Diners' Choice: Kid-friendly restaurants in Central Kentucky

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are kid friendly in Central Kentucky? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Four Pegs

4.8

4.8 (182)

$30 and under

American

Germantown

About the restaurant

Serving award winning BBQ meticulously smoked by Chef/Owner Chris Williams. A top notch craft beer selection, with 12 rotating drafts and 40 cans and bottles. Featured on the Food Network and the Cooking Channel. Winner of 15 Leo Weekly Readers Choice awards in 2021. Situated in the heart of historic Germantown. Laid back environment with excellent service and food. Join us on the outdoor patio or the main dining area, for the larger parties there is a private dining area which can accommodate up to 40 guests.

Top review

Brent

Dined on Jun 22, 2025

Good woukd defihteky go back and try the other dishes.

Buca di Beppo - Louisville

4.7

4.7 (1010)

$30 and under

Italian

Jeffersontown

About the restaurant

If you are looking for an Italian Restaurant in Louisville, KY then come to Buca. We are located just off Taylorsville Road on South Hurstbourne Parkway and serve authentic family style Italian dishes for lunch and dinner. Book your next special event with us. We also offer catering suitable for any occasion.

Top review

Dennis

Dined on Jun 17, 2025

This was my first visitL I went for my birthday. The restaurant was empty except for two other tables. We got to walk through the kitchen, which was so fun. The waiter had wonderful suggestions and we had the best time.

Discover more

Popular dish

Spaghetti with Meatball

80/20 at Kaelin's

4.7

4.7 (1256)

$30 and under

American

Highlands - Bardstown Rd / Taylorsville Rd

About the restaurant

Welcome to 80/20 @ Kaelins. A new take on the classic restaurant where the cheeseburger was created. A neighborhood spot where anyone is welcome. Bring your family and friends and join us. A great place to watch a game or enjoy some family time. Featuring burgers and classic comfort food and drinks. Try out the 80/20 Malt Shoppe for some house made ice cream or a shake with your burger. Grab a bourbon or local brew to enjoy at the indoor/outdoor bar. Have an evening relaxing on our large patio. Maybe throw a party in one of our private dining areas where we can offer custom menus from casual to upscale.
We would love for you to join us. And we look forward to taking care of you.
Thanks,
80/20 @ Kaelins

Top review

Anna

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

Look forward to the roasted brussels sprouts and a boozy Big Lebowski milkshake every visit!

Discover more

Popular dish

Crispy Brussel Sprouts

4.7

4.7 (127)

$30 and under

American

St Matthews

About the restaurant

We start with cage free, free roaming, all natural chicken. It’s brined, dredged, then dropped into custom-built fryers. It's got a little kick and is served with our house made hot honey. To accompany our award-winning chicken we have a variety of Southern style snacks and sides including mashed potatoes, grits, collard greens, spoon bread, Mac & Cheese and many more!

Top review

Jana

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

Foods always great! Wait staff is wonderful! Bourbon punch was delish!

The Melting Pot - Louisville

4.6

4.6 (990)

$31 to $50

Fondue

Downtown Louisville

About the restaurant

The Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant, offers an extraordinary dining experience that you won"t find at any other restaurant. Here, you'll discover all the ingredients to a perfect evening, including a relaxed atmosphere, private tables, attentive service & fabulous four-course fondue dinners. No matter what the occasion, from a romantic date to a get-together with friends, meetings or large groups, The Melting Pot always hits the spot. The Melting Pot offers the highest quality fresh ingredients, a variety of cooking styles, unique sauces & your favorite chocolate fondue desserts. Make reservations today & come dip into something different. NOTE: OpenTable reservations are for full meal service only. Please contact The Melting Pot directly for cheese & dessert or dessert only service.

Top review

Annie

Dined 5 days ago

Great server, attentive and personable. Made great suggestions. Much better experience this time. Loved the Paloma cocktail and the menu selections.

Discover more

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - Lexington

4.6

4.6 (226)

$30 and under

American

Lexington

About the restaurant

Time counts at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse. Since our humble beginnings back in 1978, we've continued to refine our brewhouse experience to make BJ's a place where you can make the most of any meal. We want BJ's to be a place where the moment you leave is the moment you plan on coming back. We pride ourselves in our craft and attention to detail. Our guests come here for our award-winning handcrafted beer. They come here for the Southern California twist we've put on the Chicago-style deep dish pizza. And they come here for our Pizookies®, our world-renowned dessert. But above all we know people come here to make their good times better. So in many ways we haven't just crafted a brand, but a mindset. And our guests are the reason for this. And it's because of them we're continually striving to make sure every moment they choose to spend with us counts. Welcome to BJ's, a restaurant with a Brewhouse soul.

