Let's face it: a screaming child at an expensive, adult-oriented restaurant is never a good time, and is even less fun when that child belongs to you. So instead of spending your dinner with your hand awkwardly covering your little darling's mouth, or disciplining him in the stall of a bathroom, take the kids to a restaurant where they're simply allowed to be a kid. Here is a sampling of some kid-friendly dining options that are local to Rochester and friendly on the wallet. If your favorite restaurant isn't on the list, share it with our readers at rochestercitynewspaper.com.

The burger bunch

Bill Gray's in Henrietta (1225 Jefferson Rd, 424-2350) is practically a miniature theme park - it's no coincidence that a signpost near the registers spells out how far it is to amusement parks like Busch Gardens or Disneyland. The eatery is filled with decor to capture kids' attention, from a near-life-sized hot-air balloon hanging from the ceiling to a covered seating area in the form of an old railroad depot. Even better, the Bull Moose Arcade in the back includes air hockey, skee ball, and pinball machines, plus the gory 90's fighting game Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (not recommended for wee ones). The kid's menu goes beyond burgers and dogs, and includes mac ‘n' cheese and pizza logs. But save room for a frozen treat from the in-store Abbott's Frozen Custard for dessert. Bill Gray's has more than a dozen locations in the area - check billgrays.com for info - each with their own kid-pleasing amenities. Several offer Family Fun Nights with face-painting, live music, and more. Check the website for details.

Tom Wahl's (1333 Fairport Rd, 377-8420) offers a cheerful 50's diner-esque atmosphere that features a jukebox, wall memorabilia, and homemade root beer. Oldies tunes blast away as your kids chow down on typical, yet delicious, American fare like burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, and chicken fingers that won't cost more than $5. Watch out for tiny plates that can make eating chili dogs and messier foods a little tough. The Fairport location is just a short walk away from Perinton Park and the canal, so your kids can run all that sugar off afterwards, but there are other locations all over Rochester. Visit tomwahls.com for more information.

At Don's Original in Brighton (2545 Monroe Ave, 244-2080) no one will get upset if your kid spills a drink or shouts at the top of his lungs. OK, maybe not the latter. But when the little ones are so interested in what's on their plate, that's not likely to happen. Don's has tons of great choices for kids, including burgers, BLT's, homemade soups, and tuna melts. Make sure you get a scoop of ice cream before heading out. Don's has other locations in Irondequoit and Penfield; check donsoriginal.com for more information.

Diners for little diners

Kids have plenty of options to choose from at Highland Park Diner (960 S Clinton Ave, 461-5040), an authentic diner car turned delicious local eatery. Everything from super-plain omelets for picky eaters to chocolate chip pancakes or French toast for those with a sweet tooth can be found on the menu. Hot chocolate is available for kids who want to pretend they're drinking coffee like the adults, and the younger crowd will be so mesmerized by the authentic, kitschy atmosphere that the wait for food will fly by. Keep the historic atmosphere running with a movie (hopefully PG-rated) at the lovely Cinema Theater right across the street.

Parkside Diner (4353 Culver Rd, 323-2710) has two big reasons why kids will love it - what's inside the place and what's right outside. Inside you'll find a bevy of kid-friendly food items at all times of the day (silver dollar pancakes for breakfast, burgers and hot dogs for dinner, etc.) as well as a casual atmosphere with fun diner memorabilia and customer pictures from years past. Right outside you'll find the oldest miniature golf course in the United States (it's featured on the national registry of historic places), and just for kicks, local amusement park Seabreeze is right down the road.

A little something extra

Melon Bean (1308 Buffalo Rd, 235-2940) is ahead of its game. The eatery makes some of the coolest "crustless" sandwiches I've ever heard of, such as the Strawberry Jammin' (strawberry jam and strawberry cream cheese - simplicity at its finest). Pair that with a kiddie-sized bag of potato chips and your kids won't need anything else - until they discover the sectioned-off play area in the back. Parents can enjoy coffee and cheesecake, courtesy of Cheesy Eddie's, without all the ruckus bored kids make. Make sure to bring your kids (ages 3 and up) to arts & crafts night every Friday 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Located right in the village of Penfield, JC's Backyard Barbeque (1789 Penfield Rd, 586-1910) is a barbecue joint where kids can write on the walls upstairs while waiting for the kid-sized entrée they've chosen off of the "little wrangler's" menu. Selections include pulled-pork sandwiches, burgers, mac ‘n' cheese, and pasta. Live bands play on select nights. Visit jcsbackyardbbq.com for more information.