For kid-friendly restaurants, Manchester has many options. Eating out with the children need not be an unpalatable carnival of fast food and cartoon-like decor. Here are ten top picks for great family meals.

1. Sapporo Teppanyaki, 91-93 Liverpool Road. This Japanese eatery is one of the best restaurants in Manchester and kid-friendly to boot. Interactive and entertaining chefs prepare dinner at table with a flair that’s sure to mesmerise the little ones.

2. The Olive Press, 4 Lloyd Street. Toddlers eat free at this classic Italian eatery with create-your-own pizza and classic Italian dishes. The Olive Press received the Pride Of Manchester Award in 2009 for Most Family Friendly Bar and Grill.

3. Tampopo, 16 Albert Square. This east Asian noodle bar is perfect for a quick lunch or meals on the go. A wide selection of veggies and noodles affords many choices for picky kids, and the eatery has won numerous awards for kid-friendly service.

4. Kebabish, 49 Hilton Street. Kebabish is the place for healthy and satisfying Turkish-style fast food, including vegetarian selections, at very affordable prices. It’s an excellent choice when you want something different, but don’t have time for a sit-down meal.

5. Zouk Teabar & Grill, The Quadrangle, Unit 5, Chester Street. This kid-friendly Indian restaurant gets high marks all over the web. Sunday afternoons are dedicated to little ones with a supervised play area and made-to-order meals. Zouk is a short walk from downtown and numerous Manchester hotels.

6. Sam’s Chop House, 19 Black Pool Fold. Don’t miss Sam’s for basic but brilliant British pub food. The menu includes seafood, chops, poultry, fish and chips, corned-beef hash, sandwiches, and yummy deserts.

7. St. Petersburg, 46 Sackville Street. With multi-course kid’s meals of burgers and pancakes for