10 Kid-Friendly Restaurant Options That Aren’t Fast Food in Greenville, SC

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Have you been searching for restaurants that are a little fancier, but are kid-friendly? Greenville, SC has several that are both! If you’re looking for a nice restaurant to celebrate something special or just something a bit nicer than chicken nuggets, check out this list of the best restaurants for kids in Greenville, SC.

Kid friendly restaurants in Greenville, South Carolina that are not fast food.

Dining out with kids isn’t only for intrepid parents who’ve taken their kids to dinner since birth. Parents deserve some fun and creative dining experiences that don’t involve chicken tenders! To make it a more fun and memorable experience, in addition to providing you with a few dinner suggestions (not the usual suspects), we’ve also shared some of our tips below based on our dining experiences around town.

Tips for Eating Out with Kids

  • Skip the kid’s menu. We have our 6 and 7-year-olds either share a main course or we order appetizers (a couple of small things in case they don’t like one of them).
  • Request that all the food come out at the same time instead of the kid’s meals coming out first. This will ensure that the kids will be busy while parents are enjoying their own food.
  • Always try to reserve a table if you can or eat early. Also, attempt to stick to your child’s routine to avoid meltdowns.
  • Let them do the ordering; this makes the evening more interactive.
  • This is your chance to teach your kids about table manners and how to behave when eating out in public. Be sure to brief them before you leave the house.
  • Reward their adventurous spirits with something yummy from the dessert section.

Restaurants to Dine at That Are Kid-Friendly: Greenville, SC

If you are raring to go, here are a few places to get you started. We’ve listed a range, from elegant (good for special occasions like Valentine’s Day) to casual (a nice alternative to fast food). Greenville has such a great selection of restaurants, that we hope we’ve given you some options when dining out with the whole family.

Larkin’s

32 East Broad Street, Greenville, SC 29601 | 864.467.9777
Price: Splurge

In the heart of town, this restaurant offers some of the best city views in downtown. There is no children’s menu, but their entrees are big enough to share. The restaurant is located in Camperdown Plaza, so your kids can run around the area or play in the waterfall fountain while you wait. Call ahead to reserve a table.

Restaurant 17

10 Road of Vines, Travelers Rest, SC 29690 | 864.516.1254
Price: Splurge

Best paired with a visit to Campbell’s Bridge or after a visit to a nearby state park, Restaurant 17 is a half-hour drive from downtown Greenville. It belongs to Hotel Domestique, a boutique hotel beautifully nestled at the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains with sprawling views of the countryside. We love taking visitors here, to enjoy the fabulous views and their chef’s bold take on artisanal southern cuisine.  If weather permits, you can request a table outside on their patio overlooking the pool. 

While waiting for dinner to arrive, we usually take a stroll around their plaza which has an interesting water feature. Try to go before sunset so you can catch the amazing pink skyline. Though they don’t have a separate children’s menu, their kitchen has graciously whipped up a pasta dish for our kids. Call ahead to reserve a table.

Otto Izakaya

15 Market Point Drive, Greenville, SC 29607 | 864.568.8009
Price: Moderate

Asian food with flair. Otto Izikaya is a sleek-looking restaurant in Greenville. A bit hidden, the place surprises with high ceilings, great lighting, and a metropolitan atmosphere. Lots of small plates to choose from and a long list of house non-raw and traditional sushi rolls. The edamame with garlic and parmesan brings a new twist to this Japanese vegetable side dish.

Some fun things that our kids like on their menu are the pork buns, fried dumplings, and chicken satay which are non-spicy and children-friendly items.  If you still have room for dessert, try the fried Oreos, which has received rave reviews. Call ahead to reserve a table.

Smoke on the Water

1 Augusta Street, #202, Greenville, SC 29601 | 864.232.9091
Price: Moderate

This tavern-style downtown eatery serves barbeque and southern favorites. We usually request a booth inside but there’s also a patio to enjoy if it’s a nice day. The place is usually loud and busy so one doesn’t have to be too worried about kids and their voices being too loud.  For dessert, we walk a block down and have some frozen yogurt at Blueberry Frog. Call ahead to reserve a table.

