Central Arkansas Showcase: Cheeburger Cheeburger
A few weeks back Matt took us on an impromptu Adventure Day. We went to the zoo, out to eat, and then everybody (read: the 2 year old) got too sleepy and cranky to do anything else so we went home. But not before contemplating trying to get a great shot of the city at night and see the ducks on the top of the Peabody. When discussing if they would let us up there and then my suggestion to just try to sneak up there Matt said, “I don’t think you could keep it on the down low when you’re rolling 7 deep.” So we nixed that idea.
Anyway, back to the eating out and showcasing part. Sometimes we want to eat something other than fast food. Even with a bunch of little kids. And we’ve tried lots of places you’d be shocked that we actually took children into. But I wanted to tell you, if you’re in town, wanting to eat out (and not Mickey D’s again) you do have options.
Cheeburger Cheeburger is one of them.
Let’s start with the downsides first so that we can end on a happy note:
- For a cheeseburger and shake it’s a little pricey. And by pricey, I mean, it’s hard for me to eat a burger that price and think “I could’ve had a steak.” However, the non-monetary price of keeping my kids contained in a fancy steak joint would soon tip the scales of the “what was I thinking” factor.
- When you have a family our size they have a pre-factored-in gratuity on your check. I understand this. I was a server once in a former life. However, and this is a big however, when you do that, we will not add another tip in addition to what you have already put in place. Unless the service is phenomenal. And it hasn’t ever been there. Good, not phenomenal. And we’re pretty big tippers. Plus, I usually clean the table, stack the plates, have my order together, and not give the servers too much of a problem generally. So, when you give us a mandatory tip, lower than what we would’ve given you, you’ve shot yourself in the foot. It’s just us.
What I like:
- I can get a real burger.
- I can sit down and have people do all the work for me. This seems like a given, but it’s not. Some of our favorite places are buffets. And they’re great. But sometimes, I don’t want to juggle kids, plates, food, napkins, who needs what drink, and the like. I want to sit. And be waited on.
- While you’re waiting they give you the standard coloring sheet and colors. But here’s a new one – they have trivia cards on the table. Laminated. For my 6 & 8 year olds this is great. We can read the quizzes and keep them occupied. I like this so much I’ll be bringing these little Brain Quest Grade 1
flip cards on our trips to other places from now on.
- They have the standard kid options on the kids’ menu. Chicken, burger, grilled cheese. And standard side of fries. But I have a kid who doesn’t eat fries (I know, whose kid is he anyway?). They offer applesauce or carrots with ranch as alternatives. My kids are all about those. Sometimes we order different sides for all of them and then divvy up the spoils.
- It’s loud. Yes, I like this. When it’s normal that other people’s kids are running around acting worse than ours, we blend. I like blending.
- They get a cool car shaped food carry thing with their food in it. It keeps them occupied while I’m finishing my food and they are through picking at theirs. Plus, they feel like they actually got something cool to take in the van afterwards.
Overall, a good pick. The kids will actually eat what you pay for (and if they don’t it’s easy to wrap up a burger for later), you get to sit the whole time, and you blend. Trust me, blending is good. So, tell me your fave place to take your kids to eat.
For other kid friendly reviews see my other Central Arkansas Showcase spots!
