Valentine’s Dinner for Kids: Cupid’s Cafe (2024)

Valentine’s Day is more than just a day for romantic dinners—it’s an opportunity to create lasting memories and share moments of joy with the whole family. One tradition that has become an annual favorite for our family is the crazy and laughter-filled Valentine’s dinner for kids known as “Cupid’s Cafe.” Join us and try this wacky experience with surprising twists that make Cupid’s Cafe an anticipated tradition for our kids each year.

Growing Up with Cupid's Cafe

As our children grow, so does their excitement for our annual Valentine’s dinner for kids at Cupid’s Cafe. When they were younger, the shock on their faces at being expected to eat without a fork or receiving dessert first was priceless. The element of randomness in selecting their three courses makes every year a unique adventure. However, the random order and anticipation to see how the kids ordered is the magic of Cupid’s Cafe, a testament to the joy that comes from embracing the unexpected.

The announcement that “today will be the day for Cupid’s Cafe” is always met with cheers and excitement from the kids. This year, Dee managed to select all the food items early in the meal. When dessert arrived, she was handed a spoon and a napkin. The surprise on her face turned into laughter, creating a memory that will be talked about for years to come.

A Menu for Valentine's Dinner for Kids

The playful menu, filled with Valentine-themed words, adds an extra layer of excitement and mystery. Each year, our kids cross their fingers, hoping to skip the fork and enjoy the chance to eat everything with their fingers. The sheer delight on their faces when they successfully navigate their menu choices by complete luck always makes us laugh. It’s these moments that make Cupid’s Cafe more than just a meal; it’s an immersive experience and always creates new treasured family stories.

Printable Cupid’s Cafe Menu

Designing our Cupid’s Cafe menu for an easy Valentine’s dinner for kids has been an absolute blast. Head to Etsy and you can download the menu and cheat sheet to be able to replicate this activity at home.

Now, let’s keep things simple and fun with some easy menu ideas perfectly suited for Cupid’s Cafe. To keep things lively, we suggest including three essentials on your list: a spoon, a fork, and, of course, a napkin for those messy fingers. The rest? Well, that’s where your creativity comes into play. The general pattern is two side dishes, a main dish, a dessert, and a drink.

Once you’ve settled on your menu, add a sprinkle of randomness by assigning each item a number. For instance: 1) Spaghetti, 2) Napkin, 3) Garlic Knots, and so on. Set up a serving area with the food and your cheat sheet. You may want to put your food in number order but make sure the kids don’t see the order.

Cupid's Cafe is Open

After the food is all prepped and ready to serve up, gather the kids over for their Valentine’s dinner for kids at Cupid’s Cafe. Invite them to take a seat around the table and be sure to get into character and thank them for choosing Cupid’s Cafe. Channel your inner restaurant host, talk up the chef’s special, and sprinkle in a bit of thematic restaurant pretending.

Now, here comes the fun part—let the kids take charge! They will choose two numbers for their appetizer, four numbers for their main course, and 2 numbers for their dessert. Everyone will get all eight items by the end of the meal. After the kids have filled out the menu and listed each number option once on their menu gather back up the menus to begin prepping the items they ordered for the appetizer.

A Tradition Beyond Valentine's Day