Family-Friendly Event Nights: Kids Menu + Early Dining at Tartan
By Tartan Restaurant | Family Dining Guide
Where Little Ones Belong at the Table
Dining out with children doesn’t have to feel like a negotiation between adult ambitions and toddler patience. At Tartan, our Family-Friendly Event Nights prove that exceptional food, a lively atmosphere, and a well-fed six-year-old are not mutually exclusive — they’re the whole point.
Why Tartan Reimagined Family Dining
For years, “family-friendly” in the restaurant world was code for a laminated placemat, a cup of crayons, and chicken fingers that tasted like cardboard apology. Tartan decided to flip that script entirely — not by lowering culinary standards, but by raising the bar on what hospitality for families could actually look like.
The genesis of our Family Event Nights came from a simple observation: parents who love great food don’t stop loving great food the moment they have children. They just find it increasingly difficult to access. A 9 PM dinner reservation becomes a fantasy when you have a seven-year-old whose bedtime is two hours earlier. The solution wasn’t to push families toward fast-casual alternatives — it was to bring the experience forward in the evening, to them.
Every Thursday and Saturday, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Tartan opens its doors to a full family dining experience — complete with a dedicated kids’ menu crafted by our head chef, table activities, a welcoming noise policy, and a staff trained not just to serve, but to genuinely engage with guests of every age.
“A table with children at it isn’t a compromise — it’s the fullest version of what a shared meal can be. That’s the philosophy behind every Family Night we host at Tartan.” — Chef Moira Callahan, Tartan Head Chef
Real Food for Real Young Appetites: The Kids’ Menu
Our kids’ menu isn’t an afterthought — it’s a thoughtfully engineered collection of dishes that children actually eat, made with the same quality ingredients as every plate leaving our kitchen.
1. Highland Starter Plate — From £5.50 Warm house-baked mini rolls, whipped Scottish butter, a pot of braw carrot hummus, and veggie dippers cut into fun shapes. A gentle opener that builds appetite without spoiling dinner. Vegan option available. Contains gluten.
2. Wee Ones Pasta Bake — From £7.00 Slow-roasted tomato and hidden vegetable sauce folded through rigatoni, topped with a golden Mull cheddar crust. Comfort food with a nutritional secret the kids won’t detect. Gluten-free pasta available. Contains gluten and dairy.
3. Crispy Haddock Fingers — From £8.00 Scottish haddock in a light oat and herb crumb, served with proper chunky chips, garden peas, and our signature Tartan dipping sauce. Fish fingers, but make it Michelin-adjacent. Contains fish, gluten, and eggs.
4. Caledonian Pudding Cup — From £4.00 A pot of silky vanilla crème with a layer of bramble compote and a shortbread crumble crown. Small enough to be exciting, rich enough to be the undisputed highlight of any eight-year-old’s evening. Contains dairy, gluten, and eggs.
All dishes are prepared using locally sourced ingredients. A full allergen menu is available on request, and puréed options for weaning infants can be arranged with advance notice.
Your Perfect Family Event Night, Hour by Hour
5:00 PM — Early Bird Welcome Families arriving in the first thirty minutes receive our complimentary welcome tray: a small selection of crudités and house-made dips for children, plus a glass of sparkling elderflower for young guests and a welcome drink for adults. No waiting — your table is ready, your team is ready.
5:15 PM — Menus & Activity Packs Children receive a hand-illustrated activity pack — not a generic puzzle sheet, but one our team designs fresh each month around a theme (past themes: Scottish castles, woodland creatures, ocean adventures). Parents can order at a relaxed pace while younger guests are engaged and genuinely entertained.
5:30 – 6:30 PM — The Meal Itself Starters and mains are timed with children’s plates in mind — kids’ courses arrive promptly, adults’ courses follow naturally. We’ve learned from experience that a hungry child is a difficult dining companion, so the kitchen prioritises junior plates with zero compromise to quality.
6:30 PM — Monthly Themed Highlight Each Family Event Night includes a special feature: a brief cooking demonstration where children can watch (and sometimes help) make their dessert, a guest storyteller, or a craft activity at a dedicated table. These rotate monthly and are announced via our newsletter — always something to look forward to.
7:00 PM — Sweet Finish Puddings arrive, and the evening closes warmly. Families departing before 7:15 PM receive a small take-home treat bag for children — a habit we started one rainy November and simply never stopped.
