We first visited Loca Luna on New Year’s Eve, but we dined early enough that we avoided any of the “party crowd” for that particular evening. We were unsure of whether the restaurant would be kid-friendly, so I asked the hostess about it while my husband drove around the parking lot (have you ever done that?). She assured me that the kids were welcome, and she even pulled out some toys from behind the hostess desk to prove it.

We were seated in the back, near the bar. I struggle with whether that’s a good or bad thing, but in this case it was good. We were around the corner from the bar, so the kids didn’t observe the liquor or the drinking, but it was still noisy enough that our kids didn’t bother the other diners.

The toys–a box with different activities on each side and another toy with a series of beads–kept our toddler entertained, while our 8-year-old enjoyed the paper tablecloth and crayons. Our waitress was friendly with the children and even let the older ones order for themselves.

My only complaint was that the kids’ menu was very limited and moderately expensive, compared to other restaurants of the same level. Both of the older children ordered noodles with butter sauce, which my 9-year-old described as “very bland” (I’m not sure what he was expecting with butter sauce). My toddler made the best pick, ordering a cheese pizza. Loca Luna specializes in brick-oven pizza, and the kids’ cheese was very good. My 9-year-old tasted it and said he wished he had ordered it.

The adult entrees were outstanding, although my husband and I wished we had coordinated our choices better because we ended up ordering the same thing. We both had the pot roast with garlic mashed potatoes and bread, which was comfort food for a cold evening.

We will visit Loca Luna again, although we may try to visit for lunch, when the entrees are a little less expensive.