You have decided to visit American Girl Place with your daughter, and to make the experience complete, you are going to eat at the cafe. Where else can you bring a doll to dinner and have her greeted with enthusiasm and offered her own “treat seat” and table service?
Having eaten at Chicago’s American Girl Cafe three times with my daughters, I can offer advice for first-timers eager to know how it’s done. While you will want to check the website (www.americangirl.com) for details, experiences at American Girl Place at New York or Los Angeles should be similar.
*Call for reservations.
Very important! Call as soon as you know the date you will be visiting ( 1-877-247-5223). The Cafe is a very busy place, and getting reservations can seem as difficult as snagging a seat for a meal in Disney World’s Cinderella Castle! If seating for the meal you want is not available at the time you chose, ask the representative if other times and/or meals are available. Often they can suggest alternatives. If nothing is available for the day you want, don’t despair. As soon as you get to American Girl Place, go to the Cafe and put your name on the waiting list. I did this once and although my daughter and I were third on the list for our desired meal and seating time, we were able to get in because of no-shows.
*Decide on the meal you want.
The first time I visited, I wanted to go for lunch. However, the lunches were all booked so I decided on tea. It sounded quaint, and it was. However, my daughter is a somewhat picky eater and the lovely tray of chicken-salad and cucumber sandwiches was just not to her liking. I have learned that Brunch and Tea offer a tray of various items which are set (you do not choose which items). Lunch and Dinner on the other hand offer entree choices. Since our first tea, we have chosen lunch the next two times and my children have been happier with those. All the meals are lovely in presentation; it really depends on the tastes of you and your children.
Here are sample menus for each meal, along with seating times and prices. The menus do change sometimes, so you will want to call for specifics. Additionally, the prices vary by a few dollars at the Los Angeles and New York stores; these prices are for Chicago:
Brunch (9:30; $18):
Appetizer – cinnamon buns
Fancy French Toast
Perfect Pancakes
Old-Fashioned Oatmeal
Classic Eggs Benedict
Broccoli-and-Mushroom Quiche
Lunch (11, 12:30, 2:30; $20):
Appetizer – cinnamon buns
First course – fruit kabobs, soft pretzels and veggies
Entrees – choice of:
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Cafe Chicken Sandwich
American Girl Picnic Lunch (mini hamburger and hot dog)
Tic Tac Toe Pizza
Baked Chicken Tenders
Desserts – cookies and flowerpot with mousse
Afternoon Tea (4; $17):
Appetizer – cinnamon buns
Blueberry Lemon Scones
Cranberry Bread
Lemon Poppyseed Bread
Garden Party Sandwiches with cream cheese and cucumber
Chicken Salad Boats
Egg Salad Sandwiches
Roasted Turkey
Desserts – cookies, flowerpot with mousse, and fruit tartlet
Dinner (5:30, 7:30; $22)
Appetizer – cinnamon buns
First course: Hummus and flatbread, mini baked potatoes, fruit kabobs and veggies
Entree – choices of:
Lemon Pepper Tilapia
Mediterranean Chicken
Chipotle Steak Salad
Turkey Potpie
American Girl Pasta
Tic Tac Toe Pizza
Baked Chicken Tenders
Desserts – cookies and flowerpot with mousse
Another tip would be to alert your server (or if you call for reservations, your phone rep) if you’ll be visiting to celebrate your child’s birthday. Servers will come out and sing to your child while presenting her with a mini cake with a lighted candle.
If you prefer seating in a particular spot (perhaps by the windows so you can look out on the passersby walking on the sidewalks below), let the counter staff know when you check in. The earlier you arrive, the better your chance of getting your seating preference.
Be sure to bring your camera, because the Cafe is made for photo ops. Savor the moment with your daughter and doll!
