Little morsels: City restaurants that cater to kids' meal preferences

Nobody stacks up to you by Yogisattava

It is such a pain to find a restaurant that has kid-friendly food options, let alone a special menu," a friend ranted to this writer recently. With the city restaurants opening up at 100-per cent capacity, this list will come in handy to ensure your little ones are well-fed.

Little diners, big cravings

In 2021, when Raveena Taurani opened Yogisattva café in Bandra, she laid out children-friendly cutlery and even created a special menu. "But children want to eat what the adults are eating, and don't want to feel left out, trying the various things laid out on the table. They want to try what everyone is trying. So, I marked out dishes that are kid favourites. Children these days want to be treated as adults. So, I marked out dishes that do well," says Taurani.

Raveena Taurani

From nachos with a cheese dip made of cashew nuts and carrots, to a za'tar cashew cheese dish that has a blend of Lebanese flavours without being spicy, there's lots to look forward to. "Hummus doesn't do well with kids; they want creamy, cheesy stuff," laughs Taurani. She even has a dal makhani made using cashew cream.

It's nacho business

"We serve this with amaranth and flaxseed rotis, or rice. Kids today are more independent and have a mind of their own. They want equal representation at the table. Children as small as six to seven years old know what they want to eat," says Taurani, who has her menu sorted for an indulgent dessert, too. There's a banana and oat cake, blueberry pancakes made with buckwheat (kuttu) and a vegan chocolate chip cookie made with organic peanut butter and unrefined coconut sugar. "I love watching kids try our healthy food with no expectations, and have them break into a smile," she muses.

At: Yogisattva, Bandra West.
Call: 9867455009

A balanced meal

Margherita pizza with veggies, available at Seeds of Life. Pic/Anurag Ahire

Meanwhile, guests at Seeds of Life, a European cuisine clean-eating café, will find their requests heard. Starting next week, Mohit Bulchandani will release a kids' menu at the Bandra and Juhu outlets that's designed for young eaters. "When so many meals are consumed at restaurants, we realised that guests with kids are looking for a balanced option. Everyone wants to eat healthy, but socialising has hit the roof. Sometimes, we get requests if parents can bring food for kids from home, which is a bit tedious.

Mohit Bulchandani

Keeping our core parameters of vegan, organic and gluten-free ingredients in mind, we've created a menu that kids will dig. Children do not want to come to a restaurant and eat what they get at home. The food will be low on spices, healthy and a portion size smaller, so there is no wastage," says Bulchandani.
Made without refined flour, sugar or artificial flavours, the plant-based dishes are not fried. Choose from a Margherita pizza with a base of whole wheat with an option of amaranth and almond flour, sliders packed with vegetable patty and coleslaw, and spaghetti that can be topped with veggies.

From: March 11
At: Seeds of Life, Bandra and Juhu.
Call: 8591882863

Dining with kids

Hamper to the rescue

Chef Bhakti Mehta, who runs Little Food Co, says kids want to have fun with their food. She does a kids' hamper for delivery that consists of a single portion of fancy fries, nachos, pav bhaji croquettes, pasta and dosas, doughnut churros and crêpes.
At: Little Food Co on Instagram
Call: 9819136441

Hop to it

The BrewDog Hoppy Meal comes with chicken nuggets, mozzarella sticks, mini pizzas, ice lollies and shakes. Spice levels are contained.
At: BrewDog Midtown Mumbai, Kamala Mills compound, Lower Parel
Call: 8097446944

Let them indulge

The restaurant at the gaming arcade called The Game offers French fries, potato smileys, pizzas, mini burgers, noodles, and brownies.
At: From The Game, Atria, Worli
Call: 7400440055

Mexican fun

While adults indulge in ribs, Mexican fajitas and big-mouth burgers, the kids' menu here includes cheese pizza, tomato pasta, mac and cheese, chicken crisper and chicken bites.
At: Chili's, Powai
Call: 67419003

Pizza and more

Try dough balls with cheese dip, baked smileys, six-inch classic Margherita, classic mushroom, American pepperoni and even a kids' verdure with spinach, olives and corn, and spaghetti and meatballs.
At: PizzaExpress, Colaba, BKC, Andheri, Powai and Thane
Call: 9136946902

Something for all

This five-star calls their kids' menu Ollie's Club, and offers classic and all-time favourites including buttermilk flapjacks, cookies and cream, plant-based burgers, bowls of mac and cheese, hearty pizzas, and homemade seasonal ice creams.
At: Peshwa Pavilion, ITC Maratha, Andheri East
Call: 28303030