If you are a NJ parent, I am sure you recently read about the Monmouth County restaurant that will no longer allow young children to eat there. People had a LOT to say about that new rule (both in favor and against it). I had never been to that restaurant so it really didn't matter much to me. Either way, I am very mindful where we bring our toddler to dine. All places are not created equal when bringing your little ones out to dinner.
My internal checklist for whether I think the restaurant will be good for my tiny guy is:
1) Are there kid friendly food options?
2) Is there a booth we can sit in if my toddler decides he won't do the high chair (happens 50% of the time)
3) Will the food come out fast? (we all know a toddler's attention span)
If the place meets all of that criteria, it usually means it would be a good fit for us as a family.
One type of restaurant that always comes in clutch is the classic NJ diner! I have always loved diners. Everyone can find something they feel like eating, the food is quick and the atmosphere is casual. It is a perfect selection for families with young children.
We recently found a new diner-- The Blue Swan in Oakhurst, NJ. I discovered Blue Swan when I was researching activities for my toddler. I found out that they regularly host KIDS NIGHTS where they bring in fun characters to visit with families during dinner. Upon looking at their schedule, I learned that BABY SHARK was making an appearance and immediately cleared our calendar to attend.
Kids Night lasts from 6p-8p but we decided to arrive closer to 5:45pm so we would be sure to get a table quickly. We were immediately seated and even received our meal before Baby Shark arrived on site. The little dude even willingly sat in a high chair!
What I loved about this character meet and greet is that the character came to us-- and visited with us SEVERAL times during our dinner. Baby Shark was silly and charming and handled any little kid nervousness with care. A normal dinner out became very special with this simple character appearance. Shout out to myfairytaledream.com coming in clutch with empathetic and clever character training! Blue Swan partners with that business for these adorable evenings.
Lucky for everyone, Blue Swan makes KIDS NIGHT a regular event and always posts info about their upcoming nights on their website. I would suggest that parents go early like we did because I am sure certain characters probably draw huge crowds. There is no additional cost to attend. You just pay your check like a normal night out at the diner.
To make our experience even better-- our food was fantastic! I know we'll be back. Blue Swan is a family owned and run diner, and their hospitality towards their patrons is top notch. You can tell they are genuinely happy to see little kids enjoying their restaurant!
Blue Swan's KIDS NIGHT is definitely an experience that the whole family can enjoy-- we hope to see you there for one of their future dates!