Best Bites for Li’l Appetites: Tasty Local Kids’ Meals

Picking a restaurant where every member of the family will be satisfied can be tricky. Luckily, Happy Valley is home to a wide variety of eateries where kids can enjoy a tasty meal, whether they’re adventurous eaters or refuse anything but chicken fingers. Some pint-sized diners may have a more refined palate but don’t necessarily need the whole adult portion, so kids’ meals fit the bill. And Mom and Dad don’t have to pay the adult portion price!

Dining in downtown State College isn’t just for the college students, but kids of all ages. Roots Natural Kitchen (270 East Beaver Avenue) offers a free kids’ meal with purchase of an adult meal and the opportunity to try foods outside of the typical kids’ menu. This is a build-your-own-bowl place with everything from brown rice and sweet potatoes to chicken and cucumbers.

A Penn Stater favorite, The Corner Room (100 West College Avenue), offers kids’ burgers, BLTs, and a variety of sides like fries, salad, fruit, and soup. Parents can find many brunch and dinner options on the regular menu, but the whole family should save room for a milkshake (regular for anyone and boozy for adults only).

Local restaurant Otto’s Pub & Brewery (2235 North Atherton Street) offers kids fan-favorites like chicken fingers and pizzas, but also a more mature choice, the pan-seared salmon. Every kids’ meal at Otto’s is $6 and includes the entrée, a side, drink, and freshly made chocolate chip cookie. 

Parents can enjoy one of Otto’s on-tap drafts and a wood-fired pizza or a specialty cocktail with a sandwich and beer-battered fries. While the restaurant’s atmosphere is accepting of all diners, for parents who are concerned about their little ones making too much noise or mess, the outdoor patio can alleviate social anxieties during warmer months.

The Hublersburg Inn (449 Hublersburg Road) offers a wide variety of cocktails for adults but includes kids with its mocktails menu. The Fish Bowl—made of Sprite, non-alcoholic blue curacao, and Swedish fish—is sure to bring a smile.

At Little Mama’s (105 South Main Street in Pleasant Gap), kids can choose among right-sized meals like pizza, stromboli, ziti, shrimp, grilled cheese, and, of course, chicken fingers.

Chain restaurants like Olive Garden (1945 Waddle Road) and Texas Roadhouse (1885 Waddle Road) offer kids’ meals for those 12 years old and younger. Olive Garden serves a variety of pastas and chicken fingers, while Texas Roadhouse offers staples like mini-cheeseburgers and grilled chicken. Youngsters can also chow down on Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites, which are grilled pieces of steak, along with a side and drink. Texas Roadhouse also provides kiddos with an opportunity to make a mess by encouraging the throwing of peanut shells on the floor.

The Borough of State College is home to restaurants that specialize in foods from all over the world. Although you might not find actual kids’ meals, the options are endless and can help diners young and old expand their culinary horizons.

Chew Chew Bun (115 East Beaver Avenue) offers sweet Asian pastries, Bistrozine (409 East Calder Way) crafts ramen and dumplings, and India Pavilion (222 East Calder Way) sells tikka masala and chicken tandoori. 

Another option for getting creative when dining with kids is to combine family fun with food by attending a local event like the Centre County Grange Fair or the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. Indulge in funnel cakes, barbecue, and more while enjoying music, crafts, and fellowship.

Food trucks, like the Brazilian Munchies Food Truck (of Bellefonte), pop up at events throughout the year. Kids—and parents, too—can try new foods from trucks and stands that they might not otherwise have the chance to eat. There are usually multiple varieties of foods, so every member of the family can pick their favorite for dinner.

Farmers markets often feature food trucks, as well as lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, depending on the time of year. Kids can easily try new foods, while parents and other adults can teach kids about where their food comes from. Visit the Downtown State College Indoor Farmers Market from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays, December to April, in the lobby of the State College Municipal Building, 243 South Allen Street. The Boalsburg Indoor Farmers Market runs from 2 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays through April at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 218 North Church Street.

These types of “dining” experiences may not be traditional; however, they are a great way to provide the whole family with not only meals and snacks they will love, but also memories of time spent together. 

Looking for a good deal on kids’ meals?

Among the State College restaurants where kids’ meals are free or discounted—all the time or on certain days—are:

• Roots Natural Kitchen, 270 East Beaver Avenue. Children who are under 12 years old eat free every day with purchase of an adult-sized bowl. The child gets to design their bowl just like an adult would and must be present to redeem the offer.

• Otto’s Pub & Brewery, 2235 North Atherton Street. Kids’ meals are half price on Sundays at this local brewery. The meals are for children 12 years old and younger and are regularly priced at $6. The meal includes an entrée, side, drink, and freshly made chocolate chip cookie.
• Moe’s Southwest Grille, 211 Patriot Lane. Children under 12 can get a free meal with purchase of an adult entrée. These meals include the choice of a kid-sized burrito, quesadilla, or taco, plus a cookie and a drink. This deal is available on Sundays.
• Quaker Steak & Lube, 501 Benner Pike. Every Thursday children 10 years old and under can eat free. To redeem, the child must order a Kids’ Cruiser Meal and be accompanied by an adult who purchases an entrée.
• IHOP, 1661 South Atherton Street. Kids can eat free every day from 4 to 9 p.m. with purchase of an adult entrée.T&G

Hannah Pollock is a freelance writer in State College. This story appears in the February 2023 issue of Town&Gown.