According to national data, children consume a quarter of their calories from away-from-home foods. When children eat at restaurants they consume twice as many calories compared to eating food prepared at home. Given the national concerns about childhood obesity and nutrition, it is of importance to understand the contributions of restaurant foods to children’s diets. The purpose of this research was to assess the nutritional quality of children's items at America's top 50 restaurant chains. Types of entrees, sides, beverages and desserts were reviewed individually and combos were analyzed for nutritional quality. The usage of colored artificial dyes in these items was explored and is important to consider as there are numerous studies that show dyes can increase hyperactivity and ADHD symptoms in children. Thirty-four restaurants were included in the analysis because they have children’s meals and nutrition information for analysis. Meals were compared against Expert Standards. Out of almost 3,500 meal combinations, 97% did not meet the expert nutrition standards. Menu options from local restaurants were also reviewed and compared to the menus at the national chains. These findings have important implications for families choosing to eat at the top restaurants and for policymakers attempting to slow the tide of childhood obesity.