Everything You Need to Know Before You Book
- Family Event Nights run every Thursday and Saturday, 5:00 – 7:00 PM
- Children 12 and under dine from the dedicated kids’ menu; teens may order from the full menu or the children’s selection
- Highchairs and booster seats are available — please request at time of booking
- Full allergen information is available for every dish; most dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice
- The restaurant is fully pram-accessible with designated buggy parking near the entrance
- We operate a no-noise-shame policy — children being children is not a problem here; it’s part of the atmosphere
- Birthday celebrations for young guests receive a complimentary dessert with a candle and a song from the team, if requested
- Booking is essential — Family Nights fill quickly, often 10 to 14 days in advance
One thing we hear consistently from parents is surprise at how unhurried the experience feels. Family dining is often rushed — restaurants subtly moving tables along, children sensing tension, everyone leaving vaguely unsatisfied. We’ve structured our early seatings with enough breathing room that no one feels pushed. Your table is yours for the evening, not a timeslot to vacate.
Our staff receive dedicated training for Family Nights — not in crowd management, but in genuine hospitality toward young diners. Learning a child’s name at the table, asking them what they thought of their meal, making the experience feel personal rather than processed. Small gestures that cost nothing but mean everything to a family who chose to trust us with their evening.
What Parents Are Saying
“We’ve been coming to Tartan’s Thursday nights for six months now. My daughter calls it ‘the fancy dinner where they like kids.’ That tells you everything you need to know.” — Sarah M., Edinburgh
“My son has a nut allergy and the team handled every detail without making us feel like a burden. That kind of care is rare anywhere, let alone a restaurant this good.” — James & Fiona T., Glasgow
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should we book for a Family Event Night? We recommend booking at least one to two weeks ahead, particularly for weekend Saturdays. School holidays and bank holiday weekends tend to fill even faster. Online booking is available 24/7, or you can call us directly.
Is the kids’ menu available outside of Family Event Nights? A simplified version is available during standard lunch service on weekends. The full Family Event Night experience — themed activities, the welcoming atmosphere, the monthly special feature — is exclusive to our Thursday and Saturday evening slots.
My child is a very picky eater. Can you accommodate plain dishes? Absolutely. Our kitchen is happy to prepare simplified versions of any menu item — plain pasta with butter, or haddock without the crumb coating, for example. Just let us know when you book or when you arrive. We’d rather a child leave full and happy than politely attempt something unfamiliar.
Are adults’ drinks and the full menu available during Family Night? Yes, completely. The full adult menu and drinks list — including our curated wine selection and Scottish craft spirits — are available throughout the evening. Family Night is a full dining experience, not a scaled-back version of one.
What happens if we run late and miss the 5 PM start? We’ll hold your table for 15 minutes, and families arriving up to 30 minutes late can still enjoy the full experience. If you’re running significantly behind, just give us a call — we’d always rather know and work something out than have you rush.
Do you host private Family Event Night hire? We do, for groups of 20 or more. Private Family Event Night bookings can include bespoke menus, dedicated entertainment, and exclusive use of our private dining room. Contact our events team to discuss options.
A Closing Thought: The Table Has Always Been This Size
There’s a version of fine dining that politely excludes — where “exclusive” carries a second, unspoken meaning. Tartan isn’t that restaurant. We’ve always believed that the most meaningful meals happen when the people you love most are seated across from you, regardless of how tall they are or whether they’ll eat the garnish.
Our Family-Friendly Event Nights exist because great hospitality has no age minimum. The children sitting at these tables tonight are developing their relationship with food, with dining out, with the simple pleasure of a meal that someone else made with care. That’s not a minor thing. That’s the foundation of a lifetime of enjoying the table.
We hope to see your family — all of them — very soon.
Reserve Your Table for Family Night Thursdays & Saturdays · 5:00 – 7:00 PM · Tartan Restaurant Booking essential · Allergen requests welcome at time of reservation · Children 12 & under from dedicated menu
About Tartan of Redlands
Founded on April 15, 1964, Tartan of Redlands has long been a local favorite, known for its classic steakhouse cuisine and welcoming, community-driven atmosphere. Established by the Ctoteau brothers—Velmer, Al, and Art—the restaurant was built on a commitment to great food and exceptional service.
Over the years, ownership has changed, but its core values have remained intact. Larry Westin played a key role in its growth, followed by his son, Larry Westin Jr., who continued the legacy until 2015. Today, Jeff and Lisa Salamon proudly carry it forward.
Jeff Salamon, a Marine Corps veteran from Boston, emphasizes tradition, loyalty, and strong community ties. The menu features steakhouse favorites like prime rib, quality steaks, and the signature Redlands Tartan Burger, along with a full bar.
Often called the “Cheers of Redlands,” Tartan is loved for its relaxed vibe, friendly service, and loyal guests. With both indoor and outdoor seating, it remains a year-round gathering spot for locals.
