During a late lunch on a Saturday, my family and I enjoyed a variety of foods at Babbo's. The menu is simple: three appetizers, three salads, seven or eight pastas, pizza (Neapolitan or regular), and a chicken, veal or fish special. All entrees are priced at an even $10, and daily specials are $14. Wine prices start at $6 a glass and $26 a bottle. There is no kids menu.

We ordered bruschetta, the chicken special, tilapia, risotto, and spaghetti and meatballs. The food was great, and my kids -- even those who are hooked on chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese -- particularly enjoyed the risotto and the spaghetti with a tomato cream sauce.

The service was unhurried but attentive, the kind of service I love if I'm in the middle of a great conversation with girlfriends or couples, but would drive me crazy if I were with an active toddler or preschooler. The mood was relaxed and mellow with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Michael Bublé playing in the background. Overall the restaurant was clean and comfortable (although the day we went one of the bathrooms had a leaking toilet—presumably not the norm).

My kids are older, ages 8 and up, and Babbo's was a great place to take them to practice their manners, but you'll want to have lots of activities to keep younger children entertained. Babbo's seems best suited for older kids, a date night, or lunch with friends.

Shannon Moore and her family have lived in a number of different cities throughout the U.S. but calls St. Louis home. With five children between the ages of 20 and 7, she values activities that can span a wide range of ages and interests. She loves reading and is a faithful fan of the library’s summer reading program. A stay-at-home mom for 20 years, Shannon now teaches writing at St. Charles Community College. She is a freelance writer and a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Shannon blogs about childrens' books at www.greatbooksforchildren.com. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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