OAAM Tiny Diner Series: b.good in Glastonbury

UPDATE 2/8/15: Just a reminder that b.good offers “Kids eat free” on Mondays from 4-9pm (with the purchase of a full size adult meal). We love a good deal on some great food!

Cut to the Chase. Take me to the Momsense.

In case you’re new to our blog, I wanted to take a moment to introduce you to our Tiny Diner Series. You see, before Boo came along, going out to eat was one of my favorite indulgences. After Boo was born, and after we’d passed several months without getting any closer to a restaurant with our new baby than we needed to in order to pick up a take-out order, I knew I had to find a way to re-introduce this little luxury into my life in a way that didn’t require us to find a babysitter every time we wanted to give our kitchen the night off. And so the Tiny Diner Series was born. Now I’m on a mission to find family-friendly eateries that both kids and adults can love. You can read about all our Tiny Dining adventures here.

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Thank you to b.good for the delicious dinner provided to me and my family. All opinions are 100% my own. 

Did you know that May is national burger month? In honor of this delicious distinction, we’ve got a super family-friendly restaurant serving up tons of yummy treats for the whole crew including, you guessed it, burgers!

So, have you been to the b.good restaurant in Glastonbury, CT? It opened in Somerset Square last June. In case you aren’t familiar with this area, Somerset Square is a charming little outdoor shopping area off Glastonbury Boulevard that houses some of my favorite stores and restaurants.

I have known about this b.good location since last summer, but between the little guy’s arrival, a busy fall, and the ridiculously snowy, never-ending winter, we just hadn’t been able to make it over there. So I was really excited to get to try it out last week. The restaurant is located around the back side of that center building. It’s impossible to see it from the shopping center’s entrance, but trust me. It’s back there 🙂

I’ll give you the whole tour, of course, but first I thought I’d point out some things that I really love about this restaurant:

• This is not fast food. It’s real food, served up fast. And it certainly doesn’t taste like fast food. They offer really unique menu items that change with the seasons so there’s always something new to discover and enjoy. 
• You order and pay at the counter. I always feel so much more at ease when I’m not “trapped” at a table with two little ones waiting on a server to bring me my meal or the check. There’s less potential for chaos when you can box your meal and walk out at any time, am I right?
• The dining area is one big open space. This means you can easily keep an eye on your crew if you need to pop up to the counter to order or refill your drink.
• It’s stroller-friendly. There’s even room to keep your stroller-bound little one snoozing happily by the table if necessary.
• There is a lovely (and huge) outdoor patio. Complete with umbrellas for shade.
• Milkshakes and smoothies! Seriously, one of the tastiest milkshakes I’ve ever had and great smoothie flavors for kids and grown-ups.
• Kids eat free on Monday nights (September to June, 4-9pm; with the purchase of a full size burger or salad; dine-in only). Hey, having kids is expensive. It’s nice to feed them for free once in awhile 🙂

So first things first: parking. There are lots of spaces around the shopping area, but I rarely find one available. Don’t worry. There’s a large parking area in back. Just follow the circle around and hang a right after you pass the Starbucks.

As you walk towards the entrance, you’ll notice that b.good has an expansive patio. I just love patios for warm weather dining. It makes the meal feel like a mini vacation, doesn’t it? There aren’t too many really family-friendly restaurants with patios in this area, so this is a gem.

You might also notice a little planter box on your way to the door. It wasn’t growing anything yet when we were there, but keep an eye on it because it just might sprout some vegetables that will end up in your meal. How cool is that? Also, b.good gets some of its seasonal produce from Botticello Farms in Manchester, CT (last year they provided corn, beans, tomatoes, strawberries, onions, and squash). I love that b.good is supporting local farms.

Inside, the dining room is wide open and the seating arrangements are flexible.

There are high chairs and booster seats available too.

You can access their full menu online here, or you can just take a quick gander when you get there. It’s posted right above the counter where you place your order.

I took some close-ups of the menu to post here, but just be aware that b.good makes changes to it seasonally. This will give you a good idea of what to expect though.

