Kid-Friendly Dining

I like to go out and eat, and so does my wife. For some reason, I'm happy to pay someone much more than it would cost me to make it myself as long as I don't have to do the dishes. I know it's not great money management, but within the budget, it's a great idea.

With 4 kids, however, going out to eat in O'Fallon or Fairview Heights, IL is not cheap. We've found 2 great deals that will cover almost all pallets. They are both national chains, and I'm not sure if the deals here are the same, but they've been in place here for some time now.

First, if you like Mexican, there's a restaurant in O'Fallon called Chevy's. From the looks of it, they are currently in the far West (CA, OR, WA), a few in the Midwest (IL, MO, SD, MN), some in the South (FL and LA) and a few on the East Coast (VA, MD, NJ). In any case, children get something off the children's menu, from Hamburger to Quesadilla and everything in-between, a bit of corn tomalito and an orange slice. Their meal also includes a drink, with free refills, and a dessert, consisting of a single scoop of ice cream in a bowl or their signature tortilla sugar cone. It's great!

The second choice we've found to love is Lone Star Steakhouse. It's GREAT food, but the deal is taht kids eat free on Tuesday nights. There's a ton of restaurants; ours is in Fairview Heights on IL Route 159 just a mile or so south of the largest shopping mall this side of the Mississippi River, St. Clair Square.

There are lots of other eating establishments; many of us who have seen the Metro East blossom over the past 15 years have wondered each time a new restaurant goes in. It doesn't seem like there are enough customers to go around, but you'll come to find that the restaurants are seldom empty. Business must be good!

More on this HUGE topic in a future blog. For more information about the Metro East, especially about how you can find homes for sale in O'Fallon, IL, information about relocation to Scott Air Force Base and how to make the transition to your new life in Southern IL, simply click www.RelocateToScottAirForceBase.com