Featured Page Sponsor

NEW! Teen Club

At Home Dining Tips 

“Kids Eat Free” Restaurants

Other Kid-Friendly Restaurants

Tips for Dining Out

217-529-4689

Free estimates

"Kids Eat Free" Restaurants in the Springfield Area

Alexander’s Steak House Sundays (open 4-9p.m.) Kids ages 2-10 eat free.  Five choices, including Kid Kabobs, includes drink, fries,& cookies.  Two kids can eat free for each paying adult.  620 Bruns Lane (Corner of Jefferson & Bruns Lane), Springfield 217-793-0440

Buffalo Wild Wings Wednesday all day .99 cent "Wild Child" Kids Meals for ages 12 and under, drink included.  4420 Wabash Avenue, Springfield IL 62711 217-546-9453 www.buffalowildwings.com

Denny’s Tuesdays & Saturdays 4-10 p.m, Kids 12 & under eat free with adult purchase.  2905 Stevenson Dr. 529-6842; 2599 W. Wabash, Springfield 217-698-1049 www.dennys.com

Godfather’s Pizza Monday 5 - 8pm, kids under 12 eat free from the buffet; drink included.  One free child per paying adult.  Valid at Springfield, Chatham, Girard, and Auburn locations.

Lone Star Steakhouse Tuesday, kids 12 & under eat free all day with an adult purchase.  Saturdays from 11:00am- 4:00pm kids 12 & under eat free with an adult purchase.   2881 S. Veterans Parkway, Springfield 217-787-9411 www.lonestarsteakhouse.com

Maverick Steak House Everyday, Kids under 5 eat free; drink & buffet included.  Kids 5-12 are $3.99.  3165  S. Dirksen Parkway 529-4665, 3100 W. White Oaks Drive, Springfield  217-546-7686

O’Charleys Everyday, Kids 10 & under up to two kids eat free from kids’ menu with paying adult; drink not included.  Balloons & crayons also provided.  4241 Conestoga Dr., Springfield 217- 787-2809 www.ocharleys.com

Pasta House  Sunday, Kids 12 & under eat free with one paying adult; drink not included.  Off Veteran’s Parkway near Best Buy at 2800 S. West Plaza Drive, Springfield  217-793-2433; Valid at Jacksonville location too.

Perkins  Tuesdays from 4:00pm - 10:00pm Kids 12 & under eat free from kids’ menu; one free meal with each adult meal purchase.   A clown is usually there from 6-8 p.m., and kids may ice their own cookie.  3429 Freedom Drive, Springfield  217-787-3535, www.perkinsrestaurants.com  

Pizza Hut Tuesday from 5:00- 7:30pm the buffet is free for kids 10 & under with adult buffet purchase.  Offer should apply at all Springfield locations with dine-in buffet. www.pizzahut.com 

Qdoba Mexican Grill Sunday, Kids 12 & under eat free.  Taco or Cheese Quesadilla with chips and drink with an adult entree purchase.  2917 W. Iles Avenue, (Near Office Max) Springfield 217-787-0000

Spaghetti Shop  Saturday, Kids 12 and under eat free from kids’ menu which includes drink and a cookie.   Valid at three Springfield locations: Iles Avenue (across from Schnucks) 217-698-9640, 2^nd and South Grand 217-753-0056, and 1869 Sangamon Avenue 217-788-0781.

Vic’s Pizza Sunday, Kids 10 & under eat free from kids menu with a paid adult; dine-in only.  2025 Peoria Road, Springfield 217-522-2464

Xochimilco Mexican Food Sunday, kids 12 & under eat free with adult order.  Valid at all Springfield locations.  3210 Northfield Dr.  217-544-9206, 2941 W. Iles, 217-546-3116, 6901 Preston Drive (Off Route 4) 217-483-1006

(top)

Summary Grid of Kids Eat Free!

Printable Flier of Kids Eat Free

(top)

Other Kid-Friendly Springfield Restaurants

Applebees Car-side service!  Get this, you call in your order & give the color, make & model of your car.  Then, park in a reserved spot & someone brings your food to you.  Can’t beat that with kids!  3335 Veterans Parkway, Springfield 217-698-0550, www.applebees.com

Cafe Brio A nice restaurant for mom & dad,.  Might not know this, but Brio offers a kids menu.  Get there early to avoid the rush and enjoy a night downtown!

