So you have kids. Such fun, huh? Well most of the time anyway. And they’re out of school and the schedule may be looser. And you want to hang with friends and their kids. We used to do that at McDonald’s ball pits. But there are much classier, more delicious, and yes, more expensive places to get these multigenerational groups together for a good time had by all.
Warning: Each of the following except one of these involves a drive, but it is very worth it.
This conversation must start with the Chimes in Covington. If your only experience with this place was at LSU, this ain’t that Chimes. The food is much better for starters, and the kids will love the goats. The cats, the chickens, and most of all, Roo. He’s the rooster that has been known to visit the dining deck outside and let out a crow that sends sound waves vibrating through the air. He is not interested in you, only in performing for you. When he’s done, he leaves. And the group can return to their crispy fried seafood and surprisingly good fries, maybe the best spinach dip around, or a great burger. Very good club salad (Please go back to the sliced ham, Chimes!!) Get it with blackened chicken, or fried if you’re feeling naughty. All this and so much more! Suffice it to say you will be pleasantly surprised by what arrives on the plate at the Chimes. Especially at Sunday brunch. The downside here is that in lieu of eating, the kids will probably want to run the long elevated deck out to the river and sand dunes. And they’ll really want to get into a canoe or kayak, which is now available for rental. There will likely be a wait here, and for that there is corn hole under the trees.
Right next door to the Chimes is the latest outpost of The Blind Tiger. We weren’t sure about this place at first because it looked a little contrived. Caribbean, to be exact. With its West Indies shutters and bright colors it seemed a little out of place. And then we decided, who cares? We love it! Much smaller than its neighbor Chimes, the beach feel is amped up inside. Ceiling fans and colorful high tops are scattered inside and outside on the decks that surround. There are also picnic tables on the deck, so you can watch the kids play in the sand in a fenced side yard. The menu at Blind Tiger is very limited, and can be read on a blackboard on opposing walls. It was explained to us that nothing here is frozen, so they keep it simple. They do fresh cut fries here, and they are quite good. Really excellent cheese fries with large bacon pieces, and a lot of them. In general, the service and food here is behind that of neighbor Chimes, but we’re hoping that’s just a new restaurant thing.
A little further out, Middendorf’s in Manchac and soon-to-be Slidell is, well, Middendorf’s - the iconic seafood outlier. Always a destination restaurant worth the drive. When the Euroglamour couple Horst and Karen Pfeiffer took it over a few years after Katrina, people wondered how this five star restaurant couple would change things. They did . They polished everything. Food service, equipment, buildings. And they made it funner. They brought their delicious fettuccini from their white tablecloth Bella Luna out to the boonies each September for Fettuccini Frenzy. The have an Oktoberfest to celebrate Horst’s native land. And a giant snowman appears each holiday season. They also made a deck so very close to the water, and brought in the most stylish chicken coop ever. It sits amid the sand dotted with hammocks and beach chairs and toys. And that incredible thin catfish is as delectable as ever.
The only New Orleans place on this list is right where it ought to be - in family-friendly Lakeview.
Its name says it all - The Backyard. It’s right on the corner of Harrison Avenue and Fleur de Lis, and behind the backyard fence is a fun playground for the kids, and the kind of food people who care about food will appreciate. The inside is raffish, and the service is counter service, but these guys are carefully smoking meats and going the extra step. They would likely be working at a more upscale place if they didn’t have kids. So here they are.
No need for the spiked flask in the handbag. All these places have really interesting beer selections. Perfect for the casual food served.
Chimes
19130 W Front St Covington 70433
11am-2am except Sunday 10:30am-11:30 pm
985-892-5396
thechimes.com
The Blind Tiger
19124 W Front St Covington 70433
11am-10pm every day Friday and Saturday till 11pm
985-900-2441
theblindtigercovington.com
Middendorf’s
30160 Hwy 51 South Akers 70421
Wed-Sun 10:30am-9pm
985-386-6666
middendorfsrestaurant.com
The Backyard
244 W Harrison Ave New Orleans 70124
11am-9pm every day Friday and Saturday till 10:30pm
504-309-8767
thebackyardnola.com
