Moms, dads, your mission -- should you choose to accept – is to take the young ones out to eat.  At a restaurant.  In public.  Where there will be dozens of people shooting you the same evil eye received by those who dare to bring a baby aboard an airplane.  Yes, this is a dangerous assignment and some of you might not make it back.  But, it’s quarter to six on a weekday, the frozen lasagna is still, well, frozen and the neighbors will report you to Social Services if you have one more pizza delivered to the house.
 
So grab the kids and go out to dinner, where you will spend two hours coloring, asking for more napkins, asking for clean silverware, wiping up spills, taking trips to the potty and reminding the kids to “Keep your voice down,” “Get over here,” “Go sit over there,” “Don’t put that in your mouth,” “Take that out of your nose,” Stop playing with that,” “Stop kicking the chair,” “You just went to the bathroom,” “No,” “I said No,”  “Take one more bite,”  “One more bite,”  “No dessert until you take one more bite.”
 
A relaxing, fun and filling dinner?  Ah, probably not, though many restaurants are striving to be more family-friendly, particularly in Stone Oak.  “This area, that’s very important,” says Salim Tejani, owner of Indigo Joe’s near Huebner and Stone Oak Parkway.  “Because all the families live up here.”
 
Perhaps offering the best of both worlds, Indigo Joe’s is advertised as a kid-friendly sports bar.  Tejani says the younger generations flock to Indigo Joe’s game room, extensive kids’ menu and the 56 televisions on which those of all ages (hint, hint dad) can play video games.  Parents, on the other hand, love being able to toss the kids five bucks and send them off playing video games for two hours while they watch the Spurs, sip a beer and take more than two bites of their meal.
 
"They love it," Tejani says of parents.  "The kids won't bother them."
 
Many other restaurants, while not offering such an extensive electronic stimulus, advertize free or discounted kids’ meals throughout the week.  Along with helping parents avoid a fight over whether Junior will actually eat an $8 cheeseburger, kids’ night guarantees parents will be amongst their own people -- those who will be a bit more accepting when the twins start belting out the latest Jonas Brothers tune and the baby decides mashed bananas would make a great hat.
 
So toss that frozen lasagna back in the freezer, grab the tots and join the masses who occasionally throw down that oven mitt and exclaim, “I’m not cooking tonight!”
 
Below is a list of area restaurants offering free or discounted kids’ meals.  Promotions are subject to change.  Please verify with the restaurant before making a special trip. 
 
Amorcito’s Mexican Restaurant, 2318 N. Loop 1604 West
Free kids’ meals with purchase of adult entrée every Monday after 4 p.m.
 
Applebee’s, 1604 and Blanco
All kids’ meals are 99 cents with purchase of adult entrée every Sunday
 
Boston’s Gourmet Pizza, 1827 N. Loop 1604 E.
Kids eat free every Tuesdays.  Children always receive a complimentary meal, no matter what day of the week it is, if they arrive at the restaurant wearing an official Boston’s Gourmet Pizza t-shirt.  T-shirts are sold at the pizzeria for $15 each.
 
Buffalo Wild Wings, 18410 US Hwy 281 North
Kids’ meals are half off every Wednesday
 
Chick-fil-A, Blanco Road and Loop 1604
Free kids’ meals 6-8 p.m. every Tuesday with purchase of adult combo
 
Double Dave’s Pizza, Blanco and Huebner roads
Kids 5 and younger eat free every day with purchase of adult buffet and drink
Age limit is extended to 12 on Sundays
 
EZ’s Brick Oven and Grill, Stone Oak Parkway and Loop 1604
Kids eat free Wednesday nights with purchase of adult meal
 
Firehouse Subs, Stone Oak Parkway and Huebner Road
Kids eat free after 4 p.m. every Wednesday with purchase of adult combo meal.
 
Gourmet Burger Grill, 18414 US Hwy 281
With purchase of one adult meal, two kids eat free Monday through Thursday from 2 to 5 p.m.  Beginning in August, kids can eat free all day on Wednesdays
 
Indigo Joe’s Sports Pub and Restaurant, Stone Oak Parkway and Huebner Road
Kids eat free every Monday night
 
Jim’s Restaurant, Blanco Road and Loop 1604
Kids 12 and younger eat free with purchase of adult entrée Monday-Wednesday 5-9 p.m.
 
Johnny Carinos, Blanco Road and Loop 1604
Every Monday receive a family platter for the price of regular-size entrée
 
Luby’s, Blanco Road and Loop 1604
All kids’ meals are $2 after 4 p.m. on Wednesdays
 
Mama’s Café, 14424 San Pedro
Kids eat free all day Monday-Tuesday with purchase of adult entree
 
Marty’s NY Deli, Blanco Road and Loop 1604
Every Tuesday, up to two kids’ meals are half-off with purchase of every regularly priced meal.  
 
McAlister’s Deli, 1604 and 281
Kids eat free 5-9 p.m. every Tuesday
 
Ming Court, Blanco 1205 N. Loop 1604 W
Kids 9 and younger eat free every Monday night with purchase of adult meal