Kid-Friendly Restaurants in the Quad Cities

Let's face it, taking kids out to a restaurant can be a stressful experience for parents.

Children aren't exactly the most dignified of dining companions, between getting impatient while waiting for their food, to not wanting to sit still while eating. Between the unpredictable behavior of children and the costs involved with taking a family out for a meal, it's enough to make you want to stay at home and order a pizza.  Luckily, there are a few restaurants in the area that help cater to the needs of kids with both their family friendly atmospheres and price points. We're rounded up a few of our favorites here:

Happy Joe's

A long standing favorite in the QC, Happy Joe's offers yummy fare like pizza, pasta, and of course, ice cream, in a relaxed atmosphere. Kids can help select what they want to eat from the pizza and salad buffet, and top their meal off with a frozen treat afterwards. Many of the Happy Joe's locations feature a fun center with arcade games and offer birthday party packages. The Jungle Bungle location on West 50th St location in Davenport has two floors of fun, including games and a jungle gym.

Pricing: Pizza buffet is $8.99 plus tax for ages 10 plus. Children under ten are .50 times their age number.

Location: Happy Joe's has many locations around the QCA, including stores in Davenport, Bettendorf, Le Claire, Rock Island and Moline. Check out their website for more info.

Zeke's Island Cafe (Zeke's on the Hill)

If you haven't visited this Davenport gem, you are missing out on some of the best Caribbean food around. Zeke's has yummy options ranging from Jamaican jerk chicken to  crispy shrimp tacos. While some of their more exotic menu items might not appeal to kids, Zeke's also has a children's menu, with scrumptious items like cheese quesadillas and pulled pork sliders. Their ala carte menu includes kid friendly fare, like rice and beans and fresh cut french fries. Top off your meal with a smoothie, Island punch or a peanut butter and banana "Elvis Eggroll." And there is also an alcoholic drink menu, perfect for mom and dad to indulge in.

Pricing: Entrees range from $6-9, kid's menu items are $4.95 and ala carte selections range from $1.75-$2.95.

Location: 1409 Harrison St, Davenport.

Tokyo Bay Buffet

Formally known as Osaka, Tokyo Bay is a buffet packed with Chinese and Japanese cuisine. With options ranging from sushi to hibachi, along with appetizers, salads and desserts, there is something for everyone. Even the pickiest of palates will enjoy choosing their meal from Tokyo Bay's huge selection. Plus kids eat free during dinner hours (with the purchase of an adult meal).

Pricing: Lunch buffet is $8.99, with discounted prices for kids.  Sunday and Dinner buffet for adults and children over 8 is $14.49. Kids under 8 eat free during dinner hours.

Location: 1510 E. Kimberly Road, Davenport.

Lagomarcino's

Lagomarcino's is of course known for their delectable sweets, but they also offer an array of yummy lunch options, including soups, sandwiches and salads. Some of the more kid friendly items include the grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich and grilled cheese.

After eating lunch, families can indulge in a treat from the soda fountain. We're not saying to bribe your kids to eat their food, but the milkshakes, sundaes and old fashioned sodas  would be pretty good motivation to finish their first course. The reasonable prices are just the cherry on top of this tasty restaurant.

Pricing: Sandwiches start at $3.25. Sweets from the soda fountain range from $3-12.

Locations: 1422 5th Avenue, Moline and 2132 East 11th Street
Davenport.

Machine Shed

Another QC favorite, the Machine Shed serves up homestyle meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their kid's menu features fare that any kid would find hard to resist, like blueberry pancakes and macaroni and cheese. Machine Shed's famous cinnamon rolls are also sure to be a crowd pleaser for kids. Their regular menu has plenty of tasty offerings for parents, like steak, chicken and seafood, as well as alcoholic beverages.

Pricing: Most kid's menu items are under $5 and kids eat for $1.99 on Tuesday nights.

Location: 7250 Northwest Boulevard, Davenport.