Kids eat free and family deals in the Tri-Cities

Feeding a family out on a weeknight adds up fast. A handful of Tri-Cities restaurants knock the kids' meal off the bill on set nights, and two local history museums let you in free. Here is what each business currently lists on its own website. Every offer below repeats weekly or is ongoing, so check with the business before you go.

Tuesday: The Walrus Room, Geneva

The Walrus Room, the supper club at 415 W. State St., lists Kids Eat Free on Tuesdays with the purchase of an adult entree. Kids entrees come with a drink, a side, and a cookie or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Tuesday is also half-price bottles of wine night. Tuesday hours are 5 to 9 p.m., and reservations are by phone at 630-881-7557.

Thursday: Rookies in St. Charles and Geneva

Rookies St. Charles, 1545 W. Main St., runs Kids Eat Free Thursdays: one free kids meal per adult entree purchased, with a $14 minimum. The events calendar lists it from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Rookies Geneva, 1996 S. Kirk Rd., lists the same Kids Eat Free Thursdays on its calendar, also 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Geneva listing does not spell out the fine print, so ask your server how it works there.

Any visit: The James, Geneva

The James at 317 S. 3rd St. says on its kids menu page that kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entree. Choices include a mini burger, grilled cheese, mac and cheese, or chicken nuggets with fries or chef-made chips. The page does not list day or time limits, so call 630-262-1317 to confirm.

Free history for the whole family

The Geneva History Museum on Third Street in downtown Geneva is free on Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. On other days admission is $5 for adults and $2 for ages 3-10, students and seniors 65+. Kids can try the hands-on architecture exhibit, where they design a room and build with brick patterns.

In Batavia, general admission to the Batavia Depot Museum is always free. The museum is inside the restored 1854 railroad depot and has seven permanent exhibits on Batavia history. Hours from March through December are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 2 to 4 p.m., plus weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be closed Nov. 24-28. The museum also takes part in Museums for All, which offers free admission for up to four people with a SNAP EBT card.

Coffee and pizza deals

Maple Leaf Coffee House at 1 W. Illinois St. in St. Charles runs a different special each weekday. Tuesday brings free drip coffee with a food purchase, Wednesday is buy one get one free on drinks, and Friday is 99-cent drip coffee in a mug.

Riverside Pizza & Pub at 142 W. Wilson St. in Batavia lists half-off pizza on Tuesdays (dine-in only, no coupons, pizza of the month excluded). Half-off pasta is Wednesday and half-off wings is Thursday.

Before you go

Restaurants change specials without much notice. Call ahead or check the business's website the day you plan to go, and mention the offer when you order. Know a family deal in St. Charles, Geneva or Batavia we missed? Send it our way.