Kick-Butt Kids Menus: Chowdown Showdown

There are quite a few restaurants that offer adults a delicious selection of enjoyable meals, but at some of the same restaurants the kids don't stand a chance.

That's why I decided to have my own Mini Me help out with this week's Chowdown.

We used your suggestions to create a list of three great restaurants in the area and had an 8-year-old kid see how kids menus at these eateries stacked up.

We chose distinctly different kids dishes from the restaurants, mainly because we're judging the menus as a whole and not comparing the meals by themselves.

My youngster rated the three restaurants and picked which one he liked best. I also rated them and came up with a parent's choice winner. I mean, because let's be honest, we rarely agree with our kids.

- Homewood

Tom's has a great atmosphere for children. There are toys in an area for kids, just in case you have to wait. The menu offers different options for kids depending on the time of day. For the dinner menu, it's chicken strips, meatloaf and filleted fish. We got the chicken strips.

Chris Jr. enjoyed the homemade chicken strips, although he detected a hint of spiciness, which he didn't find appealing. Described in a few words: tender, awesome, delicious. He also made a point of saying they were "better than Wendy's."

The meal came with mixed veggies, mashed potatoes and gravy, milk and a cookie (with an option of ice cream). It made a complete meal of foods that were fairly healthy.

- Chicago Heights

Schoop's offered five choices for kids: hamburger, cheeseburger, hot dog, chicken strips and grilled cheese. Chris Jr. went for the grilled cheese and didn't regret it.

He described the sandwich with the shocking adjective "cheesy." Asked to elaborate he noted the buttered toast surrounding the cheese and found it all delicious. The fries that came with the sandwich were warm and weren't sodium heavy. 

While Schoop's lacked the variety and fell more in line with the quantity one would get at a fast food joint, it delivered wonderfully in the taste category. The little guy was thoroughly satisfied with his meal.

- Flossmoor

The brewery had immediate advantage of offering the largest selection of kids dinners. I won't list the insane amount of items the tots could get but visit their Website to see for yourself.

Chris Jr. got the Pullman Car Pizza and became an instant fan of the cheese. The pizza had a 7-inch diameter and would be more than filling for most kids.

The side item choices at Flossmoor Station were numerous as well and we got the mixed veggies and apple sauce. Chris was happy with the apple sauce, but wasn't a fan of the veggies, which were much more sodium-heavy than expected.

The Winner: Schoop's

Despite having less variety than Flossmoor Station and a smaller package than Tom's, Schoop's won over the heart and taste buds of an 8-year-old.

Parent's Choice: Tom's Family Restaurant

A much healthier home-cooked meal that included mixed veggies, milk and even a tasty dessert, many parents would feel quite comfortable letting their kids eat at Tom's once a week.

Looking for local eats? Start with your local Patch Places food and dining directory. Please post a review on your favorite restaurant's profile page.

• For establishments in Chicago Heights and Olympia Fields
• For establishments in Homewood and Flossmoor