Nibbles’ Play Cafe 

13 Huntington Lane

Wheeling, IL 60090

847-229-0400

Parent Comments & Ratings

PROS

Need a break? Me too! When I’m at the end of my rope, I call a friend and head to Nibbles’ Play Cafe. It’s a place where my son can have fun and I can relax. This is one of the few places I feel comfortable letting him roam. The set-up is great. Wherever I’m sitting, I can keep an eye on my little guy and have some adult conversation at the same time!

The cafe has several little play areas. One is especially designed for creepers, crawlers and new walkers. It includes mats, tunnels, different sensory items to crawl over and other baby-safe toys. Finally the infants are not forgotten – I love it!

Other play areas include a creative corner where kids can wear smocks, color, draw with chalk, work with clay and play with other creative toys. <UPDATE 2-1-10: The creative corner has been changed into a creative box corner, with carboard boxes for kids to climb in and stack.> My son loves playing with the ramps, balls and tubes. Children observe action and reaction as they place the Velcro-covered tubes onto the wall and watch the balls roll in different ways. Another area includes a large train table. My nephew spent a lot of time in this section of the restaurant. Who doesn’t love trains?

There’s an area for open-ended play too. I enjoy watching my son interact with other children in this area. I’ve seen him take turns vacuuming, washing dishes, feeding the babies and preparing food. There are also dress-up clothes and a lot of other fun toys here.

One of my favorite things about Nibbles’ Play Cafe is how clean and environmentally safe it is! For example, the floors and trim are made of bamboo, which is naturally hypo-allergenic, anti-microbial and anti-fungal. Every time I visit, the bathrooms are also very clean, and my son loves using the toddler-sized potties and sinks!

The menu has a lot of options for the little ones, including sandwiches, chicken nuggets and pasta with kid-friendly toppings. The fries are shaped like smiley faces, there are plenty of snacks for purchase, and organic baby foods and teething crackers are also available. Toddlers are given little plastic plates and sippy cups, and can sit at tables just their size. The menu for adults includes hot and cold sandwiches, soups, salads, and coffees and teas.

CONS

The cafe keeps a tab open for you during your visit, so you don’t have to pay a cent until you’re ready to leave. This makes it very convenient. I like that I don’t have to dig for my wallet as soon as I walk in the door. But it also makes it easy to keep buying snacks, desserts and drinks! Sometimes my tab is more than I expect, but I guess it’s a small price to pay for a stress-free afternoon.

The last few times I visited Nibbles, the kids’ chicken nuggets and fries tasted a little chewy and stale. While I like the menu options and really enjoy the coffee (Intelligentsia), I don’t frequent this cafe for its fine cuisine. I come when I need a break, and it delivers in that regard.

LOGISTICS

When you arrive at Nibbles Play Cafe, you sign in, providing your name and the ages of the children with you. Your admission cost is put onto a tab, and you are given a card with your name on it. Anytime you come up to the counter to purchase something or place an order, you show your card and the amount is added to your tab. You just pay for everything as you leave.

The cafe has never been uncomfortably crowded when I’ve visited. I’ve noticed when there are a lot of kids in the play area, a staff person walks around and keeps them entertained. While you are responsible for watching your children, the staff are great about helping you relax as much as possible.

On many days, Nibbles hosts entertainers like singers or a magician. On one occasion, my son got to participate in open mic time, which was a lot of fun. You can sign up for the Nibbles’ Play Cafe newsletter (http://www.nibblesplaycafe.com/newsletter.cfm) to keep abreast of events and entertainment.

The facility is available for birthday parties and private events. You can find more information on their Website. Special pricing is also available for schools and large groups. For more information, call 847-229-0400 or email info@nibblesplaycafe.com.

Website: http://www.nibblesplaycafe.com/