Here’s what we sampled on this visit:

• West Side Burger
• Adopted Luke Burger
• Harvest Kale Salad
• Roasted Butternut Salad
• Kids’ Grilled Cheese Sandwich
• Vanilla Milkshake
• Orange Pineapple Smoothie
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Regular Fries
• Assorted Fountain Drinks

I’m not a food critic, so I don’t like to spend a lot of time analyzing the food (and really, here at OAAM we are just happy not to have to cook, serve or clean up!), but I can honestly say that everything was delicious. Just the way I like it! But the thing that I cannot stop thinking about? The brussels sprouts in the Harvest Kale Salad. Seriously! They were amazing! And of course the fries. Oh. And the milkshake! Alright. I have to stop or I am going to have to send hubby over there right now for take-out 🙂 By the way, they also do take-out.

In addition to the fresh and locally sourced food, b.good has a really fun assortment of beverages. Even the condiments have personality!

I think my crew was enjoying it (especially the little guy who absolutely pounded the grilled cheese! The kid only has two teeth; boy am I in trouble when he’s a teenager.)

The bottom line? All the convenience of a fast food restaurant with a meal so good you’ll think there should be tablecloths and a wine list (no, there isn’t any wine; geesh, you can’t have everything). I’d say that’s pretty much the gold standard for Tiny Dining. So celebrate national burger month with a trip to b.good. And don’t forget those free fries*!

Have you been to b.good? What’s your favorite menu item?

Thank you to b.good for the delicious dinner provided to me and my family. All opinions are 100% my own. 

 

 

 

b.good

The Shops at Somerset Square

140 Glastonbury Boulevard, Glastonbury, Connecticut

Phone: 860-633-1630

Follow them on Facebook!

Hours:

Monday-Saturday 11am – 9pm
Sunday 11am – 8pm

Pricing:

This is a moderately priced restaurant. Menu items range in price from about $3 to $9. Side items are sold separately (or at an additional charge as part of a “combo meal”) so expect to spend $10-$15 per person ($6-$8 for each kid).

Parking is FREE.

Details:

• Stroller Friendly: YES!
• Coffee Mug Friendly: YES! b.good doesn’t serve coffee, but they don’t mind if you BYOC. There is even a Starbucks right next door. (However, don’t get any fancy ideas about wine. No alcohol please.)
• Baby Changing Station:  YES
• Parking: Limited parking in front of and around the restaurant (there are actually a lot of spaces but they never seem to be available!); plenty of parking in a big lot behind the complex.
• Food for Sale: Duh.
• Outside Food Allowed: Well, it is a restaurant so don’t go crazy, but I was told that it’s okay if you want to bring in something different for your kids to eat or if someone in your party prefers to get food from elsewhere; b.good just wants you to be able to hang out with your friends and family and have a good time!
• Cash Required: NO. Credit cards are accepted.
• Dress Code: N/A
• Evening/Weekend Hours: YES!
• Discounts: Kids eat FREE (with the purchase of an adult meal) on Mondays between the hours of 4-9pm!

Tips & Things to Bring:

• You order and pick up at the counter. I know sometimes this can be tricky if you are also trying to manage little ones on your own. However, the entire b.good staff was so nice and friendly, I am certain that they would be happy to help you get your food to your table (or help you clean up).
• You can see the whole menu online here.
• Join their “Family” rewards program to earn free menu items and special surprises on your birthday and holidays. The more you visit, the more free stuff you’ll receive. Pick up a keyring card or download the app. You can even attach a credit card to make payment more convenient. Find out more here or ask in store.
• Follow them on Facebook to see updates on the latest menu items plus get info on special events.
• Check out the stores at The Shops at Somerset Square and do a little shopping too.

 

• 4D Vision Gym – A vision training center located in Cromwell, CT where Dr. Juanita Collier, MS, OD and her staff show members how to utilize Vision Therapy to correct visual issues and make learning and playing easier and more fun.
• The Independent Day School – Located on a rural campus in Middlefield, CT this private pre-school, elementary and middle school serves families from over 20 communities.
• Kathryn Deane Photography – A natural light photographer located in West Hartford, CT and specializing in maternity, newborn, child, family, and senior portrait photography.
• Mansfield OBGYN – Exceptional providers of compassionate, quality women’s healthcare with offices in Hebron, Mansfield and Windham, CT.

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