Where to Eat in Downtown Houston, with Kids: MKT BAR at Phoenicia Specialty Foods

Address: 1001 Austin St, Houston, TX 77010

This is the place we like to go when we're at downtown at Discovery Green... MKT BAR at Phoenicia Specialty Foods. But I have to say, it's a little unusual.

On the ground floor of the One Park Place high rise, right across from Discovery Green, is Phoenicia. Half of it is a fancy grocery store and half of it is a restaurant called MKT BAR (or Market Bar). Both are casual and family friendly (even with the "BAR" in the name).

On weekdays, MKT BAR does not open until 2:00pm... so what you do (and a whole lot of people do each day) is go to the grocery section and pick up something from the deli. There are hot and cold options and they are all really good. (The falafel sandwich is my favorite!) You can pay for it and then take the food to the tables in the restaurant.

After 2:00pm and on weekends, you go to the restaurant, order from the menu and tip your waitress or waiter. The good thing about going to the restaurant is that there is a kids menu... and it's a good one. Just check out the kids chicken below... it's not your dinosaur shaped nuggets!

The restaurant also has high chairs and coloring sheets. (I do like to go early because MKT BAR becomes a little louder and more bar-like as the night goes on.)

MKT BAR has a lot of fun weekly events, like Steak Night, and seasonal events like heart shaped pizza.