Restaurant Review: Freskada Mediterranean Kuzina

Thanks to a loyal reader, I was tipped off to one of the BEST Greek restaurants in the area: Freskada Mediterranean Kuzina which hides out in the Main Street at Exton Shopping Center.  When you first enter the restaurant, it looks a little bit too classy to be baby friendly.  There's bottled water on the tables, marble floors and columns, and the waiters are dressed better than I was.  However, it was incredibly baby friendly as my review will show.  Honestly, I can't wait to return as the food was incredible.  Even the salads were top notch.  Also it's just a hop, skip and a jump from Babies R' Us! 

Stroller Accessibility: 5 There shouldn't be a problem getting a stroller in there, but I'm not sure you want to take the stroller to your table.

Dirty Diaper Changing:  5 This was one of the nicest public (or private) bathrooms I've ever been in.  There was a roomy private stall with a changing table.  And guess what?  There were liners.  Have you ever seen a changing table with the liners?  I haven't until now.

Family Friendly Environment: 5   I counted and there were SIX high chairs and THREE baby slings.  This place is posed for child traffic!  It seems too nice of place to be this family friendly.  There's even a kids menu. 

Nursing Opportunities:  1  The open layout of the restaurant provides full visual of every table.  Not a discreet place to nurse. 

Please, please, please take a trip out there to eat. You won't regret it!

Restaurant Review: Max and Erma's

So, I’ve been meaning to post this for a while since Max and Erma’s fresh baked cookies call to me in the night. It’s got a reputation for being family-friendly, but is it baby friendly? I’m kind of on the fence on this one. Since I love their food, I really want it to be perfect. However, in all honesty, it does have some disappointments. Or maybe I’m just cranky as I write this. You be the judge.

Stroller accessibility: 3 They aren’t going to allow you to take your stroller to your table, but you’ll get in in the door.

Dirty Diaper Changing: 5 A nice private stall with a changing table is available.

Family Friendliness: 4 You may think I’m crazy for giving Max and Erma’s a 4, but hear me out. Despite having a kid’s menu and all that jazz, I’ve been here three times with the baby and not once has anyone offered me a high chair or sling for the baby carrier. I’ve had to squeeze it in the booth with me, and I find that extremely annoying.

Nursing Possibilities: 2 There are a couple of tables out of sight where I think it would be possible to nurse discreetly.

Ps. I'm trying to compile a list of local restaurants that have changing tables in the bathrooms.  If you know of one I haven't yet reviewed, please comment below.  Thanks for reading!

Restaurant Review: The Starr Diner (Formerly the Phoenix Diner)

During my pregnancy I craved a lot of things; one of those was a hamburger.  Not just any burger, but a diner burger.  There are some of you who can appreciate the subtle difference between an authentic diner burger and some fast food patty, or even how a diner burger can be way better than the gourmet flame-kissed burger with all the fixings. Yes, for a girl who grew up on diner food, it’s the only food that would satisfy me during the final trimester.

I would waddle my nine month pregnant butt up to the Starr Diner on Starr St. and feed my cravings on a regular basis.  I ate there right up to the day before my daughter was born. I swear the wait staff expected me to deliver right there in the booth with one hand dipping French fries in ketchup and the other holding my delicious burger! 

I guess you start to develop a bond with the people who saw you at your fattest, so I have continued the tradition of taking my daughter to the diner post-utero.  She’s always a big hit there with other patrons and the staff.  I can’t say enough good things about the place….wait yes I can:

Stroller accessibility: 5   Since we live close enough, we often walk to the Starr Diner (a good way to burn off this baby weight); hence we have a stroller there frequently.  Unlike other restaurants that take the stroller away, we were able to keep it with us at the table. 

Dirty Diaper Changing: 4   I was super pleased to find a nice soft padded diaper changing station in the women’s restroom.  There was not one in the men’s room, however.  But if a guy was brave enough he could easily use the women’s restroom (it’s a one toilet room, easily unisex in a pinch) to change the baby.

Family Friendliness: 5   As I said before I always feel quite welcome there.  They do have a kid’s menu and high chairs.  In fact it was a waitress here who taught us that by putting a wooden high chair upside down, we could fit the car seat carrier on top!

Nursing Possibilities:  3   I’ve never been brave enough to whip out my boob in public yet, and I may never.  There are two strategically placed booths out of public eye where I could see you getting away with it discreetly. 

Hope to see you there!

PS. Since I know at least one of my readers is pregnant, you can make your trip to the diner extra nice by treating yourself to a pedicure at Ethan’s Nails a few doors down afterwards!

