’s our fault for attempting a meal out that’s getting close to or even past his bedtime. I guess the bad ones make the good ones, like tonight, all the sweeter!

And speaking of sweet, check out this unabashed double-dipper…family and friends who share appetizers with Tate, consider yourself warned!

Do you bring your kids to restaurants – fancier than McDonald’s, that is?

What are your secrets to success?

Related posts:

1. Bringing Meals to a New Mom
2. First Year Recap
3. Daily Deals from Woot Kids