Top review

Greg

Dined 5 days ago

The staff was great. Menu offers several options to please different appetites. I ate the small deep dish, It was okay but nothing special. I also had the tossed salad with 1,000 island dressing. It was very good.

Trackside Restaurant and Bourbon Bar

4.6

4.6 (87)

$30 and under

American

Paris

About the restaurant

If reserving on a Sunday please be sure to check our Sunday menu as this is a speciality day and not our full Menu! Thanks and read below about our history!

Trackside Restaurant and Bourbon Bar, LLC, is located in the fully-restored historic 1882 Paris, Kentucky Train Depot. Trackside celebrates everything that makes Paris and Bourbon County great, Horses, History and Hospitality offering seasonal Kentucky fare. Trackside NEW hours are Monday - Saturday - Open at 11 a.m.

We are now open Sunday! This is a Pizza & Wings day only. We cook your pizza artisan style in a real wood fed brick pizza oven! 11-7!

When making an online reservation please add your seating preferences, so we can best accommodate your request! Feel free to call us at 859-340-3010. We offer a comfortable home style Kentucky kitchen fare with reasonable prices and fresh local produce whenever possible.

Top review

JamesVIP

Dined on Jun 12, 2025

A fabulous meal with outstanding service. The only noise was the pleasant sound of a train passing right by our table Don’t miss going to this place!

BRU Burger Bar - Lexington

4.5

4.5 (466)

$30 and under

Burgers

Lexington

About the restaurant

The hamburger is over 100 years old. It’s a classic, purely American, and an icon. The hamburger is the people’s sandwich, everyman’s food. BRU is an ode to our love….the Burger. Paired with a beer, we can’t imagine what could be much better. Join us at BRU Burger Bar. We look forward to serving you! BRU Burger Bar is proudly operated by Cunningham Restaurant Group.

Welcome to BRU Burger Bar.

Top review

Natasha

Dined on Jun 27, 2025

Bree was very nice an efficient. Our table was ready when we arrived.

Discover more

Popular dish

Bru Burger

The Troll Pub Under the Bridge

4.3

4.3 (1047)

$30 and under

American

Downtown Louisville

About the restaurant

The Troll Pub opened on October 19th 2011, underneath the 2nd Street Bridge in a 135 year old space directly next to the YUM Center on historic Whiskey Row. The Troll Pub is a subterranean retreat that features a Gastro-pub style menu with a wide selection of great tasting food items, craft beer, local artwork, and an overall atmosphere unique to Louisville. We are just blocks from the Louisville Convention Center and only steps away from many of the hottest attractions and hotels situated downtown. Just look for the Troll on the corner of 2nd and Washington, he will show you the way.

Top review

Victor

Dined on Jun 9, 2025

Awesome service. The staff is friendly, funny, and helpful. We had a party of 11, and they were extremely kind and made us feel like we were the only ones in the place, despite it being busy. The drinks and food are exactly what you need when you go to a pub.

Joe's Crab Shack - Louisville

3.8

3.8 (49)

$30 and under

Seafood

West Louisville

About the restaurant

Joe’s Crab Shack offers a variety of favorites from all parts of the sea and shore. From its extensive menu, guests can choose from buckets of seasonal seafood, fried shrimp platters and fish dishes, as well as options from the “mainland” that include steak, sandwiches, and chicken. Guests can indulge in over-sized and creative cocktails, such as the Shark Bite which is playfully garnished with a shark toy. Since its inception, Joe’s popularity has stemmed not only from its menu, but also its retail store. With various pieces of merchandise for purchase, including the ever-popular tie-dye T-shirt with the phrase “Peace, Love and Crabs,” Joe’s has become synonymous with the word “fun.”

Top review

MichaelVIP

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

We enjoyed our laid back, fun, and delicious Father's Day dinner at Joe's. The crab leg boils are our favorite.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Central Kentucky

Explore more Diners' Choice lists