"Open spaces are just better for dining with kids—it must have something to do with the lack of bad acoustics (a.k.a. the potential for an entire dining room to hear your child ask where your hairline is going). Head to Nopalito’s patio when you need a margarita and your kid needs a quesadilla. The patio is heated and covered, making it comfortable even when it’s a cool 55 degrees out. Everything on the menu of Mexican dishes is shareable and well-executed. When in doubt, go for the carnitas, which pull apart with ease and are best folded up in a supple corn tortilla." - julia chen 1, patrick wong