524 E. Monroe, 217-544-0574

Carlos O’Kelly’s Sunday, Kids 12 & under eat fat discounted rates from $1.99-.99 per meal with adult purchase; drink included.  2500 Sunrise Dr. just off Dirksen, 217-544-4650, Springfield www.carlosokellys.com

Chili’s Grill & Bar  Dine-in options are large portions for kids and offer 11 entrée choices, 7 side item choices and includes a free drink; most are $3.99  Offers a convenient carry-out service, Chilis To Go, with separate entrance for carry-out customers.  Don’t forget their affordable and tasty chips & salsa.  2891 S. Veterans Pkwy, 217-546-8505, www.chilis.com

D & J Cafe  Offers good, quick, diner-style food & is already a little loud, so it doesn’t matter if your kids are loud or messy!  915 W. Laurel, 217-753-1708

Diamond’s Buffet Restaurant Monday & Tuesday kids eat half price.  Regular prices are just 50 cents times the age of your child for ages 2-12.  Includes the all-you-can eat buffet and drink.  They have all of the kids’ favorite items!  2441 S. MacArthur Blvd (T & C Shopping Center) 217-793-0212

ROLY POLY Sandwiches  Kid Wraps (there are 5 to choose from) are healthy and cost just $1.00.  Add a side and a drink and it’s just $2.25  3255 W. Iles (corner of Iles & Koke Mill) 217-793-4600.

SAM’s Club  It’s not fancy of course, but run an errand and eat cheap!  Adults and kids alike can dine on a huge slice of pizza and 32 ounce drinks are just $2.67, jumbo hotdogs, and more! 

The Feed Store The food couldn’t be faster, the service is great & the peanut butter and jelly sandwich is to die for.  You might want to avoid the noon hour rush during the week with kids, but it’s also open on Saturdays.  Enjoy the soup!  516 E. Adams, Downtown Springfield 217-528-3355

TGIFridays  Highly recommended as an easy place to bring your kids.  Their to-go options are nice too.  2100 W. White Oaks Dr., 217-698-1900

(top)

• To avoid the rush, consider eating earlier in the evening.  5:00 p.m. is usually less crowded than 7:00 p.m. 

• Bring quiet games to entertain the kids or just a pad of paper and a pen!

• Many restaurants offer their menus on-line.  Look it over before you leave the house so you’re ready to order when you get there.

• Keep our kids eat free guide in your car AND at home!

• For little ones, don’t forget the bib, sippy cup, toddler-sized silverware, small toys, crayons and wet wipes.

(top)

Does the hot or cold lunch drill slow you down every morning? Janet Von Behren came up with a system to speed along her morning routine: Before bed, have your kids check the school menu and decide hot or cold.  If they choose cold, they choose a lunch slip and place their order!  Her lunch order slips are divided into four sections: sandwich, snack, dessert, drink.  Each section has 2 or 3 choices of things on hand and a blank line to fill in something they know they have.  Once completed, they attach to the magnetic clip on the refrigerator.  Janet adds, “In the morning, I don’t have to chase them down, and they are more likely to eat their lunch since they picked it!” 

Try this idea for teaching your kids cooking skills:  Jill & Dan McClelland came up with a fun way for their two older boys to learn how to cook and plan a family meal.  “We've started having them make Sunday night dinners. We chose Sunday nights, because we're always home together, without activity and homework conflicts.  The boys choose what they'd like to have for dinner by Wednesday, and we work together to see what ingredients need to be purchased.  I get the ingredients from the store and then my husband or I supervise them while they're making the meal.  We give them tips on cooking techniques and demonstrate how to prepare several items for a meal at the same time.  Hands-on experience is the best way for them to learn to make some of their favorite meals and on the nights they cook, the parents clean up!  It's been a fun way for them to learn something new, and its one night per week that I don't have to plan the family meal!” 

Need help with meal planning for the week? Michelle Noonan has mastered a plan: “With seven in our family, I enforced a traditional Sunday family dinner.  During this time, I found it convenient to ask each individual family member to create a menu for each night of the upcoming week.  It took much pressure off me and it encouraged my children to make healthy, nutritious choices as we would all discuss what each person wanted.”

For more tips and recipes from area moms, visit In the Kitchen.