Los Angeles City Guide: Food

Paradise Cove Beach Cafe (pictured above)
28128 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
(310) 457-2503
www.paradisecovemalibu.com/beach-cafe
Hours: 8am-10pm (daily)
Price: $$
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

This is a great spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner while you’re doing some high-quality beachbumming.  The Café has an irresistible, laid-back SoCal vibe; linger over your favorite umbrella drink while the kids make sandcastles.  The fish tacos and the clam chowder are popular with the locales.
 

Giggles N’ Hugs

10250 Santa Monica Boulevard #155, Los Angeles, CA
(310) 553-HUGS
www.gigglesnhugs.com
Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 10:30am-8pm
Friday: 10:30am-9pm
Saturday: 10am-9pm
Sunday: 10am-7pm
Price: $$
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

Not just a meal, but an event with dancing, face-painting, arts and crafts, and much more. Giggles N’ Hugs was born out of the owners’ frustration in finding a fun restaurant for kids with both healthy and yummy selections.  Everything here is certified organic whenver possible, and the adult selections are plentiful. Try the “make-your-own-pizza” and wash it down with a PB&J smoothie.

Taste at the Palisades
538 Palisades Drive, Pacific Palisades, CA
(310) 459-9108
www.ilovetaste.com
Hours:
Lunch: Tuesday-Friday: 11am-5pm
Dinner: Sunday-Thursday: 5pm-9pm
Brunch: Saturday-Sunday: 9:30am-3pm
Friday-Saturday: 5pm-10pm
Price: $$
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

Taste at the Palisades is an outpost of Taste on Melrose in funky West Hollywood, but calmer and much, much bigger.  Teach the kids about the virtues of “slow food” and eating locally by going on a Thursday, when a special menu carries ingredients exclusively from the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market. The white truffle oil and mushroom macaroni and cheese is a delicious version of the timeless standby.

BLD
7450 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
(323) 930-9744
www.bldrestaurant.com
Hours: Sunday-Thursday: 8am-10pm, Friday-Saturday: 8am-11pm
Price: $$$
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

For a fairly sophisticated young palate, try this upscale bistro with a great central location.  While they don’t offer a separate kids menu, there are “platelettes,” smaller and less expensive options to entrees. Servers will bring over a bucket of crayons and happily accommodates requests for basic pastas, burgers, and grilled chicken.  Going to an outdoor concert or the beach?  BLD will pack you a generous picnic box of their most popular selections. Alert: Homemade donuts every Wednesday.

Menchies
9609 South Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA
(310) 860-1606
www.menchies.com
Hours: 11am-11pm (daily)
Price: $
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

Not just another “make-your-own-frozen-yogurt” joint, Menchies is the winner of LA Parent’s 2011 award for “Best Place for a Treat.” The honeydew sorbet is addictive — so be warned. Go to their website and download their wallpaper, it’s adorable!

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