10 restaurants north and west of Pittsburgh that families love

Photo above by Dan Gold via Unsplash.

Wouldn’t it be nice if somebody else cooked dinner tonight? If you live in Beaver County or in parts of Butler and Allegheny counties to the north and west of the city, the guide below will point you to 10 great places to have dinner out with kids. Many of them offer space for kids to run around and play, and all 10 have menus that are designed to please.

Check out these family-friendly dinner spots:

Paradise Island Bowl: Located on Neville Island just north of the city, Paradise Island Bowl offers dinner and entertainment, with a little something for everyone in the family. You can find competitive games for all ages such as bowling and axe throwing, plus arcade games and even a casual game of beach volleyball. Beyond the games, the food is pretty great. They offer a full menu of salads, wings, pizza, sandwiches and a kids’ menu. In warmer weather, you can finish the night on the riverside “beach.” Listen to live music, participate in an open mic night or try your hand at karaoke. 

Union Brothers: Pet-friendly Union Brothers is located in historic Harmony. It’s a brewpub, but also has a full kitchen that uses only the freshest sustainable ingredients. They have an outside area of fun with fire pits, outdoor games and daily live music. Their menu features burgers, salads, build-your-own bowls, wings, and even a doggie menu. For the kids, there’s a pinball room and a fenced-in outdoor area with grassy space for kids to run around safely.

Jerry’s Curb Service: Jerry’s Curb Service is located along the river in Bridgewater. They’ve been serving delicious American food (think burgers, fries and milkshakes) since 1957. It’s one of the only remaining classic curbside service restaurants in the region. The drive-in experience is super fun for kids, as Jerry’s servers bring the food right to your car to eat. Jerry’s also offers other menu items such as salads, seafood and their locally famous “burnt ham and cheese.” 

Bert’s Wooden Indian: Located in Bridgewater, this restaurant offers salads, soups and lighter fare, plus burgers, wings, pasta, and even a Pittsburgh speciality—ham barbecue sandwiches. The kids menu is massive, so every eater should be able to find something. You can book your own event with a special catering menu, too. Bert’s Wooden Indian dates back to 1948 when Bert and his wife started a small restaurant serving their famous ham barbecue. 

Big Sewickley Creek Brewing: Located on the banks of Big Sewickley Creek, this dog and family-friendly brewery is a great place to take kids for a casual dinner. There are fire pits and twinkle lights throughout, making this brewery a great place to go even in the colder months. Great local food trucks visit Big Sewickley Creek on a rotating schedule and kids have room to run around (or play in the creek during summer, so pack a change of clothes and a towel during swim season). During the week, families can have fun at trivia night. Weekends feature live music and food trucks.  

Zooky’s Sports Tavern: Zooky’s is the perfect place to watch any sports game of your choice on their 40 HD-TVs. Their menu is perfect for any game day crew, featuring potato skins, buffalo chicken dip, and fried pickles to start. Their main courses include salads, wraps, burgers, a variety of sandwiches, infamous wings and, of course, pizza. Check out their patio outside and live music nights.

Quality Time Catering: Located on main street of downtown New Brighton, Quality Time Catering has all the hometown feels of your mom’s kitchen. Quality Time Catering serves breakfast from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.on weekdays and until 1 p.m. on weekends. They offer tasty frittatas, smoothie bowls, and traditional breakfast items. Their lunch and dinner options are great too, with pasta dishes, salads, and specialty bowls. Finish your meal with their amazing homemade cheesecake or a creamy milkshake. Kids can choose from a variety of board games and coloring supplies — especially convenient if adults are still finishing their meals. 

Burghers Brewing: Located in Zelienople, Burghers Brewing is a hip smash burger and craft beer haven. All the ingredients are locally sourced from surrounding farms, meaning the food is always fresh. They are environmentally friendly as well, with sustainable business practices such as a no-paper-napkin policy. Burghers has earned a Platinum Designation from Sustainable Pittsburgh for these efforts. Kids will especially enjoy the yard games and great hamburger sliders.

Waffles INCaffeinated: While there are now Waffles INCaffeinated locations across the region, this local chain got its start in Beaver County. Their current Beaver County location is a hometown favorite on Beaver’s adorable main street. Open for breakfast, brunch and lunch, they offer the biggest gourmet waffles menu around. Try seasonable favorites like pumpkin waffles or try a unique sandwich with waffles as the bread. Their custom coffee drinks are delicious, and the menu offers other breakfast and brunch items such as omelets, breakfast tacos and crepes. Check out the gluten free options, as well. 

Altered Genius Trailside: Altered Genius Trailside is a newcomer in the Ambridge area that is fun for the whole family. They offer events such as trivia nights, live music and regular festivals. The menu offers a wide variety of options from fried pickles, grape leaves, poutine and flat breads to wings, salads and loaded mac ‘n cheese. The casual atmosphere is great for family with kids.

Looking for more family-friendly dining options? Check out our guide to restaurants near the city here. Don’t forget to sign up for our twice-weekly newsletter. It’s the best way to know what’s always happening all around Kidsburgh.