Trappe Door

23 West Washington Street, Greenville, SC 29601 | 864.451.7490
Price: Moderate

It’s dark, cozy, and usually busy in this popular Belgian-inspired downtown restaurant. We love their Carbonade Flamande, a traditional Belgian stew, their Moules and Frites (mussels and fries), and the extensive European beer menu. With their fries, you’ll have a choice of three mayo-based dipping sauces of which I usually just order three of their truffle mayo.

The kid’s menu offers a choice of fries and either a vegetable or fruit bowl. Our kids get a kick out of their restrooms decorated with comic strips from the adventures of the junior detective Tin Tin. For dessert, we usually go to Rosa Luna next door to enjoy one of the best gelatos in town. Call ahead to reserve a table. No Reservations Required

Tupelo Honey Cafe

1 N Main Street Greenville, SC | 864.451.6200
Price: Moderate

If you love delicious southern cuisine, then Tupelo Honey Cafe is the place to go! Their menu is a hit with our kids, because who doesn’t love chicken and waffles? You can dine inside or outside on the open patio. It gets pretty loud, so you do not have to worry about your kids being too loud, it’s also close to the fountains and open space at One Greenville, so if your kids need a break from the table they can run around there and you can easily see them. We recommend reservations, especially on the weekends.

Nose Dive

116 S Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601 | 864.373.7300
Price: Moderate

The Nose Dive in Greenville is a local favorite. The atmosphere is a little louder, so you don’t have to worry if your kids fuss or have an indoor voice that’s really more appropriate for a stadium. They also have a fun kids’ menu! No reservations are required, but they are available.

Menkoi Ramen House

241 North Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601 | 864.373.9233
Price: Deal

If you want a quick dinner but not the usual fast food joint, head to the downtown location of this authentic Japanese noodle shop located at NOMA Square. Great for winter weather and ready in minutes, order your own or share a bowl of hot broth served with thin slices of pork, ramen noodles, bean sprouts, and egg. My daughter loves the gyoza (fried dumplings).  If you don’t feel like soup, they also serve Japanese-style curry with rice.

Willy Taco

217 Laurens Road, Greenville, SC 29607
930 E Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302

Price: Deal

Willy Taco is one of the best kid-friendly Greenville, SC restaurants! While there is no kids’ menu, you can easily order a single taco for your child or share a meal. Bonus: They have cornhole games set up outside.

White Duck Taco Shop

1320 Hampton Avenue Ext, Greenville, SC | 864.609.4150
Price: Deal

This place has the BEST tacos, especially their Korean Bulgogi taco. You can sit inside or outside, the vibe is nice and cozy, and you can have dessert at Waffle Drop. Hampton Station also has a few other shops to explore, an open area for kids to run around in while you wait for food, and your kids will enjoy the quesadillas at White Duck too, so win-win.


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About the Author
A Greenville transplant, Anna, is a former fundraiser for art museums and charities in NY and NJ. Before heading south, her husband's job brought them to Pune, Shanghai and her hometown, Manila. She and her family are happy to settle in Greenville and enjoy hiking the beautiful parks of the Upstate, visiting museums and historic places, and last but not least, hunting for the best BBQ in town.

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Lorey
7 years ago

I would definitely add Broad and River pub to this list (formerly The Playwright) in downtown Greenville! Amazing grassy and well lit area outdoors for kiddos to run and play while waiting for your food. Very reasonable priced and even have live music a lot of nights. We went there for a date night and there were so many families sitting outside dining while the kids played. We took ours the next time we went!

Whitney Lett
7 years ago

Joe’s Crab shack if the weather is nice it has a playground and you can eat while kids play!

Anna
7 years ago

Pita House on Pleasantburg Drive is a forever favorite! Authentic mediterranean menu, casual setting and low prices. My 5 year old son loves their hummus plate and always gets something for desert from the mini sweets display. Cash only

Local guy
4 years ago

El Thrifty Social Club on the swamp rabbit trail in Greenville. Big lawn with basketball game hoops, soccer pool, nets, giant jenga. Outside tv and seating, kids Food options. Tacos were good. Can’t beat it.

Also, I don’t think I’ll ever take my kids until they’re much older to Trappe door as it’s confined, no windows and tables are close together. Good food just not great for small kids in my opinion.