School’s Out. Feed Me.

Shifting into summer vacation mode and looking for summer enrichment the kids are sure to eat up? Atlanta restaurants come through with kid-friendly fare and a side order of entertainment. If you’re exploring Atlanta, peruse the list for convenient, interesting places to refuel or designate a fun eatery as the day’s destination. For those ballpark or pool bound, many of these spots are well coached in the fine art of grab and go.

Outdoor treks to Piedmont Park or the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Midtown call for a stopover at HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern with its sunny (and dog-friendly) patio.

Play with your food? There’s a play area in the dining room at Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia Highland.
 
Game-X in the Luckie Marietta District near Philips Arena offers the X-Treme Combo Monday - Friday, 3-10 p.m. Add a $10 value X-card for $6 to any entrée. (Must mention combo when placing order and include on same check as the entrée. Not valid for private events.)

Little Clucker’s menus bode well with the kids at all Bantam + Biddy locations and include gluten-free fried chicken fingers. Pick up a family meal for a quick take-out option after a full day or long drive back from the beach.

Tykes feel grown up ordering Surf & Turf at Marlow's Tavern. The kid’s menu version includes one tiny burger, cheddar cheese and tempura fried shrimp.

At Tin Lizzy's Cantina, kid-friendly items include the crowd-pleasing taco plate: one grilled chicken or grilled steak taco with lettuce and Monterey Jack cheese and a choice of tater tots, rice or black beans. Locations by Perimeter Mall and the Mall of Georgia yield delicious shopping breaks without the food court chaos, and the Grant Park cantina is a good place to feed your tiger cub before a Zoo Atlanta safari.

Youngsters love the noodle bowls and chopsticks at Tin Drum Asiacafé. There’s something about those Asian flavors and crisp, colorful stir-fries that make veggies extra appealing. Atlantic Station and Akers Mill locations are convenient to movie theaters and a bit more exotic than popcorn.

Skip PBJ today and let the children order kids combos at Willy’s Mexicana Grill where they can offer input as their burritos and tacos are being filled. Combo beverage choices include a fountain drink, apple juice or organic milk. Count on grabbing a meal at one of Willy’s many locations -- whether you’re planning a hike at Kennesaw National Park or through the concourses at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Seafood on the deck at The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill is about as close to pier dining as you can get in Buckhead. All kids’ items -- including crispy fish bites and grilled or fried shrimp -- are served with chips, coleslaw or corn on the cob and a beverage.

Fine Banh Mi -- Tin Drum Saigon Summer Vietnamese Specials Coast in May 4

Think tropical jungle appetites. Think hot, humid summer in the South. Tin Drum Asiacafé is on to something with its Saigon Summer menu specials -- pork banh mi and nom nom pork bowl – both featuring sweet and smoky pork loin. These two limited-time offerings beat a path from the tropics into Tin Drum locations on Monday, May 4. The nom nom pork bowl heaps a union of sweet-smoky pork loin, chili vinaigrette rice noodle, pickled daikon and carrot on a bed of fresh kale, mint and basil then tops all with roasted peanut, fresh jalapeño and cilantro ($8.50). Pork banh mi wraps the pork loin, pickled daikon and carrot, red pepper aioli and cucumber in grilled Asian roti and finishes the whole deal with tangy cilantro ($4.75). On Fresh Fridays, buy a nom nom pork bowl and fountain drink for $7, all day, every Friday. And, what’s fine by us? Adding pork banh mi to any regular-priced entrée for $3 any day, all day.  

Tin Drum Celebrates the Chinese New Year with New Dishes and Deals

Eager to get a jump on a holiday centered on "Lucky Days" with lots of peace, harmony and good fortune, Tin Drum Asiacafé is spinning out two takes on traditional Chinese dishes for Chinese New Year 2015. Famished guests won't have to drag on until February 19, the first day of "The Year of the Ram," to chopstick into Orange Ginger Chicken or Mongolian Fiery Steak because Tin Drum starts stirring up these comforting dishes on Monday, February 2. Served atop hot steamed white rice, one dish captures a colorful parade of crispy chicken, fresh red pepper and broccoli sautéed in sweet and tangy orange ginger sauce while the other sautés juicy steak and zesty green onions in spicy Mongolian sauce and caps the mix with crispy onion strings. Each dish is priced at $7.95 and is available for a limited-time only. Got a yen to save some money? Stop by Tin Drum on Fridays and request the Friday Meal Deal: fork out $6 for either of these two Chinese New Year entrées and a fountain drink.

