Napa Valley is a great place to dine with the family for a special celebration or basic sustenance. Not only is there a wide range of options in the way of global and fusion cuisines, but a number of the region’s fine dining establishments have, over the years, figured out ways to satisfy younger palates, and they now offer settings where kids can be kids, without parents worrying about disrupting other diners.

At the top of Napa’s family-friendly dining are those establishments that serve American cuisine, with a California twist, of course. A few popular options are located on the south side of Napa in the Cinemark Century complex. After enjoying a movie at one of Century’s 12 all-digital movie screens, walk across the parking lot to The Forge, a favorite among Napa locals.

Forge has amazing wood-oven roasted pizzas, burgers, fish tacos, ribs, gourmet salads, and some of the best appetizers around, including to-die-for truffle fries, Angus beef meatballs in polenta, and their legendary (among local teens) fried Brussel sprouts with lemon vinaigrette. There is indoor and outdoor dining, which includes cozy fireplace features during cooler months. When the weather is warmer, their fenced patio is excellent for large family gatherings and has a variety of lawn games to enjoy while waiting for food. // www.theforgepizza.com

Next door is Chetuphon Thai, which has intriguing décor and some of the area’s best Thai cuisine. Southside Café offers imaginative, healthy, and locally-sourced menu options. Especially popular at breakfast, are their wide-ranging menu of avocado toasts (a fave of Gen-Z’s), cornmeal pancakes with agave syrup and their loaded chilaquiles, which can be done family-style. Southside has nice spots to dine indoors and out, or consider ordering breakfast or lunch as carry-out and taking it to nearby Kennedy Park, where kids can blow off steam on the playground, the hiking and biking trails, or at the skateboard park. // www.chetuphon.com // www.southsidenapa.com

Gott’s Roadside is a favorite stop for kids and adults. With its two convenient locations (one in St. Helena on Rt. 29 and one in Napa’s downtown Oxbow Public Market district) it’s casual, California take on drive-in cuisine with expansive outside dining areas beckons families to stretch out and enjoy a variety of locally-sourced menu items. Among the favorites at Gott’s are the Crispy Teriyaki Chicken sandwich, the Baja Fish Tacos, the expansive list of creatively inspired burgers (with vegetarian options), all that pair righteously with their chili-spiced sweet potato fries. And don’t miss the hand-made shakes and floats. // www.gotts.com

If the weekend’s festivities include a birthday celebration, Pizzeria Tra Vigne in St. Helena is the spot to be. They offer some of the region’s best wood-oven roasted pizzas, spaghetti with meatballs, piadine, and chicken parmesan — all Napa Valley caliber. For large family gatherings, along with the lively atmosphere, they offer long tables both inside and on the terrace, or their private dining room can be rented for a nominal fee. // www.pizzeriatravigne.com

If Yountville is the destination, there are tremendous foodie-friendly spots for family dining. R & D Kitchen has huge booths and ample outdoor seating near koi ponds. It offers top-drawer sushi, all manner of sandwiches, and generously served gourmet entrées with kid appeal, which can easily be split and shared. The outside patio is popular and also dog-friendly. Thomas Keller’s family-friendly restaurant, Ad Hoc, has a pre-fixe menu that rotates daily, and all dishes are served family-style. Enjoy entrées like grilled flank steak, rigatoni with lamb meatballs, and buttermilk fried chicken with sides of creamy herb rice, crispy Brussels sprouts, and mashed potatoes. // www.rd-kitchen.com/locations/Yountville // www.thomaskeller.com/adhoc

One of Napa’s mainstay restaurants, Cindy Pawlcyn’s Mustards Grill, has the best kids’ menu in the valley — which is separate from the big people one and includes standards like “Pasta Your Way,” which allows kids to choose exactly how they want their pasta dressed. Also fun: fancy mocktails like the Original Shirley Temple and Roy Rogers. Kids will also enjoy the outdoor dining setting in warmer months, near the restaurant’s culinary garden, a fun place to explore between courses. // www.mustardsgrill.com

Napa County has some great offerings for those in the mood for world cuisine, many in settings which are welcoming to families. Two spots in downtown Napa are Eiko’s Modern Japanese Cuisine and Napa Noodles. The same family owns both, and the menus are enticing and affordable, offering something for every taste or craving. Eiko’s has excellent food options for kids of all ages. In particular, it has “Japanese Tapas,” a wide variety of hand rolls, and an intriguing collection of signature rolls. Eiko’s specialty rolls, like the Ricky Ricardo — with shrimp tempura, Hamachi, maguro, and crab — are options one would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.// www.eikosnapa.com 

Napa Noodles, just down the street, offers a plethora of Asian specialties: Filipino, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Thai. Nearly all of their appetizers and noodle dishes have kid appeal, and the relaxed setting, cheerful waitstaff, and reasonable pricing make this a popular spot for families. // www.napanoodles.com

Napa is nothing without its many Mexican restaurants, a favorite cuisine among most, and all of which are family-friendly. Downtown Napa’s Don Perrico offers old-school Mexican — chimichangas, burritos, tacos, fajitas, and taquitos, and all are available with traditional meats, exceptionally fresh fish and seafood. The large, lively restaurant and expansive outdoor patio make it especially appealing for families and large groups. // www.donperricos.com

Taqueria Maria located near the Oxbow Market neighborhood is a fun place to enjoy “authentic Mexican dishes with a southwest flair.” Chef/Owner David Reynosa has all bases covered with an extensive menu of tacos, nachos, quesadillas, fajitas, burritos, tostadas and combo plates, and one of the best breakfast menus in Napa, complete with Mexican Chilaquilas, breakfast burritos and more traditional breakfast fare such as eggs, pancakes and waffles. On Friday nights (weather permitting) don’t miss the mariachi show, a lively event for the whole family to enjoy. // www.taqueriamaria.com

Other tasty world cuisines in Napa include Empress M for Chinese and Small World Restaurant for Middle Eastern. Empress M has a delicious assortment of dim sum, a full spectrum of Chinese entrées and soups, and an open dining room with indoor and outdoor seating. // www.empressm.us 

Everything on the counter menu at Small World Restaurant is tasty, though the gyros (chicken, lamb, and beef) are best-sellers and loaded with mouth-watering meats and an assortment of crisp, fresh veggies and served on ultra-soft pita. Pair these sandwiches with one of Small World’s fresh fruit smoothies. No dessert needed. // www.smallworldrestaurant.com

And what could be more family-friendly than pizza? Napa has a wide variety of pizza places, some noted earlier. In addition to Pizzeria Tra Vigne and The Forge, Azzurro Pizza E Enoteca is a cozy corner bistro on downtown Napa’s Main Street that offers a great selection of hand-thrown pies, freshly baked pasta, and Manciatas. Their Strauss Family soft-serve ice cream is recommended for dessert. // www.azzurrotogo.com

Filippis Pizza Grotto, in Napa’s Oxbow District, is the perfect spot for a family feast. The formidable-sized pizzas (11’, 13”, and 17”) come with a couple dozen options for toppings, which can be split on any pizza size and eaten inside or taken out. The combination platters are a great buy and an optimal way to sample some of their pasta dishes. Also in downtown Napa, Croccante Artisan Pizza is one of Napa’s newest additions, offering a fresh take on Detroit-style pies. The atmosphere is laid back, the patio bustling, and it’s a fun gathering place.  // www.realcheesepizza.com // www.croccantepizza.com