Cool Guide to Parenting

The best kid-friendly Austin restaurants to try right now

It's a known fact that as you embark on your journey as a parent, you will discover along the way that certain doors (for now) are closed to you and your progeny. While exposing our children to different cultures and cuisines is always important, maybe that four-star restaurant is better left for when you have a sitter.

Don’t despair, there are plenty of places around town that not only welcome kids, they also reserve a little space on their menu just for the short set. Here are three of our favorite go-to spots when hunger pangs strike with kids.

Nau’s Enfield Drug
If you want your kids growing up knowing the difference between a lime Rickey and an egg cream, Nau’s Enfield Drug is the place to go. Tucked away in enchanting Clarksville, the charm factor ratchets up when you step inside. Wooden booths and a linoleum counter with spinning stools make this spot decidedly kid-friendly. A simple, straight-forward menu with burgers and sandwiches is sure to please, especially with the promise of a malt or sundae after lunch. With choices for kids like the PB&J for $2.50 or a grilled cheese for $2.75, you can’t go wrong.

After lunch, do a little shopping in the pharmacy itself where kids can buy toys or crayons and you can get the basics for your medicine cabinet at home.

Threadgill’s
Whether you find yourself at the downtown location or the old No. 1 on North Lamar Boulevard, Threadgill’s offers a homey and welcoming place to grab a bite. Cheery checkered tablecloths, crayons, and a kids menu for coloring armadillos make it clear that kids are okay here. The menu items for kiddos 12 and under includes an insanely creamy mac and cheese that parents have a hard time leaving alone and house specialties like the Lazy Loafer Meatloaf and Yosemite Sam Chicken-Fried Steak.

For beat down parents, the “Howdy Hour” is always a good way to kick back — and Threadgill’s is one of the few places we know of that still serves the throwback treat of Kool-Aid for kids.

House Pizzeria
House Pizzeria is one of those joints that makes you feel some level of sophistication may still be possible, even with two hangry grade-schoolers in tow. This cozy, modern space on the quickly developing Airport Boulevard offers a fantastic happy hour Tuesday through Friday from 3 to 7 pm. Four dollars off a bottle of really good Italian wine? Don’t mind if we do!

The pizzas themselves use fresh, locally sourced ingredients and offer just the right amount of crisp-to-chewy factor. While the kids can order a stellar cheese or pepperoni pizza, parents can go for more adventurous fare like the potato and goat cheese pizza or the eggplant pie. Make sure to bring a bag of quarters and let the kids pick out tunes on the pizzeria's excellent jukebox.

Let the little ones order cheese or pepperoni pizza while you try House Pizzeria's more adventurous fare.

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Yellow and Burnt Orange

Pre-game Austin pop-up pairs Bijan Robinson's mustard and Georgia's best burger

Bijan Burger by NFA Burger and Bijan Mustardson

Photo courtesy of NFA Burger and Bijan Mustardson

In honor the UT vs. Georgia game: behold the Biijan Burger.

Austinites whose tailgates could use a bit more spice have an opportunity to soak up some burger inspiration from one of Georgia's best burger makers and a former UT Longhorn.

On October 18, the night before the UT vs. Georgia game, opposite sides are fraternizing at Sí Baby-Q, the Chinese-Texan barbecue truck at Zoé Tong: NFL running back Bijan Robinson and "burger master" Billy Kramer of Atlanta’s NFA Burger are collaborating on a double stack "smashed burger" (gotta avoid that copyright) featuring Robinson's signature yellow mustard.

Everyone claims to have the best burger, but NFA's claim was verified in 2021 byFood & Wine. "The menu is simple, single or double, but the burgers are anything but boring," says the write-up, "starting with top-notch Angus beef smashed down (but not too vigorously) on the grill for those nice, crispy-caramelized edges."

This collaboration is sticking to that script, and the only difference between NFA's classic burger and this one is the addition of the new yellow mustard by Bijan Mustardson, the NFL player's cheekily named mustard brand. Most of this brand seems to be marketing — there's quite literally more Bijan Mustardson merch styles than mustard, not to mention $250 signed one-of-one bottles. But it's all-natural, and Robinson seems to have won over some impressive chefs.

In addition to Kramer's burgers, this pop-up will feature Dijon smoked wings by Chef Matthew Hyland of Zoé Tong, which of course make use of the mustard brand's flagship product. A press release about the collaboration promises a "rich and subtly spicy kick." And considering the stellar quality of Sí Baby-Q's char siu sticky ribs, that team is good for their word.

The Longhorns will be entering this match-up on a high after throttling Oklahoma in Saturday's Red River rivalry, closing out the game at 34-3. The points UT scored in that single game are nearly equal to the points they've given away in the entire season so far, totaling 38 — a record since 1964.

Not only is that is neatly handled big win, but it continues UT's perfect season. As of this article's publication, the team is also sitting at No. 1 on the Associated Press' Top 25 College Football Poll, with Georgia trailing at No. 5.

“Two years ago when we won the Golden Hat, you might have thought we won the Super Bowl,” said Steve Sarkisian, as quoted by AP after the game. “This year was like, OK, we got the Golden Hat back, but let’s put it in the trophy case and let’s keep grinding, let's keep going. So I think that’s the mentality of our team.”

With spirits high, pre-pre-game bites will be served from 6-9 pm at 1530 Barton Springs Rd. Tickets ($40) include a burger, a brisket smoked by Sí Baby-Q, and two beverages. They're available via Resy.

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