Kids’ palates are more refined than ever, which means sloppy joes and Stove Top stuffing won’t always cut it. Here are 12 restaurants that the whole family can enjoy.

Buffet City

Even the pickiest eater can find something to love at Buffet City. From sushi to Chinese, pizza to French fries and even a build-your-own hibachi station, we get why kids love it so much. And that $18.99 price point? It’s perfect for the grownups footing the bill. 4458 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, (941) 342-6818

Origin Craft Beer & Pizza Cafe

Who doesn’t love pizza? While we get that the food is a huge draw, it doesn’t hurt that Origin is the kind of place where you can let your kids loose, too. We especially love The Landings location, which has a play area in the back with loads of toys and games. Multiple area locations, originpizzacafe.com

California Pizza Kitchen

We typically try to highlight locally owned restaurants, but the obvious love for CPK that we’ve heard from dozens of kids means the restaurant landed on our list. Here, each child is given a piece of raw pizza dough to play with and to make all sorts of fun shapes with while waiting for dinner. 192 N. Cattlemen Road, Sarasota, (941) 203-6966, cpk.com

Stottlemeyer’s Smokehouse

No matter your age, one thing is certain: Stottlemeyer’s has everything you need to have a great time. With its ginormous thatched roof, live music and mouth-watering barbecue, good vibes abound. Kids especially love taking turns on the tire swing while waiting for dinner to arrive. 19 East Road, Sarasota, (941) 312-5969, stottlemeyerssmokehouse.com

Boo’s Ice House & Dog Bar

Some people have fur children, some people have human children and both will enjoy an evening at Boo’s, where the kiddos can watch a parade of pups while enjoying a kid-friendly menu that includes chicken tenders, pizza, corn dogs and grilled cheese. 1314 10th St., Sarasota, (941) 960-2669, boosdogbar.com

The Oasis Café & Bakery

This mid-Sarasota breakfast and lunch staple is so welcoming to kids that it’s devoted an entire area of the restaurant to them. The kids’ corner is outfitted with notebooks and activity and coloring books, complete with the necessary art supplies. There’s also a killer assortment of vintage toys from when the owners’ now-grown children were little. 3542 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota, (941) 957-1214, theoasiscafeandbakery.com

Anna Maria Oyster Bar

Most Florida kids learn to love seafood at a young age, and Anna Maria Oyster Bar is teeming with it. But the kids’ menu delivers familiar favorites, too: macaroni and cheese, a cheese quesadilla, pizza and a great burger. We hear the location on 14th Street West in Bradenton even has a food-running robot that will keep everyone entertained. Multiple area locations, oysterbar.net

Big Top Brewing

You might be hesitant to take the kids to a brewery, but trust us when we say this place is perfect for them. Big Top’s massive outdoor space has tons of room for little ones to run free while you sip and snack on whatever you’re in the mood for. In fact, this spot is so family-friendly that we bet your kids will make some new buddies while there. 3405 Fruitville Commons Blvd., Sarasota, (941) 225-8438, bigtopbrewing.com

3 Bridges Brewing

If you and your kids are into burgers, 3 Bridges is the place to go. It specializes in smash burgers that are so good that everyone will be begging for seconds. And the outdoor patio offers plenty of room to roam and is fenced off from the parking lot to ensure kids stay safe. 1765 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, (941) 445-4067, 3bridgesbrewing.com

Gecko’s Grill & Pub

Gecko’s has been around for so long that today’s parents grew up loving it as kids themselves. You’ll find standard fare on the kids’ menu, but don’t forget to order Gecko’s famous housemade chips for the whole table. Crunching down on those hot, crispy chips for the first time is a coming-of-age moment for every Sarasota kid—trust us. Multiple area locations, geckosgrill.com

Owen’s Fish Camp

Owen’s now has two locations, but the downtown original has our heart when it comes to young ones. Nestled beneath old-growth banyan trees with a stellar outdoor patio, the restaurant has plenty of interesting nooks and crannies for kids to explore. 516 Burns Court, Sarasota, (941) 951-6936; 6516 University Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, (941) 951-5052; owensfishcamp.com

DaRuMa

We don’t care what anyone says: Everyone (and we mean everyone) loves a good hibachi show. The onion volcano, the corny jokes and the timeless shrimp-tail-in-the-chef’s-hat flip are all indelible experiences during a meal at DaRuMa, a place to make memories. 4910 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 552-9465; 5459 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, (941) 342-660; darumarestaurant.com