Family-friendly restaurants in Bend, Oregon offer food for kids of all ages.

One of the many things we love about the restaurants in Bend and around the Old Mill District is that they offer thoughtful kids’ menus — some spotlighting cuisines from around the world — which is part of what makes the area such a popular destination for hungry families.

The authentic Flatbread Neapolitan Pizzeria boasts a kids’ menu that includes pasta alfredo, as well as macaroni and cheese, but the star is undeniably a create-your-own pizza offering, where children can request pies with up to five or six toppings. As long as the pizzeria carries it, kids can ask for it. (Yes, we’re jealous, too.)

The locally owned Kona Mix Plate, for instance, doesn’t have a dedicated menu for kids, but its chicken katsu – made with homemade chicken strips – is a hit among the youngsters.

Pastini, meanwhile, offers a sweeping kids’ menu that spotlights a variety of traditional Italian dishes (including fettuccini alfredo and spaghetti marinara) alongside American favorites (such as chicken fingers and mac and cheese). And if they finish their plate, you can reward your tykes with gelato or chocolate chip cookies.

And along the Deschutes River, Anthony’s at the Old Mill District offers a kids’ menu that goes beyond the basics and includes grilled salmon and fish and chips. If your little one hasn’t yet developed a taste for quality seafood, they’ll enjoy the restaurant’s hamburger sliders.

Finally, don’t forget Red Robin and its glorious patio along the Deschutes River. Corn doggies, cluck-a-dodles – they’re delicious chicken tenders – and sundaes highlight the kids menu.