How to navigate Charlotte’s family-friendly dining scene without tantrums
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Charlotte offers 30+ kid-friendly restaurants with varied menus and settings.
- Options span burgers, barbecue, pizza and international fare across the city.
- Parents can find allergy-conscious menus, kids' meals and casual atmospheres.
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As a parent of three kids who have now reached the teenage years, I’ve achieved pro status at finding family-friendly restaurants in the Charlotte area that can keep everyone happy.
Many failed ventures with babies screaming at the top of their lungs and toddlers racing to yank on whatever catches their eyes have taught me plenty about what to look for in a good restaurant for kids.
No, they’re not going to enjoy tagging along with you for that fine-dining experience or mid-priced date night spot. And no one else in the restaurant will, either. Even for the most perfectly well-behaved kids, it’s a setup for something to go wrong.
Plus, who wants to stress over bathrooms with no changing tables and begging for special orders to keep your kiddo quietly eating in peace? Even tweens and teens aren’t a sure thing at many spots that adult foodies find intriguing, so why fight through the eye rolls.
Thankfully, the Charlotte area is full of family-friendly restaurants with something both you and the kids crave, getting you in and out without trauma and drama — just dive into our ultimate guide to 30 family-friendly restaurants in Charlotte.
From brewery hangouts to fast-casual spots and everyday dining options, we’ve got exactly the spot you’re looking for to feed everyone and come out smiling.
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
Location: 1626 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
Location: 15105 John J Delaney Dr., Charlotte, NC 28277
Location: 8915 Christenbury Pkwy., Concord, NC 28027
Location: 8625-A Lindholm Dr., Huntersville , NC 28078
Location: 2211 E Franklin Blvd., Gastonia , NC 28054
For tweens and teens, Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar is going to hit a lot of the marks. They can choose from a lineup of tasty creations, or craft their own. Smaller meals are available for the littles, and it’s going to be hard for any of them to turn down one of the restaurant’s shakes. (Pro tip: Those can be customized, too!)
Barcelona Burger and Beer Garden
Location: 500 S Main St, Mooresville, NC 28115
At Merino Mill, there’s a wide open area for seating, offering plenty of space to get your crew settled. Among the selection of Barcelona Burger’s award-winning burgers is a kid-friendly option that you can get with macaroni and cheese or fries — making this place a winner in almost every child’s book. (Gluten-free buns are available, too.)
Boardwalk Billy’s Raw Bar & Ribs
Location: 9005 J M Keynes Dr, Charlotte, NC 28262
Boardwalk Billy’s, which came out on top of the CharlotteFive Readers’ Choice poll for best bar, is also a welcoming place for kids. The little ones can chow down on fried shrimp or chicken fingers while you dig into a steampot, fried flounder or barbecue.
Brixx Wood Fired Pizza
Location: 7814 Fairview Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226
Pizza is almost always a safe bet for bringing kids along, and Brixx is no different. The bonus here is that there are plenty of other options to please your palate: salads, wings, pasta and even a pretty good hummus trio to nosh on when you’re looking for something light.
Burtons Grill & Bar
Location: 1601 E Woodlawn Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209
Location: 9816-J Rea Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277
Location: 8908 Lindholm Dr, Huntersville, NC 28078
Burtons is well known for being a go-to spot when allergy issues are a concern, offering an entire menu of gluten-free options. Its kids’ menu trends upscale, with grilled fish, fried fish, or fried shrimp among the options, as are grilled chicken or chicken tenders, and grilled or pan-seared steak.
Char Bar No. 7
Location: 6300 Carmel Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226
Location: 7312 Town View Drive, Mint Hill, NC 28227
Location: 3118 Fincher Farm Road, Matthews, NC 28105
Char Bar welcomes families, sports teams and other gatherings, so you know it will be a welcoming spot to bring in your own brood. The kids’ meal is for ages 10 and under, with options for simple palates including mac and cheese and cheese quesadillas. But there’s also choices for more adventurous kids, such as steak and salmon. A side, drink and a dessert of Teddy Grahams comes with each.
The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar
Location: 4310 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
The newly remodeled Cowfish brings a more refined atmosphere to the restaurant formerly filled with bold colors. But it’s still a great spot to bring the whole family, with burgers and fries, sushi and handspun milkshakes that are bound to satisfy your toughest customers.
