Fine dining for babies and families? Sign me up! If you’re a fan of Babes about Town, then you know we’re a foodie family. Since my little lads were bubbas, we’ve visited and reviewed dozens of restaurants… some more welcoming than others. So when I heard about Nibble and Squeak baby-friendly dining club, I was keen to check it out.
The Nibble and Squeak concept is simple but genius: hook up with top restaurants in major cities, and invite parents with kids as young as newborns for a families-only session. No more stressing about baby-changing facilities, or what to do if your toddler has a meltdown. Nibble and Squeak take care of all the extras so you can relax and enjoy a proper meal out with your brood.
The lovely Flora Tan, who runs Nibble and Squeak London, invited** us to their event at Salut in Islington. Salut is a highly rated modern European restaurant on Essex Rd. Their ethos is all about farm fresh, sustainable and locally sourced produce.
When we arrived at the restaurant, we were greeted with glasses of prosecco and cocktails. Parents mingled while their kids coloured, crawled or roamed about. This is the most wonderful aspect of the dining club, it creates a genuinely social atmosphere, bringing likeminded people together in a chilled out setting.
Parenting is an instant ice breaker because we’ve all been there — from sleep deprivation to snotty noses. There’s a sense of familiarity that makes it easy to chat with strangers. It was refreshing to sit next to a mum breastfeeding her baby at the table, and nobody batted an eyelid.
The kids got their own menu and were served before the parents (some restaurants don’t realise this is crucial to a good dining experience). Flora got a funny snap of Jed’s face when his macaroni cheese arrived, shaped like a LEGO brick.
We all had a taste and it was absolutely delicious. Time to step up my mac and cheese game! The babes also enjoyed good sized burgers.
For adults, there were two different set price menus on offer: we chose ox cheek starter, Suffolk lamb main, and chocolate caramel gateau with blood orange for dessert. The food was sensational, succulent meat and chocolate that was just the right side of bitter. We were highly impressed by Salut and have recommended it to local friends.
Around our communal table, we regaled each other with tales of family holidays, things to do around town, parenting hacks and mishaps. At 8 and 11, Ezra and Jed were the oldest kids by a long shot. Munching, bickering and playing with fidget spinners, I imagine the boys offered a dystopian fun glimpse into the future for other parents!
Nibble and Squeak is a brilliant idea, very well put together. It’s no wonder they’re expanding rapidly, with chapters in US cities like New York, LA, San Francisco, Boston, as well as London, and most recently, Milan.
Their next London event takes place this weekend (June 10) at Michelin-starred restaurant Lyle’s. There are still a few tickets available HERE. RSVP essential!
The Salut dinner was sponsored by Babease, who provided bags with food pouches and bibs for little ones. Flora says, ‘Babease are huge advocates of food quality and their ideals fall in line with our love of food. Their tag line says it all: food for babies, not baby food.’
Additional photos by Flora Tan and professional photographer Yiting Feng who captured some sweet images of the day.
Visit www.nibbleandsqueak.com for details of upcoming events
**press review
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