Child friendly in CT right off 95

[donovt]

My wife and I are driving from NYC to visit her family in RI the day before thanksgiving. As always, we expect a lot of traffic, but tis year we will have our one year old son with us. We would like to find a child-friendly place at about the half way point so that we can hop off 95, eat and hop back on. Definitely don't want a chain and since our son still mostly eats jarred food, it doesn't even need to have anything for him to eat. We just need a place that's family friendly so he can blow off a little steam after a couple of hours in the car. Thanks!!!

[donovt]

We ended up going to fish tale and it was perfect. Very friendly staff, great food and the perfect atmosphere for our son to burn off some energy.

Unfortunately, we will be driving back next weekend for a funeral. So maybe we will hit one of the other spots on the way.

[awm922]

Here's a few. Chowder Pot in Branford, CT. Very good seafood, casual setting, right off 95. Bills Seafood on the border of Clinton and Westbrook on Rt. 1. About 5 mins off 95, good seafood especially their hot lobster rolls. Lots of other items too. In New Haven, Pepe's, Sally's and Modern for Pizza. All good and just a few minutes off the highway. Leons for more upscale Italian. Right off 95 on the Harbor. Same for Sage in New Haven. On the water. In West Haven there's Chick's Drive in. Traditional Savin Rock hot dog, fried clams, fries, onion rings place. About 10 min off the highway across from the beach.

[donovt]

Thanks to all for the many suggestions. I now have my list broken down by exit so when the inevitable screaming begins we know the closest place to stop. Will also be checking a few of these places out on a more leisurely trip in the future. Will let you all know where we end up and how it goes. Happy thanksgiving and thank you again for the recommendations.

[rosieg]

I agree with Pat's Kountry Kitchen, immediately off 95N at exit 67. Or the Coffee Break, exit 63, in Clinton. It is NOTHING but child friendly, will be decorated for Christmas already, breakfast all day...but closes at 2:30 on weekdays and 2 on Sundays. One mile off the highway.

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Pat's Kountry Kitchen
70 Mill Rock Rd E, Old Saybrook, CT 06475

Coffee Break
27 E Main St, Clinton, CT 06413

[JenJeninCT]

As much as I love Lenny & Joe's, its hardly "right off" I-95- its probably close to 10 minutes from the highway, and a little bit of a winding journey to get there. I would still recommend it, just wanted to OP to be prepared for a little hike since his title suggests easy off/on.

As brooker mentions, Athenian is quite good for a diner (AWESOME mashed potatoes!) and very easy to get to from the highway- its practically at the end of the exit 39 A ramp.

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Lenny & Joe's
Westbrook, CT, Westbrook, CT

[plien69]

The one in Madison is pretty convenient: Exit 62 to the Hammonasset connector, then a left and it's just ahead.

[brookerme]

Lenny and Joe's in Westbrook might be 7 or 8 min. off 95 but the Madison location is only 2-3 minutes

[sarahbeth]

I travel back in forth from PA to RI once a month with an 18 month old. We usually stop at La Salsa (Mexican food that is "Panera Bread" style) in Fairfield County. Five Guys Burgers in Orange, CT and Rolly Polly (wraps) in Orange, CT. If you want more of a sit down, I would suggest The Brewhouse in Norwalk.

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Five Guys Burgers
269 Patriot Pl, Foxboro, MA 02035

[brookerme]

Maybe the Athenian Diner in Milford. huge menu, standard diner fare, close to 95 http://www.atheniandiner.com/

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Athenian Diner Restaurant
864 Washington St, Middletown, CT 06457

[DonShirer]

Pat's Kountry Kitchen is just off Old Saybrook Exit 67 (turn right). The old decor that featured dozens of teddy bears is gone, but they are still family friendly. Food is not outstanding but acceptable. For a higher end meal (lunch or dinner), continue into Old Saybrook on Rt. 1 and check for Aspen Restaurant on the south side of the street.

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Pat's Kountry Kitchen
70 Mill Rock Rd E, Old Saybrook, CT 06475

[plien69]

Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale

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Lenny & Joe's
Westbrook, CT, Westbrook, CT

Fish Tale Restaurant
86 Boston Post Rd, Westbrook, CT 06498

[donovt]

Thanks! That seems like exactly the type of place I was looking for. Anybody else? You never know when we're going to hit the point that we will need to get off the road, so I would like as many suggestions as possible.

[solargarlic]

There are a bunch of taco trucks located right on Long Wharf in New Haven. IKEA is just on the other side, so you could at least stop there for the restrooms if you needed a place to change your son. Lenny and Joe's is a great stop though, I wouldn't mind eating there at all!

[stuartlafonda]

Well, if that is the location to stop,they might as well go the extra mile, literally, and have pizza and dessert on Wooster street.

[plien69]

While I love both the Long Wharf taco trucks, and Wooster St. pizza, I wouldn't consider either of those two choices "baby-friendly."

If I have a 1-year old who's just off of 2 hours in the car, the last place I would want to eat is al fresco next to the roaring trucks and exhaust of I-95 (not to mention the whipping winds from New Haven harbor) trying to eat tacos with one hand, holding a baby while sitting on concrete blocks, which are your only seating option at the trucks.

Nor would I be all that ready to wait possibly 1+ hours standing in line to get into one of the Wooster St. joints.

[donovt]

We always wondered about the trucks when we see them from the highway. I think we will save those for a more leisurely and warmer trip. We're keeping our fingers crossed that we make it to Fish Tale before he blows a gasket. If anybody has any suggestions closer to NY we would appreciate it just in case the melt down happens sooner.

Thanks for all the feedback!

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Fish Tale Restaurant
86 Boston Post Rd, Westbrook, CT 06498

[plien69]

For a choice earlier than New Haven, how about Super Duper Weenie in Fairfield? It's easy on/off at Exit 24, has indoor, casual seating, and Gary is now making soups daily, during the colder months.

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Super Duper Weenie
306 Black Rock Tpke, Fairfield, CT 06825

[solargarlic]

I was going to suggest this, but thought it was too close to NYC. It is also very small, would it be possible to change a baby in there? Last time we stopped at the taco trucks with our two boys, we got a torta to go, then went to IKEA, got them fro-yo cones, and then ate everything at a table there. I drive a lot with my kids and Starbucks and IKEA are both good bathroom/changing spots.

I do agree that Wooster St. pizza is worth the stop if you don't mind a short side trip from the highway...

[donovt]

The way traffic will probably be tomorrow I actually appreciate the close to NYC suggestions. We've had some trips where it took us well over an hour to get out of the city.

I would have never thought of ikea as a place to stop for a change, thanks for the heads up!

[plien69]

I don't think SDW is conducive to baby changing. There's only one unisex bathroom, but without a changing station. Also their parking lot is pretty small, but there's tons of overflow parking at the Syms across the street.

IKEA is a good call for baby changing. Also, super-easy on/off. I didn't think to bring food from the trucks in there, but I suppose as it isn't a restaurant, there's really no reason why you couldn't.