Having just published the “Top 5 Places Family Friendly Restaurants in the Triangle”, I’m taking a moment to reflect on a few things. So many people and websites are wrong about what makes a restaurant family friendly.

My kids need to move. It doesn’t need to be a lot, but they specifically thrive in situations where they can get up and play, or at the very least serve themselves food. This has made cruise buffets or coffee shops with play places very popular for our family.

So websites that are promoting a restaurant as “family friendly” because the patrons don’t give kids sideways glances are getting it wrong. A 3 pack of crayons and a coloring menu are not enough.

Imagine our joy when we took our kids to Rockin’ Rolls Sushi in Raleigh for the first time, and found a seat right next to the conveyor belt. They spent the entire meal asking us what we wanted them to grab, and serving themselves when they saw something they liked.

The sushi is pretty good. It’s not the same type of experience as Waraji or Kai, but it is good for what it is, and the kids being entertained takes everything up a notch.

This is a superior family dining experience compared to a buffet, where the kids may be getting up and down, need help serving themselves, etc. It’s even better than places that have a playground in eyesight (like Gonza Tacos in Waverly place in Cary). Gonza and the playground are great, but again the kids are up and down, and that playground can get crowded.

Rockin’ Roll beats this experience because the whole family is contained. We’re able to hang out together with just enough distraction to keep the kids entertained.

There are plenty of non sushi options as well, for picky eaters big and small. This includes nuggets, fries, chicken wings, hibachi, rice and more.

If any of this sounds remotely appealing to you, you have my highest recommendation to check our Rockin’ Rolls Sushi express in Raleigh. Keep in mind the Durham location does not have a conveyor belt. Thank me with a follow on Instagram, or a comment here.