PlanJam!From your screen to the scene

Fine dining and children—the two are unfortunately often mutually exclusive. Luckily, Luella Restaurant offers a solution. The owners, a husband and wife and parents themselves, know how hard it can be to try to hit a restaurant with kids in tow. On Sunday evenings, this sophisticated and charming Mediterranean-inspired restaurant provides parents with a less stressful opportunity to dine out—and dine well. From five to nine Sunday evenings, the restaurant offers Little Luellas, kid-friendliness elements incorporated into the same elegant dining.

Little Luella’s allures little palates with such menu items as pizza, grilled cheese, and chicken pot pie for around a very reasonable five dollars. The atmosphere includes upbeat music, coloring sheets, and white paper coverings on the linen tablecloths. You might even see the owner’s own daughter, Gemma, dancing and sampling her own Shirley Temple.

Adult menu highlights include ahi tuna tacos, scallops with spring onion risotto, and braised pork with white bean puree. Not to mention their nice wine list and desserts such as their renowned orange and sweet ricotta fritters drizzled with wild honey. Voted Best Of for Appetizers in 2006, Luella’s possesses more elegance and panache than your average mom and pop place.

Luella’s Restaurant is located on Hyde at the corner of Green. Getting to it by car is definitely possible, but keep in mind that parking is very difficult in this area. If you drive, allow plenty of time to search for parking. Though the restaurant normally provides valet parking as an option, it does not do so on Sunday; however, valet parking is available in front of La Folie on Polk Street, and Walgreens at Polk and Broadway opens their lot for parking (for a $15 fee). If you prefer not to drive, a cable car stops right in front of the restaurant.

Visit their website to book reservations online. Although the they do accept walk-ins, call ahead to insure a smoother experience with children. Now relax. You can actually sip your wine and have semi-uninterrupted adult conversation—or groove to the music and color with the crayons. Who says the kids should have all the fun?