toby

Last night, Toby and I went to a neighborhood restaurant…

And, when we sat down, he ordered his new go-to drink: a Roy Rogers, which is essentially a Shirley Temple, but with Coke instead of Sprite.

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“A Roy Rogers is so much more exciting than a Shirley Temple,” Toby told me as we settled in at our table. “You 100% taste the cherry but it’s also Coke-y. It makes you feel like you’re in Top Gun: Maverick. My favorite bartender is the guy at Musso & Frank in L.A., where I went with my dad. We sat at the bar and got to see a bunch of drinks getting made. The bartender looks like the bartender from The Shining. It also felt like you were in a horror movie because of how dim the lights were.”

best kids drink for restaurants roy rogers

Not everyone knows the drink by name, warns Toby: “It’s an older drink, so waiters don’t always know it. So, then I’ll describe it — grenadine with Coke. If it was in the 1980s, I would just ask for a Roy Rogers.” Also, the mocktail is better suited for preteens and teens. “If you’re at a casual restaurant, just get a Sprite or something. But if you’re at Musso & Frank or another fancy restaurant, then you better get a Roy Rogers.”

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A few more photos…since every snapshot of a teenager turns into a photo shoot lol.

Thanks, Tobes! What drinks do the kids in your life like? Any other pro tips for taking kids to restaurants?

P.S. More elite Toby advice:
Toby’s and Anton’s guide to NYC
Toby’s advice on surviving family travel
Toby and Anton’s nine tips for bringing kids to restaurants
The 10 best and worst family movies, according to Toby and Anton
Toby and Anton’s guide to life (including how to make friends and what to do if you can’t fall asleep)
— Toby’s cookies that blew us all away