Best Kids Eat Free Deal

Winner: Pallino’s Pastaria
Pallino’s Pastaria serves up “food the whole family likes, plus wine and beer”  and offers a kids eat free deal on Wednesdays and Sundays. With six locations — in University Village, Columbia Center, Redmond Town Center, Woodinville and at Seatac Airport — it’s an easy choice for family mealtime. With their kinder-customers in mind, the restaurants provide “games for kids,” and “some toys for distraction” in addition to their “family-friendly, fast, good food.” Pallino’s honors the Italian-American heritage of founder Harry “Arrigo” Roberts, where every meal “was a lively and loving tribute to authentic Italian food, traditions and family life.”

Finalists:
The Ram squeezes in under the radar in this category — let’s just all agree that in this economy, $1 is the same as free. The Ram also offers a birthday program that gives kids two free meals a year, so we figure they qualify. The Ram is known for crafted brew, juicy burgers, creative cocktails, and all the sports on TV you can stomach. As one voter put it: “Mom and Dad can get a taste of what it's like to be in college again without having to pay a babysitter.”  

Two other favorites are Denny’s and IHOP. Kids love these national chain restaurants because they have kid-friendly choices like IHOP’s Smiley Face Pancakes, and Denny’s serves Goldfish crackers. Parents love the value of their meals and free meals for the kids. A number of voters mentioned that these were the only two restaurants they knew of to offer a kids eat free deal and that’s just not right. Check out our full kids-eat-free listing and try something new the next time the wallet feels thin.