Looking for an easy, family-friendly restaurant where you can enjoy a comfortable and relaxed dining experience together? Find a family restaurant that has a casual vibe, moderate noise level, kid menus and/or areas for children to play or move about.
Mo's Restaurant
Florence, Oregon
This large, bustling restaurant on the docks above the Siuslaw River is an ideal family gathering spot. Picture windows over the river, picnic tables, plastic baskets with paper liners for dishes and plenty of tasty fried fish will please any picky eaters. Order up warm bowls of clam chowder and watch for seals trying to steal the dock-side crabbers bait. Mo's Restaurant foyer has a gift shop stuffed with baubles and toys, sure to amuse the children as you wait for a table. (But be prepared that they'll want to buy something!) The bathrooms are clean and the staff friendly.
Chapala Mexican Restaurants
Eugene, Oregon
With two locations, the Chapala Mexican Restaurants are delicious and reliable family destinations. Enjoy comfortable seating with lots of booths, good food and a friendly atmosphere. The location at Oakway Center has access to a spacious outdoor courtyard for dining. The original Chapala's location in South Eugene has been a family favorite for over three decades.
Off The Waffle
Eugene, Oregon
Open only for breakfast and lunch, this waffle shop has two locations in Eugene — downtown and South Eugene. Kids will not complain when the base for their meals is a delightfully sweet Belgian waffle! Topped with berries, syrup, whipped cream, eggs, goat cheese, bacon or salad greens; you can order a sweet or savory experience. The staff is generous with the restaurant stickers and the counter service keeps it casual. Take home frozen waffles and re-create your favorite combos whenever inspired. Gluten-free waffles are also available.
Eateries at the 5th Street Public Market
Eugene, Oregon
The diversity of dining options here along with flexible, cafeteria-like seating, make the eateries at the 5th Street Public Market perfect for families and groups. Inside, upstairs tables look out over the railroad tracks or are elevated in the middle of the food court. Outside tables around the courtyard fountain provide additional seating, or grab a cafe table in Provisions Market Hall. Everybody can find something they like and enjoy dishes from barbecue to burgers — all small, local joints. Kids will also want to walk through Elephant's Trunk — a fabulous toy shop upstairs with coin-operated ridable animals (so stock up on quarters).
Mandy's Family Restaurant
Eugene, Oregon
Mandy's is a classic family-owned burger and shake place offering inside or to go dining. A walk-up ordering window makes this a fun, casual experience to get food to go. There are tables outside too! Mandy's offers a vast selection of shake flavors (there are a lot!) and ice cream treats. Burgers are a generous size, fries are tasty and breakfast is served all day.
Fisherman's Market
Eugene, Oregon
Fresh from the Oregon Coast, this seafood market is stocked full of fish, crab, oysters, clams and more. Right in the shop, casual tables for dining are easy places to enjoy fish and chips, fish stews and chowders, boils, bakes and deep-fried seafood favorites. With their own special sauces, plenty of napkins and a cheerful atmosphere; dig into dinner with the family! Fisherman's Market has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives tv show.
beergarden.
Eugene, Oregon
This surprising "bar" inclusion offers a courtyard lined with food trucks — it's a great space for families with picnic table seating and a variety of cuisines. Parents can relax with a beer from the beergarden.'s extensive tap line up. The casual, relaxed attitude is conducive to mingling and sharing tables with others. Frequently there is live entertainment outside, and private music studios have even been known to showcase their young student's music recitals here. This is a great hub for meeting up with other family groups. Next door is an outdoor plant nursery, fun for exploring and walking with younger children that need some movement. Don't forget, however; that this is a beer garden and check ahead on the musical line up and atmosphere for the evening.
Cafe Yumm!
Eugene & Springfield, Oregon
Cafe Yumm has multiple locations around the community and offers quick, healthy options that kids love! Customize each bowl to each picky palate and enjoy a harmonious meal. Based on brown rice, add a variety of toppings from beans to fresh veggies to salsa, and of course, the special "Yumm" sauce. The food served here is fast, and easily taken to go. While casual inside seating is available, Yumm Bowls are great for picnics at the park, eating in the car, or ordering a casserole size for school events, clubs, sports or family parties.
Roaring Rapids Pizza Company
Springfield, Oregon
Combine pizza with a historic carousel and the kids will be thrilled! The lodge-style restaurant is on the banks of the Willamette River with picture windows and a grassy outdoor patio for good weather. Inside the restaurant is the carousel which runs every thirty minutes at no charge. There are also arcade games. Order a pitcher of beer and watch the children from your table as they play. Roaring Rapids Pizza Company is also adjacent a putt-putt golf course, so there is an entire afternoon of entertainment in one place!
Tall Firs Cafe & Events
Springfield, Oregon
While this special "coffee shop" is open only during weekday mornings to mid afternoon - typical school hours - Tall Firs Cafe is a draw for homeschoolers or vacationing families. The restaurant is pleasantly decorated and offers a robust breakfast and sandwich menu. Celebrate time together with a fancy hot chocolate and a sweet pastry!
Takoda's
McKenzie River, Oregon
Takoda's has it all from pizza to burgers, a salad bar to wraps and steaks to . The ideal road trip stop with a large patio and outside dining, a well-stocked gift shop with kid's toys and souvenirs.
Taj Barnhart Morgan is the Director of Content Strategy for Travel Lane County. A journalism graduate from the University of Oregon, Taj has two decades of special event management and hospitality marketing experience in San Diego, CA and Maui, HI. Passionate about mothering, and back to her Oregon roots, she is discovering the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region all over again through the eyes of her daughter.
