I have to preface my reply with the fact that I don't have children, but... Friends w/ a 2-year-old love taking her out to eat at TipTop (on Route 250 on Pantops Mountain, sandwiched between car dealerships & chain restaurants). It's a great local place to eat while you're in C'ville. And I also love East Garden (a Chinese buffet, also on Pantops, off of Route 250) and Applebees (a chain restaurant off of Route 29) -- and I've see quite a few small children at them.

Just saw this message. For me, the absolute best place for eating with the kids is C'ville Coffee. While the address is Harris St., they are across from the McIntire Skateboard Park.

Another idea would be to eat outside on the downtown mall if the weather is good. Kids can run around a bit and you can have a nice supper.

Cville Coffee

CVille Coffee | 1031 Harris St | (434) 817-2633 | About Toan, the owner

CVille Coffee is one of Charlottesville best kept secret. CVille coffee offers coffee (naturally), crepes, smoothies, pastries, sandwiches, as well as noodle bowls in the evening. CVille Coffee is a great meeting place. Mothers' groups, clubs, board meetings, business meetings, are all easily accomodated in the spacious interior. Now with free wireless access!

CVille Coffee features

Kid-friendly. Talk to any parents with young children in Charlottesville and they will immediately point you to CVille Coffee as the place to go with kids. While the kids entertain themselves with the toys and children's books, parents can sit back, sip their espresso, and just plain relax.

Separate adult section

Ample parking

Books, magazines for kids and adults

New artwork every month

Cheeseburger in Paradise is good if you are ok with a chain restaurant. They have an nice kids menu and lots to look around and see.

I am not familiar with Charl.ville but have raised 3 kids---in my experience the kid-friendliest places are family run Chinese restaurants, especially if the kids are well behaved. The Chinese love children & consider them blessings, and are delighted to have a family come in to enjoy a multigenerational meal.

If you really want to make an impression, teach the little ones to say "shi-shieh," Thank You, when the waiter sets a dish in front of them. SHI-shee-ay. The "I" as in "sit" not "shy." Also ni hao, Good Day (nee-how), when they come in.

Once we were camping in Philadelpha, MS, and got tired of our own cooking. Found a Chinese place just at the edge of town & had early dinner late in the afternoon. When the waiter brought the four year old's plate she said shi-shieh as he was walking away, and he stopped in his tracks and turned --- we laughed and said, "Yes, you heard her!" He told us that was the first time in Philadelphia MS anyone (not Chinese I assume) had said that to him.