What’s to Love: As parents, how many times have you gone out to dinner with friends and had an opportunity to converse freely without being interrupted by “Hey mom?”  Perhaps, the kids all decide to have a “meltdown” at the same time while trying to wait patiently for the food to arrive.  Maybe, you’ve completely given up on the possibility of ever going out to dinner.  Our “going out” for dinner or lunch has been strictly confined to New Seasons’ sitting area.  I think we’re in the same boat with a lot of you – my friendly and devoted readers.  If any of this applies to your family, don’t worry, there is another option for dining that will make the whole family happy.  Read on about “Me Too!,” – a family-friendly restaurant that will surely give relief to many, if not all, of your anxieties concerning dining out with your kids.

Brian and Melissa Peebler, owners of Me Too!, must have been two parents who struggled through dining out in the past.  I’m sure they probably “know your pain.”  In April of 2008, they decided to take some of the pressure off parents by designing a restaurant that included a separate (but close and visible) playroom/childcare area.  The area had to be clean, safe, fun, staffed, and include areas for toddlers and older kids.  We were definitely excited about this concept when we arrived for dinner.  After completing a quick, one-time-waiver, our kids were free to go and play under careful supervision.

When constructing the play area, it must have been obvious that it could not be a free-for-all-area.  So, the plan needed to include guided activities (e.g., art activities, story time, etc.) to keep the children engaged and interested.  This will make you feel much better about the time they spend away from you while you’re eating.  I thought the caregiver did an excellent job with all the kids, even though there were differences in age.  Of course, the kids can check-in and check-out whenever they feel the need to do so.  Our kids were having such a good time, it was hard to get them to come out to eat!  Luckily, the caregiver was tuned into this issue, and she helped the kids move along quite nicely.

We took the “fast-lane” option for the kids’ food, which basically means it comes out before the adult food (see more under Family Tips below).  The kids’ food is served up on their very own dining tray, which is a nice touch.  All kids’ meals include apple sauce, veggie sticks, goldfish, and a piece of cheese.  My son devoured his entire tray quickly!  It was pretty obvious he wanted to get back to the play area.  For more on the kids’ food, make sure to read on under the “Caveats” section below.

The “adult food” was excellent!  Two of us had the chicken pot pie.  I thought it was the best I’ve had in a long time.  If you’re into pot pie, don’t miss this entree!  The other adults had the special, which was a snapper in a pumpkin curry sauce.  Again, there were only compliments about the food.  All entrees were served with perfectly steamed vegetables.  I would have loved to try the meatloaf and the salmon, which is wild.  They also had enchiladas on the menu to help try to cover all the bases.  Perhaps, next time we’ll delve into the other options.  I would have a hard time NOT getting the pot pie…it was that good!

Dessert was an incredible experience.  Really…the date cake is one of the best desserts I’ve ever had at a restaurant.  Dates are boiled down and added to a thick cake batter, which is cooked with steam – the result makes a very moist cake with a delightful texture.  We couldn’t stop there…so, we continued with the homemade brownie with ice cream and the berry cobbler, which was more like a crumble or crisp in my book.  Whether it’s a cobbler, crumble or crisp, it was very good.  I would have liked a little thicker layer of crust, but the flavor was fine.

Caveats:  Me Too! is a great place for family dining, and it’s obvious they work hard to make it a comfortable and safe place for all.  Therefore, it’s very hard for me to find anything remotely wrong about this restaurant.

However, if I were to caution you the reader, I think I’d focus on the somewhat limited dinner entrees for adults – there are basically 4 options plus a weekly special.  They do supplement these options with a bunch of great salads, wraps, soups, and sandwich options.  To their credit, they have told me they are going to have more dinner options soon.**

**[Since first writing this in 2008, Me Too! has been true to their word, and they have expanded the menu options for adults.  It now includes some tasty comfort items with my personal favorite being the "Pulled Pork Sandwich."  Also, you can get Snapper or Salmon cooked to order, which is a nice touch.  Great job to Me Too! for following through on the expansion of their menu!]

The kids’ menu contains much of what you’d see at other restaurants (e.g., mac and cheese, hot dog, grilled cheese, peanut butter & jelly, etc.).  In general, I’d like to see a little more creativity with kids’ menus at restaurants.  I know that many of my readers are into organic/local food, and they rarely feed their kids the food that is often found on many kids’ menus, especially at dinner time.  My suggestion would be to take their excellent dinner plates and simply make “kid portions” and lower the price.

Website:  Me Too!

Distance from Portland:  It’s about 8 – 12 miles depending on where you live in Portland.  Here is a Google Map.

Recommended Ages:  Mainly for younger kids and probably best ages 1 – 8.  Older kids will probably only want to go in to play with a younger sibling.

Parental Stress Factor: Very low…ahhhhh!  Seriously, I don’t think I’ve been that relaxed at a restaurant since my kids were born.  This staff members at Me Too! make everything very easy.

Physical Difficulty: Restaurant is handicap-accessible.  The restaurant will do everything possible to be inclusive with all types of disabilities.  The staff does have experience working with special populations, so please give them a call if you have a concern.

Family Fun Factor:  Your kids will have fun, and you’ll have a relaxing dinner.  I think that makes for a pretty good time for all!  However, this is not a place to take your kids to interact directly with them.  Parents are not allowed in the play area.  The whole point is to get some time for yourselves, and you do deserve it.

Pet Friendly:  N/A

Weather Considerations:  Great in any kind of weather!

Insider Info:  Look for special lunches and dinners that are “reservation only.”  The day we were there, they had Elmo in the restaurant for lunch!  The owner also informed me of a Christmas season special where Santa came to visit each table and take pictures with the kids.  They are planning more of these events, so I recommend getting on their mailing list as soon as possible.  You won’t want your family to miss out on these wonderful opportunities.  Here is a direct link to their events calendar.

This is definitely a great spot to hang out with friends!  We brought some of our friends and their kids with us to dinner.  I can’t tell you how enjoyable it was just to sit and talk to them without being interrupted!  After dinner, head over to the sitting area, which has some nice leather couches.

Family Tips:  Me Too! has a nice option called, “The Fast Lane.”  If you order the kids’ food with “The Fast Lane,” it will be fast-tracked in the kitchen for early delivery – similar to when appetizers come out at a traditional restaurant.  That way, the kids can get their food early and parents can focus on helping them eat.  After they’re done, the kids can head back over to the play area.  Right about the same time, the adult food will magically show up, and you’ll enjoy dinner in peace!

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