Parents take point on bedtimes, behavior and good hygiene habits, but not the Cool Aunt. No, this adult hands over a jumbo chocolate bar and soda on the drive home from a PG-13 movie. Ask any kid: She's the best.
Along with Fun Uncles and Wacky Cousins, Cool Aunts are vested with parent-granted power to occasionally bend the rules. But, being a Cool Aunt can take work. Consider the "special occasion" dinner for example.
Whether it's the reward for an Honor Roll appearance or a token of gratitude for performing the duties of Ring Bearer in a recent wedding (without too many behavioral hiccups), planning a celebratory night out for the elementary school set isn't as easy as asking Alexa for the hottest cocktail den or booking a sophisticated catering hall.
Here are 5 places in D-FW that tick both marks for "doting splurge" and "age-appropriate fun."
Magic Time Machine
The original Magic Time Machine opened in San Antonio in 1973, and its sister location in Addison has been in operation since 1979. A longstanding favorite, this might even be a spot your own Cool Aunt took you growing up -- it was for me in 1993. It's kitschy, and a little old school. Know that going in.
The restaurant is designed with whimsical themes; you can sit in a booth shaped like a spaceship or a carousel, for example, and the salad bar looks like a 1952 MG-TD Roadster. (Every entree includes a trip to it.)
Servers dress and perform in character, covering a gamut of fictional favorites from Peter Pan to Spiderman, Captain Jack Sparrow, Snow White and even The Rock. Guests are encouraged to ask for their autographs, and magicians and balloon artists perform from table-to-table.
The menu includes hearty dishes like ribs, steaks and lobster tails for adults and chicken tenders, popcorn shrimp and cheese pizza for children. There are, of course, desserts and a must-try drink called the Bubbly Magic Time Machine Potion, which comes in your choice of Red, Yellow, Green, Blue or "UGLY."
Perks for grown-ups: A full bar (and, yes, you can get an adult Magic Potion with a kick of alcohol)
Cost: Entrees are around $15-30 for adults and $10-15 for children. That includes the salad bar, but not drinks, desserts or added sides. Oh, and please bring cash to tip magicians and other performers you like.
Scroll through for more photos from a recent Friday night at the Magic Time Machine:
Medieval Times
Jousting, jeering and fork-free food, Medieval Times may be your young charge's first experience with dinner theater and, oh, what an experience it will be.
A trip to the Dallas Castle includes a four-course meal that you eat with your hands (as they did, you know, in the Middle Ages) and a two-hour jousting tournament featuring good-looking actors with flowing hair, authentic weaponry and beautiful horses. The castle opens 75 minutes before showtime so that you can soak up the atmosphere, browse the gift shops and take a peek, if you dare, in the Medieval Torture Museum.
Perks for grown-ups: A full bar, cocktail service and free on-site parking
Cost: Tickets are typically $60.95 for adults and $36.95 for children under 12, but you might find a Groupon deal or you might want to consider upgrade packages with front-row seating and other VIP perks.
Pro-tip: A friend on our Dallas Parents Facebook page also suggests signing up for the Medieval Times newsletter for special offers, deals and an occasional freebie.
Cloud Nine Cafe at Reunion Tower
She's glitz and glamour from base to sparkling sphere. Take a young sophisticate to dine atop Reunion Tower for a meal that feels quintessentially Dallas. First, head up to the GeO-Deck, an indoor/outdoor observation platform with telescopes, to get a breathtaking view of the Dallas skyline. Then, grab a meal at Cloud Nine Cafe by Wolfgang Puck.
This casual restaurant with counter service makes hot meals like burgers, quesadillas, wraps and soups on weekends and sells lighter snacks on weekdays. The kids' menu features chicken strips and grilled cheese and the dessert menu that includes house-made cupcakes and a chocolate tower.
(FYI: There's another Wolfgang Puck restaurant in Reunion Tower called Five Sixty, but it's one we'd call better suited for adults.)
Of note: Cloud Nine Cafe rotates a full 360-degrees, so you can view the city from every angle without ever leaving your table.
Cost: General admission to the tower is $8 for children under 12 and $17 for adults; but, if you want to make it an epic outing, there are CityPASS and trolley tour packages that include discounted entries to additional attractions. Entrees at Cloud Nine Cafe are around $7-11.
To seal the deal: Seriously, what child / adult / human doesn't want to eat a dessert inspired by the iconic landmark they're currently inside?! Behold:
American Girl Bistro
If you know a budding herstory buff with a taste for inspiring dolls (and matching outfits), make a reservation for afternoon tea, lunch, dinner or brunch (Saturdays only) at the American Girl store in the Galleria.
The shop's bistro includes tables with special seats for dolls, naturally, and serves everything from pancakes and omelettes at brunch to burgers, pizza and macaroni and cheese at lunch and dinner and "dainty tea sandwiches" at high tea.
That's to say nothing, of course, of dessert, which includes a wide variety from hot chocolate and milkshakes to massive ice cream sundaes and a Chocolate Mousse Flowerpot, which comes served garnished with a daisy.
Perks for grown-ups: Meals come prix fixe, and typically include a sweet treat or starter, so it feels like a multi-course meal. Of note: Desserts and most beverages come at additional cost; and, that's to say nothing of the nearby Doll Salon -- where they charge you for whimsical spa services performed on inanimate objects...
Cost: Most meals are around $13-15 per plate, not including tax or add-ons like special beverages and desserts, which are around $3-5 each. Meals for children age 4 and under are $7.50 per plate.
Rainforest Cafe
This one's all about ambiance. Designed to look like a tropical jungle ecosystem, Rainforest Cafe at Grapevine Mills features dim lighting and a "thunderstorm" that rolls through every 20 minutes where animatronic tigers, elephants, birds and gorillas come to life. On any given day you might also see a balloon animal performer or dancing mascots.
The menu features a wide variety of pasta, seafood, salads and burgers for adults and, for children age 10 and under, there's a kids' menu that features pizza, hot dogs, macaroni and cheese and more, plus a choice of a side, beverage and small dessert. But, the showstopper dessert -- recommended for the whole table -- is the Sparkling Volcano chocolate cake.
Good to know: Waits can be extremely long, so reservations are highly recommended. Also, you have to walk through a gift shop on the way to your table. Take from that what you will.
Perks for grown-ups: Recent reviewers suggest adult beverages are a bit on the lightweight side, but several have noted that the food at the Grapevine location has improved over multiple visits. Hey, sometimes grown-ups take one for the team.
Cost: Generally speaking, adult entrees range from around $15-25 and most kids' meals are less than $10, but the company specifies that menu options and prices vary depending on location.
Looking for family-friendly festivals?
Check out upcoming events where you can #TakeTheKids in Dallas-Fort Worth.
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