We try to bring entertainment with us. Our son is very excited about puzzles at the moment, so I usually bring 3-4 puzzles with us to restaurants. In addition, we always ask for bread or something for him to eat right when we sit down. Keeps him busy and happy until the entrees come!

For us, half of the battle is going to the right restaurant at the right time - that doesn't mean it has to be a pizza place! It can also mean that it is a nicer restaurant that we have been to often enough that we know the servers. We also try to go early enough in the evening that our daughter still has the energy/patience for a sit-down mean and, if she does erupt, at least our hubbub isn't disrupting any folks out for a date...