6 Restaurants with Something Special

Truett’s Luau

Try one of these family-friendly eateries that put fun on the menu.

Truett’s Luau

Ukuleles, palm trees and beach décor give Truett’s, part of the Chick-fil-A restaurant group, the feel of a Hawaiian luau. The menu includes traditional Hawaiian favorites such as Kalua Pork, I’a Makana Fish Tacos and Mahi Mahi. If your kids aren’t that adventurous, they can go with something more familiar – chicken sandwiches, nuggets, mac and cheese and milkshakes. For dessert, they might be willing to try a frosted pineapple or decadent King’s Hawaiian bread pudding. After eating, try your hand at traditional island instruments, stroll through the gardens and spot the rooftop beehives.

R. Thomas Deluxe Grill

Flowerpots, yard art, signs, statues and caged birds give R. Thomas Deluxe Grill its eclectic charm. The funky covered patio garden is a green oasis on Peachtree Street. The restaurant serves organic, vegetarian and “super foods.” You can still get peanut butter chocolate pie or a hamburger, but these options sit side-by-side with raw veggie dinners and freshly squeezed juices. Kids’ choices include scrambled eggs, grilled cheese and pasta. The food is so good that your kids won’t know they’re eating healthy.

My Parents’ Basement

This one-of-a-kind “friendly neighborhood comic book bar” appeals to adults as well as kids. Enjoy the laid back, retro atmosphere while the kids browse the comic books or play pinball on one of 10 movie- and superhero-themed pinball machines. The menu includes choices for every taste, from crunchy black-eyed peas to pimiento cheese toast sticks, fried shrimp hoagie and the restaurant’s signature CBJB, a cashew butter, strawberry jam and bacon sandwich. The kids’ menu includes selections such as grilled cheese, a vegan corn dog, shrimp taco and chicken fingers.

The 57th Fighter Group Restaurant

Situated at the edge of DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, 57th Fighter Group has everything an airplane enthusiast could want – WWII aviation-themed décor, headsets and a great view of the runway from the outdoor seating area. The upscale menu offers everything from fried catfish and hush puppies to filet mignon. In between watching planes taking off and landing, kids can choose from favorites such as hamburgers, chicken tenders and grilled cheese.

HobNob Neighborhood Tavern

At HobNob Tavern, the first thing you notice is the bookshelf full of games. The variety of board games, including checkers, Battleship, Monopoly, Scrabble and Chutes and Ladders will help entertain the kids while waiting for your food. The menu has everything from salads and appetizers to classic fare such as shrimp and grits, meatloaf, salmon and burgers. The kids’ menu features chicken tenders, fruit, pita pizza and mac and cheese.

Orient Express

A longtime Atlanta tradition, Orient Express serves Asian food in a unique setting – a vintage railroad car. Choose your cuisine – Chinese, sushi or hibachi, and you’ll be ushered to one of three rooms in the car. Kids (and adults) will find the expert hibachi chefs entertaining, and the food is even more fun to eat when it’s been prepared before your eyes. The restaurant is adjacent to a set of busy railroad tracks; your kids might get a close-up view of the real thing.