THERE should be much, much more to eating out with children than themes and chips, especially given that the whole experience is likely to cost an arm and a leg. Just because a restaurant provides some battered crayons and a colourable place mat doesn't mean it's a nice place to eat.
Luckily, an increasing number of establishments now provide food, up to the standards of even the most exacting foodies, food with nutritional value as well as taste even children can appreciate.
One caveat: over-ordering is endemic in eating out with children. Smart parents show no shame in doubling and even tripling up on regular portions or in feeding smaller children straight from grown-ups' plates.
(1) Avoca Handweavers, (Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow, tel: 286 7466). Just off the Bray dual carriageway, this large and airy cafeteria-style restaurant has to be one of the most pleasant multi-generational eating experiences in the country. In fine weather, children can run around outside while adults dine at fresco or even fashion a makeshift picnic on the lawn. The restaurant has ample parking for those laden with baby paraphernalia (although good highchairs are provided), and a truly impressive selection of wholesome, tasty food which changes daily.
Portions are large enough to share out between two children and on our last visit, the salad selections received particularly rave reviews. £9.55 for one adult and one child with left-overs to spare.
(2) Elephant and Castle, (Temple Bar, Dublin 2, tel: 679 3121). Although this Temple Bar institution is at its most family-dense at weekends at brunch time, children are always welcome. Large window-seat booths accommodate most ages well (they are even wide enough for a carrycot) but it would be handy for parents of older babies (and fellow diners) if there was some device available for keeping mobile tots from running free-range - perhaps a clip-on table-seat or high chair.
The menu has plenty to offer all ages beyond the dependable burger and chips - pasta, omelettes (the kids' favourites: pesto, bacon and cheddar), chocolate chip muffins. Again, servings are large so parents should be wary of over-ordering. £21 for one adult, two children.
(3) Both the Good World (18 South Great George's Street, Dulin 2, tel: 00677 5373) and Imperial (12a Wicklow Street, Dublin 2, tel: 677 2580) Chinese restaurants come into their own for families during Saturday and Sunday lunch. Both are thronged with fans, young and old but mainly Chinese, who are there for traditional dim sum. The dumplings come in all shapes and sizes, on endless little plates and in nifty bamboo steamers; the variety and presentation appeal, but children love the tastes, too, and are often more adventurous than parents expect - be sure to order fried squid, delicate prawn parcels and bready char siu (barbecued pork) buns. If all else fails, order cheap and cheerful plain chow me in noodles or send them off to look at the big fish pool (in the Imperial) while you scoff the lot.
£25 for two adults, four children.
(4) Yamainori (South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2, tel: 475 5001). Virtually every child, no matter how faddy, loves noodles. When they come Japanese-style, in a healthy broth with prettily coloured garnish, they're even more attractive - to both nutrition-conscious parent and novelty-suspicious child alike. Udon noodles are fat - like fettucine cubed buckwheat soba noodles are more akin to wholewheat pasta. Chicken tatsuta-age, breaded and fried crispy then cut into manageable strips and served with rice, is also a good bet for the minors. Super deluxe highchairs and loads of elbow room at simple, spill-friendly refectory tables. £24.10 for two adults, two children.
(5) The Lord Mayor's Lounge, (The Shelbourne Hotel, Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, tel: 676 6471). Sexist as it may be, nothing could be more delicious than taking a couple of little girls in flowery dresses and too much jewellery to afternoon tea at the Shelbourne.
The collective jaw-drop when the sandwiches (crustless and on white bread, the way every child longs them to be), scones and cakes arrive on silver tiered plates is worth the price. Waitresses are happy to decant soft drinks or apple juice into an equally fancy teapot so the ladies can take turns pouring out without doing themselves any harm. Hot chocolate is also available. About £7.50 a person.
(6) Harry Ramsden's (Naas Road, Dublin 12, tel: 460 0233). When nothing else will do but an enormous slab of fresh fish and chips with some mushy peas on the side and perhaps some really sticky toffee pudding, head to Ramsden's.
Kids can opt for scaled-down portions. There is free face-painting and balloons as well as appearances by an eerily silent larger-than-life Postman Pat Saturday and Sunday 2-6 p.m. £22.90 for two adults, three children.
(7) De Selby's (17-18 Patrick Street, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, tel: 284 1761). Open for lunch on weekends only, this unassuming neighbourhood restaurants has a US-style menu, not in the burger, and dog drive-in sense but rather in the great melting-pot tradition. Besides meat and two veg entrees there is a nice chicken breast stuffed with mozarella on a bed of angel hair (the kids christened it "pizza bird"), chicken and leek pie, beef stir-fry and assorted daily specials. Generous starters (fish goujons, potato skins) might suffice for younger children or alternatively a children's menu is available featuring old faithfuls such as nuggets. Plenty of space, high chairs and no hassle. £30.85 for two adults, three children.
THERE is a way to salvage your average wet, windy Sunday: a visit to a museum followed by lunch at Fitzer's cafeteria-style National Gallery Restaurant (Merrion Square, Dublin 2, tel: 678 5411)." It's noisy, so no one notices if the children's manners haven't yet reached perfection, there's a good selection of meals with kid appeal - lasagne, jacket potatoes, pasta, casseroles and desserts (particularly the chocolate cake) make potent bribes. "Eat it all, Finbar and you can choose..."
£20.50 for two adults, two children.
(8) Fat Freddy's Pizza Warehouse, (The Halls, Quay Street, Galway, tel: 091-567279.) There's plenty of space here to negotiate a buggy, but high chairs (and crayons) are available on demand. Pizza is always a good bet for all ages. The more gourmet contingent can customise theirs with sun-dried tomato, spinach, grilled aubergine, feta, pesto and roasted red pepper toppings; the kids can either share a small, plain pie (£3.90) or go for individual mini pizzas (£3.65 plus two toppings). Desserts are worth saving room for - tiramisu, crumble, cheesecake, sundaes, lemon pancakes and more. £24.35 for two adults, three children.
(9) On the heels of the Taste of Temple Bar awards which lavished acclaim on the Thunder Road Cafi (Temple Bar, Dublin 2, tel: 679 4057), we ventured there en famille for a pre-Dragonheart feed. The Flintstone-style dining nook got top marks from the knee-biters, the music and staff were upbeat and fun for both generations.
The food, however, was so bland the eight-year-old took it upon herself to write a note to the chef on the suggestion card provided. "The pizza could have been much, much, much, much, much, much better," she concluded. Fajitas were zingless, the buffalo wings not so red hot. £38.15 for two adults, two children.