The Valentine's Day Threesome

As Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, my husband and I are wondering how we will celebrate this holiday not as a couple, but as a family.  In the past, we celebrated V-day with romantic dinners, couples massages, etc. Considering baby Callie was born in November, Valentine’s Day holds special significance for us ;)  But this year, we can’t take a baby to a fancy restaurant (I don’t recall seeing high chairs at Majolica). So how do you celebrate a romantic holiday with the ultimate romance killer: a newborn. 

Mamas with newborns will understand.  You haven’t slept in who knows how long because you are always on call for a crying fit, not to mention the extra  baby weight makes you feel less than attractive.  In other words, daddies are really going to have to put on the charm to get Mommies in the spirit this holiday.  The old dinner and a movie gig may no longer useful.  Well maybe it is….

The Colonial Theatre has Babies Night on Mondays, and conveniently Valentine’s Day falls on a Monday this year.  Your dinner plans might include Iron Hill (see review), which is very family/baby friendly.  Valentine’s Day could very well be saved this year for new parents who don’t mind including baby on their romantic evening out.

But what could really make this Valentine’s day stand apart from the rest?  How about a professional photography session with you and your baby?  Everyone has that one outfit you’ve been dying to get baby into, but it’s just too darn nice for regular wear (and if you don’t, you have an excuse to go shopping).  So why not trek down to JCPenny Portrait Studio at the Exton or KOP Malls and get that photo taken?  Hint to Daddy looking for gift certificate opportunities:  give mommy an excuse to go have a salon day in preparation.  In keeping it local, we have Salon Fiber, Fashionistas, and Verde (where I received a very awesome maternity massage). 

But if you need some time alone (and we all need some strictly couples’ time) this V-day the hardest part is going to be finding a sitter.  No one, not even your single and childless friend, wants to admit they are alone on V-day, so finding a sitter might prove challenging.  Although I’ve never used the service, Care.com is a virtual warehouse of babysitters (and house cleaners…hint, hint, Daddy) ready to be hired.  You can find a local sitter who has had a background check and legit references.  To be honest it might beat having your folks watch the kid; your parents can be romance killer too. 

Whatever you decide to do for Valentine’s Day, may love guide you!  Cheers Phoenixville Parents!

Philadelphia Premium Outlets: Take One

Yesterday after the MOMs group, I was packing my daughter into the car and realized “Wow, it’s a really nice sunny day!”  Does this warrant a trip to the park?  More like a trip to the parking lot of the Philadelphia Premium Outlets.  I have been dying to get to the Carter’s outlet as I am addicted to their incredibly adorable clothing.  Just look at my daughter in this adorably cute Carter’s polar bears outfit (It was so cute I bought it in two sizes so she could wear it longer):

Anyway, I drove home to get my daughter appropriately dressed for an outdoor excursion (i.e. the Old Navy bear suit) and collect my hubby for some fun in the sun.  What I didn’t count on was it getting much colder in the short hour between events.  While baby was sweating under her double fleece enclosures, I was freezing my butt off (mainly because due to breast feeding, my winter coats still don’t fit).  We headed straight from the car into Ruby Tuesdays for warmth and a lunch. 

I was surprised to see at least four strollers already parked in the foyer of the restaurant.  Obviously we weren’t the only ones with babies who knew about this secret family friendly haven.  I won’t do a full review here, but let’s just say they have a changing table in the restroom (and it was an aluminum space-aged looking changing table at that).  As I was leaving the bathroom, I discovered another mommy friend who also had the same idea about stroller walk at the outlets.  See it’s good to get out!

I had big ambitions to check out all the children’s stores, but I only managed two!  The Children’s Place disappointingly had no clothing for a baby under 6months (Why?). On a side note, I also tried visiting The Children's Place at KOP mall and the employees had rudely cut off access to the newborn section and obviously I had a newborn with me. Despite standing there looking longingly at the clothes I wanted to buy but could not get to, the employees continued to ignore me and, hence, lost my business.  That's two strikes Children's Place!  One more and you're out!

Anyway, back to the story at hand, we stopped beating around the bush and got to Carter's.  It was like heaven on earth.  No joke.  I bought $40 worth of stuff she’ll probably grow out of in two days, but it was all so cute, and I couldn’t stop.  Even my husband ended up going gaga over some footies. 

We emerged from Carter's triumphant.  I saw Heartstrings and OshKosh B’Gosh a few doors down, but I was already tired, cold, and cranky as soon as a gust of arctic wind hit me in the face.  Hence, I entitle this "Take One", because I will be back to properly review this beast.  It just might take a few installments! 

