Mel's Diner

Casual noodle bar with customizable dishes, great for picky eaters.

A giant children's section downtown with storytime and artist-led sessions, and it costs nothing. The default when the weather turns.

Jambalaya for you, mac and cheese for the little one, and beignets drenched in powdered sugar for everyone. A downtown Berkeley staple where the bustle covers kid noise.

Wood-fired pizza on a big two-level garden patio that forgives kid volume, with downtown Berkeley bustle all around. The grown-ups get good beer; the kids get room to be kids.

Gelato made daily downtown, with dairy-free in the case too, which matters when one of them cannot have the real thing.

Taqueria focused on fresh ingredients with a big salsa selection.