Appetizing Aperture

Look at all of that smokin’ goodness. At Tin Drum Asiacafé, you can grab one of these Smokin’ Korean BBQ Bowls with soba noodles, Korean barbecued steak, red pepper and daikon salad, bean sprouts, fresh spinach and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Yum! While you’re there, enter your office to win the Smokin’ Korean BBQ Bash contest through October 18. Check out the Tin Drum website, Facebook or on Twitter (#tindrumofficebash @tindrummer) for more info.

Fortune Cookie Says Your Office Might Win a Tin Drum Asiacafé Office BBQ Bash

And fortune cookie is never wrong. This Smokin’ Korean BBQ from Tin Drum Asiacafé will transform your lunch break into an all-out BBQ Bash. Enter the August 25 – October 19 contest to see if good fortune is on your side. Each Tin Drum Asiacafé location is awarding an Office BBQ Bash that feeds up to 20 people and includes three gallons of peach-ginger tea, one Smokin’ Korean BBQ tray, one traditional Tin Drum tray of your choice, one salad tray and one mixed spring roll tray, all delivered and set up by the Tin Drum Asiacafé catering team.

Enter while dining at Tin Drum Asiacafé by scanning the sweepstakes QR code on your table and following  the instructions. If you chose to do takeout, you can also enter in the comfort of your own home by visiting the Tin Drum Asiacafé Facebook fan page by clicking “Enter Now” or “Sweepstakes” on the Tin Drum page. If you prefer the hashtag over the like, enter #tindrumofficebash @tindrummer and follow the link on Twitter. Be sure to complete all of the information so you can get all of the glory if your office wins! 

Chick-a-Biddy and Tin Drum Asiacafé Serve Up Delicious Eats During BB&T Atlanta Open

Take a break while you’re at the BB&T Atlanta Open from July 19-27 and swing by Chick-a-Biddy and Tin Drum Asiacafé to ace your hunger. These Atlantic Station restaurants are just steps away from the tournament action and offer a variety of options. Chick-a-Biddy serves up its lunch and dinner menu beginning at 11 a.m. during weekdays and opens for brunch Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Try the blackened pasture-raised chicken burger, fried chicken and waffles or one of four Green Biddies (salads): Cobb, Club Med, Power House and Roman. Top the Green Biddies with fried chicken, wood-grilled chicken skewer or wood-grilled fish for an additional $4. Start off brunch with organic oatmeal, chef’s omelet of the day or almond pancakes. If you’re in the mood for Asian cuisine, Tin Drum Asiacafé heats up the kitchen Monday–Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. and at 12 p.m. on Sunday. Menu items range from Asian classics like stir-fry and pad thai noodles and dishes inspired by authentic Asian recipes such as tikka masala and basil fried rice, tacos, salads and soups. After a day sitting courtside, a satisfying meal and cold beverage is just what you need!

Appetizing Aperture:Tin Drum Asiacafé Kang Yum Mango Bowl

Tin Drum Asiacafé is mixing things up with the Kang Yum mango bowl. Filled with sweet mango, spicy green curry sauce, sautéed chicken, rice, fresh spinach, carrots and red cabbage mango slaw topping, this dish is definitely not lacking in color or flavor. A vegetarian option is also available, but hurry before this dish disappears on August 17.

Sweet Meets Heat with Limited-time Menu at Tin Drum Asiacafé

Through August 17, Tin Drum Asiacafé diners can experience the limited-time menu – “Sweet+Heat from the Asian Streets.” Two signature items feature the Asian sweet and spicy combination. The Snap Dragon mango taco has juicy, sautéed chopped chicken marinated in an authentic spicy green curry sauce and is topped with fresh, sweet mango, steamed rice and red cabbage slaw folded into a flour tortilla. The Kang Yum mango bowl features spicy green curry sauce with sweet mango on top of sautéed chicken and a bed of rice with fresh spinach, carrots and red cabbage mango slaw. There is also a vegetarian option. For locations and more menu items, visit Tin Drum Asiacafé website. 

Coming Soon!

We are thrilled about these restaurants opening in the next few weeks. Bring your appetite and stay tuned for more details.

July 7: Tin Drum Asiacafe (North Druid Hills)
July 8: Willy’s (North Druid Hills)
July 17: Makan (Decatur)
July 21: Le Fat (Westside)
July 22: The Pig & The Pearl (Atlantic Station)
Aug. 15: Tin Lizzy’s (Kennesaw)
Aug. 26: Willy’s (Sandy Springs)