Steph C.
Yelp
We needed a place to grab dinner before the drive back from Legoland, and Draft Republic more than fulfilled all our requirements. It was easy, casual, and family friendly, with great food and drink for the four adults and four children in our group. The arcade situation was just gravy on top.
We walked in with our huge party at around 7:00 on a Sunday night. The near-empty parking lot boded well, and we had our pick of tables in the giant brewery/arcade/golf simulator/restaurant. We ended up at a tall table in the main arcade area, which wasn't ideal for high chairs but was otherwise perfect for drinking beer while the kids crawled all over the various games. We spent an hour and a half at Draft Republic, and only 20 minutes or so actively feeding the children.
The place was huge, with a lot going on, but it didn't have the desperate feel of a restaurant that doesn't know what it wants to be. Draft Republic was relaxed and fun, with plentiful entertainment in addition to good food and good vibes. Service was friendly and fast, and no one cared that we had four boys running around the arcade zone. They were the only ones there, and they had an absolute blast. It was cheap entertainment, too, as only the oldest of the four knew the difference between the flashing, colorful display screens and actual gameplay. (He did get to play, and my older son played with him.) The toddlers were just happy to rotate steering wheels and climb and sit on fake motorcycles. They even thought the ATM was a game.
There was an extensive draft selection, which included several Draft Republic brews. My husband and I tried the house Mexican Style Lager and Blonde Ale, I believe, and both were super satisfying. I was also impressed by my dinner, a shrimp po'boy with seasoned jumbo fried shrimp, creole slaw, and Cajun aioli on a toasted roll. It was delicious, served with a small house salad and seasoned fries with housemade spicy garlic ketchup. My husband enjoyed his fish and chips, and our sons ate their spaghetti noodles with butter and parmesan, ordered from a robust kid's menu.
We plan to go back to Legoland, and we may end every trip with dinner at Draft Republic. The food and beer hit the spot, and it keeps the party going. We all ate and played well, and the kids fell asleep about as soon as we got in the car.