DD Peckers Wing Shack
Location: 10403 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210
When a casual neighborhood spot is what you’re looking for, DD Peckers will strike the right vibe — for you and your kids. They can choose from grilled cheese, corn dogs, chicken fingers, a kid’s burger or wings, while the adults savor wings, burgers or sandwiches.
Hawthorne’s New York Pizza and Bar
Location: Multiple
There are plenty of Hawthorne’s locations all over the Charlotte area, making it a great go-to for a quick family night out. In addition to pizza, of course, there are other options to keep your children happy such as chicken fingers and waffle fries, pasta and grilled chicken. There’s a gluten-free menu, too.
Hello, Sailor
Location: 20210 Henderson Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031
At Hello, Sailor, you can enjoy a waterfront view and still bring the littles along without worry. House-made chicken tenders, popcorn shrimp and beef-fat fries are all likely to be a hit with your children, and there’s soft serve ice cream waiting for you at the end of your meal.
Improper Pig
Location: 110 S Sharon Amity Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
Location: 9855 Sandy Rock Pl A, Charlotte, NC 28277
Location: 204 Main St STE 102, Fort Mill, SC 29715
Improper Pig’s 12-and-under kids’ menu offers a variety of offerings to keep the little ones happy, including ribs and its Kids BBQ sandwich, along with grilled cheese, mac and cheese and more. For those 13 and up, you can order off that menu for a $4 upcharge.
Inizio Pizza Napoletana
Location: 10620 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277
Location: 2230 Park Rd #101, Charlotte, NC 28203
Location: 816 Brayden Pkwy, Fort Mill, SC 29708
Location: 16627 Birkdale Commons Pkwy, Huntersville, NC 28078
While you can count on most pizzerias being family-friendly, Inizio has a secret weapon: gelato (and cannolis). I’ll bet on most days that the promise of that dreamy dessert case can rally good behavior for all.
Leroy Fox
Location: 705 S Sharon Amity Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
Leroy Fox has a 12-and-under kids’ menu that includes an option to pay $3 for others who want to partake, too. Shrimp, a fried chicken drumstick and the choice of picking two sides as your meal all make this a standout option, especially for those starch loving littles who would happily eat nothing but fries and mac and cheese every day.
Little Mama’s Italian
Location: 4521 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
Location: 9825 Sandy Rock Place Unit 1A, Charlotte, NC 28277
Family-sized portions of pastas, entrees and sides are what Little Mama’s is all about, so naturally it’s built to bring along the children. Fresh fettuccine, spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken parm are all options you can’t go wrong with here.
The Lodge: A Sportsman’s Grill
Location: 7725 Colony Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226
The Lodge is a spot you’re likely to find youth baseball teams crowding into, so you know it’s family-friendly. You can introduce your kids to the old-school joys of loaded potato skins, share grilled chicken sliders or cut up an order of Jimmy’s foot-long hot dogs, then dig into the Nutter Butter Banana Pudding.
Midwood Smokehouse
Location: Multiple
Barbecue-loving children will surely appreciate Midwood Smokehouse, where there’s queso, guacamole and cheese fries to eat. This is also a great spot to pull out my husband’s handy dad trick, where he orders a combo platter with an extra protein for the kids to pick at while he inhales the rest.
Middle James Brewing
Location: 400 N Polk St, Pineville, NC 28134
Location: 378 Technology Center Way #1120, Rock Hill, SC 29730
Middle James Brewing’s Pineville and Rock Hill locations might be just the spot for when you’re looking to bring along your children for a night of relaxation. The Pineville brewery offers a full menu with options for kids such as chicken tenders, grilled cheese, ham and cheese, hot dogs and burgers. While the Rock Hill location doesn’t offer food, the PowerHouse food hall is right there, and plenty of children would appreciate the kids’ menu at nearby Dank Burrito.
Novanta Pizzeria
Location: 120 Langtree Village Dr, Mooresville, NC 28117
Lake Norman’s Novanta knows what kids like: pasta with butter, pasta with tomato sauce, pasta with alfredo sauce and cheese pizza. All of your cravings for American or classic Italian-style pizzas and pastas are covered here, and theirs are, too.
