Taste of Belgium - The Banks
Rating
Family of 4
Roughly $55 to $90 for two adults and two kids at breakfast or brunch before tip, plus garage parking.
Duration
1-1.5 hours
Best Ages
2-17, and one of the easier downtown Cincinnati restaurants to manage with a baby
About
Taste of Belgium at The Banks is at 16 West Freedom Way, wedged into the block between Great American Ball Park and Paycor Stadium, and it is one of the more useful restaurants in downtown Cincinnati for families.
The reason to prioritize this location specifically is what is outside the door. Smale Riverfront Park is a short flat walk away, and it holds the PNC Grow Up Great Adventure Playground, the giant piano steps kids can actually play by jumping on them, the porch swings that face the Ohio River, and Carol Ann's Carousel. That is arguably the single best free stretch of downtown Cincinnati for kids, and it is close enough that you can eat here and be at the playground within a few minutes.
Waffles then a carousel ride is a plan that works for nearly every age from toddler through fourth grade.
The thing that will make or break your visit is the calendar. The Banks exists to serve two stadiums, so on a Reds or Bengals game day the wait, the crowds, and the garage rates all jump at once. On a normal weekday morning this is a calm, easy stop with a short wait.
Weekend brunch runs busier, commonly 30 to 60 minutes, and this location takes reservations through OpenTable, which is worth using.
On logistics, this is more stroller-friendly than most downtown restaurants. The Banks is modern and flat with wide sidewalks, and the walk to the riverfront park is fully paved, so bringing the stroller is the right call rather than a burden. In practice a plain Liege waffle is the standard kid order and it works.
Budget roughly $55 to $90 for two adults and two kids at breakfast or brunch before tip, plus parking. Garage rates around The Banks vary and spike on event days, so check posted rates before you pull in. The money-saving version of this outing is simple: come on a non-event weekday morning, order one shared chicken and waffles plus two plain waffles for the kids, skip dessert, and spend the rest of the morning at the free playground down the block.
Age Suitability
Parent Logistics
Stroller-Friendly
Yes
Nursing / Changing
Unknown
Kid Meals
Limited
Setting
Indoor & Outdoor
Rainy Day
Great option!
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
Weekday morning or right at opening on a weekend. Avoid Reds and Bengals game days entirely unless you are going to the game
Wait Times
Under 15 minutes on a weekday, commonly 30-60 minutes at weekend brunch, and much longer before and after games at the ballpark or stadium
Nearby Food
You are in the middle of The Banks, which is the densest cluster of family-friendly restaurants downtown, with burgers, pizza, tacos, ice cream, and quick counter options within a two or three minute walk along Freedom Way and Joe Nuxhall Way. Smale Riverfront Park often has seasonal carts and stands near the playground and carousel. If everything at The Banks has a line on a game day, walking north into downtown or a short drive to Over-the-Rhine opens up far more options.
Why Kids Love It
Waffles are the whole point, and a Liege waffle arriving with powdered sugar or chocolate is one of the easier wins on any downtown Cincinnati menu. The location makes it better: you walk out the door, cross into Smale Riverfront Park, and land at a playground with giant piano steps, the Roebling Suspension Bridge overhead, and swings that face the river. Kids remember that combination long after they forget the meal.
Pro Tips from Parents
- Build the outing around the park, not the restaurant. Smale Riverfront Park and the PNC Grow Up Great Adventure Playground are a short walk from the front door, and Carol Ann's Carousel is right there too. Eat first, then let everyone run.
- Check the Reds and Bengals schedules before you go. The Banks sits between Great American Ball Park and Paycor Stadium, and on game days the wait, the crowd, and the parking rate all spike at once.
- Reserve through their OpenTable listing for weekend brunch.
- This is one of the more stroller-friendly downtown restaurants because The Banks is flat, modern, and has wide sidewalks. Still, ask for a table rather than a booth if you are bringing a stroller into a full dining room.
- Call (513) 396-5800 to confirm high chairs and current kids options.
What to Bring
- A stroller, since the walk from the restaurant to the riverfront playground is flat and paved
- Wipes for the inevitable powdered sugar and syrup situation
- Your own changing pad, since changing table availability is not confirmed
- Sunscreen and hats in summer, because the riverfront playground has limited shade
- A card for the parking garage and for the meal
Cost Info
Estimated Cost (Family of 4)
Roughly $55 to $90 for two adults and two kids at breakfast or brunch before tip, plus garage parking.
Tips to Save
- A plain Liege waffle is the least expensive thing that will satisfy a kid here, and splitting one order of chicken and waffles between two children works more often than you would expect.
- Go on a non-event day, when parking at The Banks costs a fraction of what it does before a Reds or Bengals game.
- Then skip dessert entirely and walk to Smale Riverfront Park, where the playground and the swings by the river are free.
