To continue our trip in Oak Ridge, we decided to drop by Big Ed's for a proper dinner...PIZZA.
This place is an Oak Ridge staple, it's been around so long that I had heard about it numerous times and have only lived in the area for about 3 years!
When we walked in I noticed pretty quickly that we were outnumbered....BY CHILDREN. Kid's being welcome is an absolute understatement. There are more high chairs than can be counted and kids yelling and laughing at almost every table. The adults who were dining sans tiny humans were mostly making faces and laughing at the kids at other tables!
The menu is super limited, you order pizza. No kids menu, but who really needs a kids menu for pizza?
The staff are super friendly and accommodating and don't seem at all bothered with the kid chaos. They do not have any kids activities, not even crayons, but our waitress was so sweet, she gave my son two pens and some note paper out of her own apron.
Regardless, my overly dramatic threenager has gotten so spoiled by our BeersWithKids travels that he expects activities and was not impressed....I of course channeled my mom strength and threatened that if he could't be grateful for what he had that we would not be going to restaurants anymore...my husband gently (while laughing in my face) reminded me that I shouldn't make threats I would not be following through on. WHATEVER.
As far as bathrooms. The Men's and Women's bathrooms are at the bottom of some sketchy stairs and are dungeon like and slightly terrifying. Seriously, they are straight out of your worst college dive bar nightmares. HOWEVER, there is a lovely family restroom before you go down the stairs with changing table. Choose that bathroom.
Overall, this is a family oriented pizza place that serves beer. The pizza is good, the staff are friendly. Go here if everyone is hungry and grown ups need liquid fuel. Do not go here if your kids are in need of running laps and doing cartwheels.
One additional deep thought....while we were eating, we noticed several Trump hats, a rainbow shirt, people of different races and ages and Queen blasting through the speakers. Maybe people actually are capable of just getting along?? Always nice to see!