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
Location: 4150 Yancey Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217
Location: 15025 Bowl Street, Charlotte, NC 28277
Many of Charlotte’s breweries welcome children, and OMB is among them. It has set you up for success with kids’ menu offerings that include PB&J, chicken fingers, mini burgers, cheese pizza and a frankfurter.
Optimist Hall
Location: 1115 N Brevard St, Charlotte, NC 28206
When everyone wants something different, Optimist Hall is where you want to be. We’ll admit, this may involve standing in more than one line during your visit, so that may not be ideal when you’ve got urgently hungry littles tugging at you. But if you have older kids or can divide and conquer, you’ll find success with offerings including grilled cheese sandwiches at Papi Queso, burgers at Harriet’s Hamburgers, pizza at Ava and many more tasty stalls.
Paco’s Tacos & Tequila
Location: 6401 Morrison Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28211
Location: 1328 Broadcloth St, Fort Mill, SC 29715
Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants are generally a good choice for a family-friendly atmosphere, and you can count Paco’s Tacos in on that. Nachos, tacos and seasoned fries are among the top choices here for little kids and big kids alike.
The Pizza Peel & Tap Room
Location: 4422 Colwick Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
Pizza joints are most kids’ dreams, and there’s plenty to keep them happy at The Pizza Peel. While you can’t go wrong with a good slice of cheese, there’s also spaghetti and meatballs and a burger on the menu.
Providence Road Sundries
Location: 1522 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207
Many generations of families have shared meals at Providence Road Sundries, and the soda fountain shop is bound to keep yours happy, too. Kids’ offerings include a variety of fan favorites such as burgers, tenders, grilled cheese and more.
Rockin’ Rolls Sushi Express
Location: 1523 Elizabeth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28204
For those times when you’re trying to please everyone in the family, Rockin’ Rolls Sushi Express might be just what you’re looking for. The all-you-can-eat sushi spot has a kids’ menu offering chicken nuggets, corn dogs and fries, with special pricing for little kids and bigger kids under 11.
RuRu’s Tacos & Tequila
Location: 715 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207
When Taco Tuesday calls, Mexican food is on the menu. RuRu’s keeps it simple for the kids, with a choice of a grilled chicken or ground beef taco with lettuce and cheese, or a kid-sized quesadilla made with a blend of three cheeses.
SouthBound
Location: 2433 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
There’s no kids’ menu per se at SouthBound, but with a casual, open-air atmosphere and plenty of tasty bites, keeping the kids happy won’t be a problem. Solid choices include chips and queso, build-your-own bowl options and chocolate-drizzled churros, served with dulce de leche for dipping.
Suffolk Punch SouthPark
Location: SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Rd., Unit G23D, Charlotte, NC 28211
Suffolk Punch’s SouthPark location offers a playground with seating so you can comfortably keep an eye on your little ones. And a huge draw: Kids eat free on Sundays from 4-9 p.m. with an adult purchase of $15.
Viva Chicken
Location: Multiple
Viva Chicken is a great spot for getting in and out quickly. Its “Healthy Kids” menu has three choices: pulled chicken or rotisserie chicken — each of which come with a side such as fries, green beans, fruit and other choices — or fried rice. A drink is included.
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Yafo Kitchen
Location: 720 Gov Morrison St, Charlotte, NC 28211
Location: 1331 Central Ave Suite 101, Charlotte, NC 28205
Location: 1231A East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
Location: 15105 John J Delaney Dr J, Charlotte, NC 28277
Yafo, another on-the-go type spot, is another one to pull out when you’re looking to add flavor to your meal while keeping it simple for the little ones. Its kids’ menu slims down the vast offerings on its regular menu to the basics, with a choice of falafel, shawarma chicken, Greek chicken or schnitzel strips. A side is included: hummus, rice, potato wedges or mac & cheese; along with pita and a drink.
Zio Casual Italian
Location: 116 Middleton Dr, Charlotte, NC 28207
When a special celebration calls for dinner, Zio’s Casual Italian is a Myers Park go-to for pizza, pasta and more. Its kids’ menu offers one of the most classic picky kid choices: pasta with butter (or marinara), along with a toasted ravioli entree and a grilled chicken breast served with pasta or broccoli.
Editor’s Note: AI assistance was utilized to compile and organize some of the information in this article. All information has been reviewed and fact-checked.
