Finding that balance between kid-friendly and gourmet is challenging.  Because my husband and I tend to be foodies, we would opt to eat at home before sacrificing the taste and diversity we’ve come to expect at a nice restaurant.  Most restaurants that offer the type of food my husband and I enjoy, are not the least bit kid-friendly.  That’s not to say that we haven’t toted our 1 and 3 year old children to enjoy Japanese Teppan or Argentine cuisine.  We just sit in the back and spend a lot of time distracting the kids.

I remember the first time we walked into a Lazy Dog Cafe. We had just finished a day at Disneyland and everyone was a. hungry b. tired and c. cranky.  I had my husband scope out the restaurant before unpacking our two children.  He told me my son would like the dog decor (and the kid’s menu) so we ventured out!  I can honestly say that it’s become one of my favorite family-friendly restaurants here in the OC.

The first Lazy Dog Cafe opened in Huntington Beach, California 8 years ago and the company continues to expand it’s locations.  Today marks the opening of the 8th location in Cerritos, California.  The warm, rustic environment created by the decor, dimmed lighting, and dog-themed art and photography make it an ideal venue for families dining out together.

But the Lazy Dog Cafe is not all appearances.  The food is incredibly diverse and includes infusions of Italian, Chinese, Mediterranean, and South American cultures.  There are two dishes that I order every time I frequent the establishment…the Warm Chicken Focaccia Sandwich or the Teriyaki Chicken Wok Platter with brown rice.  I decided to try something new on this visit…the Margherita Flatbread Pizza preceded by their Trio of Hummus sampler (something of a Greek/Italian mix?).  While I definitely wouldn’t judge a dish by it’s appearance, each of the meals we ordered looked beautiful and artistic.  How can the food not be flavorful when it looks this good?

The portions are generous and I took home half of my pizza to enjoy the next day.  And while I definitely did not need dessert, I opted to try the Warm Skillet Brownie…that was just icing on the cake (or shall I say ice cream on the brownie?).  While the dessert was very good, I typically wouldn’t order it.  I really only order dessert from a restaurant if it’s something unique and difficult to re-create at home (such as Creme Brulee or Tiramisu).  Apparently my foodie side is emerging.

On more than one occasion, my husband and I have been known to order our son a smaller dish off of the regular menu.  Many kid-friendly restaurants have very limited (and often unhealthy) food options.  My son did not grow up eating macaroni and cheese or chicken nuggets (although I know many children who did).  Thus we find it challenging to order off of the kid’s menu at many restaurants.  While the Lazy Dog Cafe does offer the above two options for children, there are so many other healthy choices including Grilled Chicken Breast, Chicken Teriyaki, and Spaghetti Marinara.  Their Puppy Dog Menu also offers Edamame, Tofu, or carrot sticks as starters and offers portion sizes and menu options for kids under 8 and kids under 12.

I love the ambience of the Lazy Dog Cafe, the fact that it welcomes children with open arms, and offers incredible adult dishes.  The service is impeccable and the staff genuinely look like they enjoy working at the establishment.  To learn more about the restaurant or to find a location in your area, please visit their website.