The Best Family Restaurants in Toledo

A great restaurant for families is one that has enough selections to please the children as well as mom and dad, quick service to get you in and out and a relaxed atmosphere that isn't spoiled by the occasional outburst or misbehaving child. These four restaurants in Toledo are great choices for families because of their menus, service and atmosphere. And the food is good, too.
The best breakfast spot for families is Cafe Marie's. This local chain has locations in Columbus, Dayton, Cleveland and Findley, but the original restaurant is at 3344 Secor Road in Toledo. It's a casual American diner with contemporary décor. It's open from 6:30 A.M. to 3 P.M., and while it's known for breakfast skillets, potatoes and your choice of ingredients cooked and served under based eggs, they also serve lunch.
The menu includes omelets, pancakes, French toast and other breakfast staples as well as soups, sandwiches and salads. A lunch entrée is $7 to $9, while breakfast is $4 to $9. The service is fast and friendly, and while reservations aren't necessary, large parties should call ahead. It's a great choice for families because of the varied menu and of the relaxed atmosphere that even the most active of children can't spoil.
The next restaurant on the list is actually two. Charlie's Homemade Ice Cream and Edibles and Charlie's Homemade Pizza and Edibles are both owned by the Weaver family of Sylvania. The two restaurants are side by side in the Saxon Square plaza at 6600 Sylvania Ave. in Sylvania. Both are open from 4 P.M. to 9 P.M. The also both have great homemade food.
Hand-dipped ice cream and confections dominate the menu at Charlie's Ice Cream, but they also serve hot dogs, chili, hamburgers and fries. Nothing on the menu is over $4, and while décor is kept to a minimum, the staff are polite and eager to please.
Charlie's Pizza serves subs and spaghetti as well as pizza, and the prices are reasonable for families -- $5 subs, $7 small cheese pizza and $8 spaghetti plates. It's as bright and minimally decorated as its sister restaurant, and the service is just as good. Families will love the prices and the friendly service.
For families with older children that are more adventurous eaters, Sakura is the place to go. This Japenese steakhouse and sushi lounge at 5294 Monroe St. is popular for its hibachi tables. The kids hibachi dinner is $10 to $13, while the adult dinner is $15 to $34; entrees from the kitchen are $7 to $20, and the rolls are $4 to $15. It may seem pricy, but the portions are huge and the dinner includes appetizers, salad, rice, vegetables and the protein of your choice, such as chicken, steak, fish or lobster.
Reservations are necessary especially for the hibachi tables, which can be shared by several parties. The hibachi tables are in the center of the bustling, Asian-inspired urban décor. The wait staff are very helpful, and the chefs show knife skills while preparing dinner on the grill set in the center of the table. A popular trick is to stack onion rings and light it with cooking oil to make a volcano.
Sakura has lunch from 11:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. during the week, and they reopen for dinner from 4:30 to 10:30. Weekend hours are noon to 11:30 on Saturdays and noon to 9:30 on Sundays. Children and adults alike will enjoy watching dinner being diced and grilled in front of their eyes, and it's a fun way to introduce children to new flavors beyond chicken fingers and mac and cheese.