MOMs Club Phoenixville

MOMS Club Phoenixville Meeting

BEFORE:

I type this at 9am in the morning.  I’ve already had an unprecedented shower in the AM in anticipation of attending my very first MOMs club Phoenixville meeting.  For the first time in 12 weeks, I’ve thought about how my hair looks and what I’m wearing.  I’m debating whether or not to bring my child.  If things go south, I could hide behind her car seat; but using my child as a shield seems pathetic, however, possibly necessary. My husband offered to watch her, and I should very well accept that offer, but I feel pioneering this morning…those MOMs clubs ladies surely have their babies with them.  Luckily, I hear her pooping so that’s one less challenge I have to face in front of the glaring eyes of 20 other experienced mothers. 

I hope I’m being silly with a bad case of social anxiety.  But If I have it, then I’m sure at least one other reader does too.  I figured if you knew the whole journey, it could inspire you to get out of the house and check out the group too.  My biggest fear is that since I am not a stay-at-home mom, this will exclude me from just about every activity the group has to offer.  At least I can inform you about what I’ll be missing out on.   

We are out the door!

AFTER:

Well, MOMs club time is approximate (not like Baby Story Time at the Phoenixville Library where 9:30am means 9:30am).  I was unusually the first person there, and there’s nothing worse than being the first, especially when you are new.  But as mommies trickled in with their kids, the small play corner of Franklin Commons Bistro became a toddler zoo.  (Note: Franklin Commons Bistro would be a great place to take your toddler if you wanted to get out of the house and your child wanted to enjoy toys you didn't buy.) 

I soon realized that if I had showed up without a child, I would have stuck out like a sore thumb.  So bring your baby to the meetings (even the business ones).  I chatted with a few moms in between them chasing their two year olds around the place.  My baby, like always, is the youngest one there.  Do mommies with children under 6 months ever leave the house?  If so, where are you hanging out?  I want to meet you!  One of the MOMs assured me that the club does have quite a few newer moms with younger babies, but the turnout today was low.

I really enjoyed meeting the MOMs of Phoenixville.  All were super sweet, but the meeting really didn’t afford much talk time. Both the baby and I were a bit overwhelmed by the activity of the place.  It’s hard focusing on adult talk with fifteen toddlers wandering around.  Maybe that’s an acquired skill of motherhood.  I think I’d prefer smaller group functions.  From what I understand, any MOM can host an activity, and I use the word “host” loosely.  You could “host” a stroller walk at Valley Forge Park; just tell the MOMs where you’ll be and see if anybody meets you there!

What did I learn from MOMs today?  One: Monkey Joe’s is apparently the place to be.  Two: Kindergarten is way harder than it used to be back when we were in it.  Forget the days of recess and nap time.  Apparently, Kindergarten is the new college.

Will I be back?  To a meeting, no (but logistically I’ll be back at work). To an activity, yes.  I just have to get my $25 membership dues in (although you are allowed to attend two functions before you decide to be a member). 

Restaurant Review: JC Fireside Bistro (formerly Bear Rock Cafe)

Every Sunday, my husband and I go out for brunch, but again baby friendliness always makes our establishment choices limited. As we were rattling off places we could go, my husband had an epiphany.  "Why not Bear Rock Cafe?" he asked.  It was perfect, except it's JC Fireside Bistro (I miss the old name, Bear Rock Cafe, which is why I wanted to eat there in the first place...We call our daughter "little bear"). If you haven't eaten there before, the food is ALWAYS quality and quickly served!  But this isn't a review of the food, rather of the baby-friendliness of the establishment.  Here goes:

Scale 1- 5, 1=poor, 5=awesome

Stroller Accessibility: 5 A very wide walk up counter aisle to order food at.  Tables and booths are so spread out that you could easily get a twin stroller through that place!

Dirty Diaper Changing: 4 Both bathrooms have a wide handicap accessible stall with a changing table and that makes this place awesome.  HOWEVER, the bathrooms are really cold making "open air accidents" a probability. 

Family Friendly Environment: 5 While I rarely see kids in here Sunday afternoons, there are several high chairs available and the changing tables in the bathrooms indicate family-friendly. The crowd at JC's is laid back; and it accomodates large parties with extra long booths and tables. (You could easily get the car seat in the booth with you if they ran out of high chairs)

Nursing Possibilities:  5 Who wouldn't want to nurse on a cozy chair in front of their fireplace?  I'm guessing since the Nursing Mothers Alliance meets there, they've tested to see if it's pro-boob.  There are also some tables in the back by the bathrooms that are out of view of the restaurant if you wanted to be more discreet.

So there you have it!  It's incredibly baby-friendly and just a hop, skip and a jump to the KOP mall (and Babies R Us)!