Family Restaurants in Carlsbad, CA
Top Spots to Dine with Kids near Legoland Theme Park
Families who travel to oceanfront Carlsbad, California, will find a number of kid-friendly eateries. Here are three of the best spots to dine close to Legoland.
If your family vacation plans take you to the charming seaside community of Carlsbad, California, consider dining at one (or all!) of these kid-friendly restaurants:
Karl Strauss Brewing Company, 5801 Armada Drive, (760) 431-2739
A brewpub for kids? Why not! Typically brewpubs have a vibrant (read: loud) atmosphere, which can drown out noisy children. Plus, burgers and fries are almost always on the menu, and that usually makes kids happy.
The Karl Strauss Brewing Company is adjacent to the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort, which is adjacent to Legoland, so it is literally steps away from the theme park. This restaurant is a great place to dine after your day at the park (especially if Mom or Dad is tuckered out and could really use a cold brew).
Items on the children's menu include: chicken fingers, grilled chicken breast, noodles with butter, noodles with red sauce and a kid-size hamburger. Parents choose from standard pub fare like burgers, sandwiches, pasta, salads and seafood selections, such as Spicy Jambalaya, Pan-Roasted Tilapia, Drunken Shrimp and Ginger-Crusted Salmon.
Ruby's Diner, 5630 Paseo Del Norte, (760) 931-7829
Open for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Ruby's Diner is located in the Carlsbad Premium Outlets complex about a five minute's drive from Legoland. It has a1940's diner theme, with bee-bop music playing in the background, old-fashioned advertisements on the walls, red-vinyl cushions in the booths, an old-model train on suspended tracks and waitstaff dressed in vintage, striped uniforms (with little white caps and white aprons).
The breakfast menu for children includes Pigs in a Blanket, Silver Dollar Pancakes, French Toast and the Kids' Combo: egg with toast and two pieces of bacon or sausage. Lunch and dinner bring grilled cheese, PB&J, Macaroni & Cheese, Turkey Corn Dog, Hot Dog, Kid-Sized Beef Burger, Kid-Sized Turkey Burger, Chicken Fingers or Grilled Chicken Breast--each accommpanied with sliced apples or French fries.
For adults, expect typical, hearty diner food. The menu is vast, from omelets, skillets, pancakes and breakfast burritos in the morning, to sandwiches, burgers, salad, pasta and seafood later in the day. Watching your weight? Choose from the De-"Lite"-Ful, low-fat options.
Sammy's Woodfired Pizza, 5970 Avenida Encinas, (760) 438-1212
Less than 10 minutes from Legoland, this well-known California chain is only a block or so from the ocean. Gourmet pizzas here include Hawaiian Pineapple, Arugula and Pear, Sun-Dried Tomato and Spicy Italian Sausage. Artisan cheese thin-crust recipes feature goat, sheep's milk, brie and smoked rofumo cheese. Other yummy menu items include soups, salads, pasta, sandwiches, wraps and tacos.
Kids have a creative menu that includes four different kinds of 5-inch pizzas, two kinds of pasta, Chopped Salad, Chicken Breast Teriyaki or Cheese Quesadilla.
All of the above restaurants have multiple locations in Southern California, so if your travels take you elsewhere in the state, and you stumble upon one with kids in tow, don't hesitate to stop in for a filling meal.
Read more about things to do in the Carlsbad area in Top Spots for Family Spring Breaks: Vacation in Carlsbad or San Mateo County, California.
