As a parent, you may feel conscientious about taking your kids to a restaurant or out to eat. However, finding the right place can make all the difference. Whether you are looking for a sit-down restaurant or takeout, there are numerous places in Grays Harbor that are kid-friendly and ideal for a family meal.
Family-Friendly, Sit-Down Restaurants
Grays Harbor is fortunate to have several outstanding restaurants with cozy family-style seating. These include Mazatlán in Aberdeen; El Rancho in Montesano, El Ranchon in Elma, and Las Maracas in Ocean Shores. Not only are these restaurants designed to be family-friendly destinations, they also serve chips and salsa as soon as you are seated, which is ideal for keeping your hungry crew busy and happy until their meals arrive.
The Beehive in Montesano serves tasty food for breakfast, lunch or dinner. When my twins were turning three, I wanted to start a special family tradition of taking them out for breakfast with our extended family. Since they were so young, I wasn’t sure how they would do in a sit-down restaurant. However, we had a wonderful experience at the Beehive. The staff and patrons were more than welcoming. The kids got crayons and coloring sheets while waiting for their food. Even the restaurant manager came up to wish them a happy birthday. The Beehive is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
If you have several children in your family and would like to treat them to a special, high-quality meal, consider visiting the Passport Café in Hoquiam. Open from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., this restaurant serves delectable European-style food at budget-friendly prices. They even have a $4 kid’s menu.
Tucked away in South Aberdeen, the Thai Carrot is a small, family-friendly restaurant serving authentic Thai food. Friendly service and tasty cuisine makes this little restaurant a delight to visit with the family. The Rusty Tractor in Elma is equally welcoming to families and kids and serves a wide variety of entrees including delectable breakfast food, mouth-watering burgers, seafood and more.
Dine in or Out: Diners and Drive-Through
Located on the tip of downtown Montesano, The Crow’s Nest is a cozy, friendly restaurant. Close to the counter is a small game table to keep busy hands occupied while mom or dad orders. Kids’ meals come in brightly-colored sacks that will make any child excited about opening it up. There are nine kid-friendly meal options including mac and cheese bites, cheeseburgers, and grilled cheese, just to name a few. All meals come with fries and a drink. They even have a bonus fruit snack tucked away in the bottom of the bag. Open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. during the winter, with extended hours in the summer.
The Lighthouse Drive-In is committed to serving the needs of all its hungry patrons, including kids and families, by offering friendly service, a welcoming environment and outstanding food at affordable prices. You can drive-through, dine in or order takeout. The Lighthouse’s menu features a wide variety of burgers, seafood baskets, salads and other tasty side dishes. Open seven days a week, Monday through from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Grizzly Den across from Hoquiam High School has been serving Grays Harbor families for over 30 years. They offer 25 different burgers, a variety of world-class milkshakes and 16 ice cream flavors to choose from.
Dessert Only: Tasty Treats around the Harbor
If you are looking for a place to treat your kids with a tasty dessert, Polar Berry in Aberdeen serves frozen yogurt in almost every flavor imaginable including French vanilla, egg nog, cheesecake, blueberry, dark chocolate, cinnamon bun and so much more. With dozens of toppings to choose from, your kids will love the taste of their Polar Berry treats. Open Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to midnight.
Make your family ice cream trip memorable by visiting Scoops Ice Cream Parlor next to the D&R Theater in Aberdeen. Designed to re-create the old-fashioned ice cream shops, you and your kids are sure to create some fun memories of your own when you head to Scoops for a scrumptious treat.
La Unica Bakery in Aberdeen features numerous displays filled with authentic, mouthwatering Mexican desserts. Stop by with the kids to pick out some of the most delectable pastries on the Harbor.
