Family bonding is especially fun when you’re traveling to or enjoying what Abu Dhabi has to offer. The United Arab Emirates capital has plenty of family-friendly destinations. From massive malls, luxury resorts, arts, entertainment, ladies only events, or theme park rides and attractions for kids, Abu Dhabi welcomes families to enjoy their time together.
Once the sightseeing and activities are done, appetites set in. Where do you go for lunch or dinner? What do the kids want to eat? Will the restaurant you pick have a menu for them?
Dining out is crucial to strengthening bonds with one another. It can also be an opportunity for the kids to practice their table manners and broaden their preference for food as you introduce them to new cuisines. So it’s important to make sure everything goes smoothly come meal time.
Here are 10 tips to help you cap off a family day out with a fun and fulfilling meal.
Pick a restaurant where your kids are going to be comfortable
Family-friendly restaurants are buzzing with activity. Diners chat among themselves. A lively energy is in the air. This is the kind of environment that will help your kid relax.
Pick a few restaurants to list for the kids, then check out their menus online. A lot of restaurants have their menus up on their website, so it’s easier for diners to know that it’s the right establishment for their diet.
Check if the restaurant has a kid’s menu, and see if it has a good mix of food. A typical menu for children might include mac and cheese, chicken tenders, and cheese pizza. Other restaurants would add healthy options like vegetable pasta, falafel, and hummus.
Make sure it’s easy to get to
Apart from a kid-friendly menu and great atmosphere, location should also factor into your choice of restaurant.
If you’re doing a whole day at one of the theme parks, dining should be easy because there are plenty of restaurants within a park. You can just walk to one of the themed restaurants after a thrilling roller coaster ride.
Eating in the theme park or your entertainment destination also offers your kids the opportunity to explore while you linger at the restaurant. Maybe one of your kids is not a fast eater, so the other kids have time to walk around.
Call ahead to check on a few necessities when you’re dining
Does the restaurant have high chairs? Do they have cutlery specifically for kids? Will they have fun activities for the kids while they wait for their food?
When dining out with the kids, it’s always best to know ahead of time if the restaurant can accommodate your needs. If the restaurant is mainly for adult diners, it may not have high chairs and cutlery for your infant or toddler. If the restaurant has both but not the third, then you’d know to bring some coloring books, a tablet, or a container of Play Doh.
Agree on a cuisine, and compromise where possible
You and the spouse may enjoy Italian meals, but maybe the kids would rather have burgers and fries. Or maybe they prefer Emirati food, which is always scrumptious and healthy.
Whatever they like to eat, the bottom line is to make your restaurant choice a community decision. When the kids have a part to play in choosing the restaurant, it allows them to be more independent. Naturally, you want to steer them toward healthier choices and not give in to a lunch or dinner that’s filled with fried food.
Book a table
Once a choice is made, consider making reservations. If it’s a popular restaurant, you’ll want to secure a table to avoid waiting around with hungry kids.
If the restaurant does not have reservations, avoid the lunch or dinner rush. Schedule your meals when fewer people are eating. When you arrive early at the restaurant, everyone gets fed faster and you can all resume a day of fun and adventure around Abu Dhabi.
Ask for smaller portions
If the restaurant has no menu specific to children, ask the wait staff if they can create smaller servings of an adult meal. Eating smaller portions of an adult meal may even be a good thing for your kids since it’ll encourage them to try new food. This sort of exposure may prevent them from becoming picky eaters.
Alternatively, you can turn the bigger servings into a family-style meal. You can share a pasta dish, salad, or even dessert.
Talk about the menu in a way they’ll understand
Menus can be puzzling, even to adults. With terms like boudin blanc, sous vide, and duxelle, you may be unsure of what will be on your plate. Kids will naturally be unfamiliar with such culinary terms, unless you’ve exposed them to the world of gastronomy at an early age.
So go through the menu with your kids. If they come across the term consommé, tell them it’s soup. If they come across the term gremolata, tell them it’s a refreshing garnish of parsley, garlic, and lemon zest. If they ask about a poutine, tell them it’s an over-the-top version of French fries.
Eat food in courses
When you’re out with the family, the word to remember and practice is “leisure.” Although there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a fast service in a restaurant, a relaxing meal can take a while. You’ll want to take your time and appreciate your family’s company.
One way to do this is to eat in courses instead of in one big go. Start with appetizers and engage your kids in conversation. Talk about the food you’re eating. Then, order mains. Share a fond memory and ask the kids to share their own fond memories. Then, get desserts.
Eating food in courses keeps the meal light, making room for proper digestion.
Put away the devices, and have a conversation
As mentioned, have a conversation with one another. This day out, after all, is family time. Family time can only happen when everyone is paying attention to each other and being present.
Return to restaurants with friendly wait staff
Restaurants that cater to families are not just friendly, but they recognize that the children are diners as well. When it’s time to order, they engage the children in conversation instead of just talking to the parents.
Punctuate your fun family day out in Abu Dhabi with a fulfilling meal. Make it a positive food experience by following these tips.
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