So you want to go out for a nice meal but you’ve got a pram, an energetic toddler and a fussy child in tow. You’ve been to your local pub a dozen times and that cafe with the corner play area just won’t hit the spot. The good news is a growing number of Adelaide restaurants are catering to families by offering kid-friendly meals, outdoor space for wriggly worms and a more relaxed, welcoming atmosphere for diners big and small. From a fine dining restaurant offering “kid degustations”, to a slice of Spain in the Hills – here are the 10 most delicious venues to take the kids.
Nearby, there’s an Italy-meets-Australia party going on at Pizzateca. The traditional Neapolitan style pizzas please all ages – simpler flavours include traditional margherita and “bambini” (ham with mozzarella). They also serve up traditional meat skewers from the Abruzzo region, called arrosticini, and gelato. The vibe is fun and relaxed, so you won’t be stressing about the kids making noise, and there’s some grass to roam. 319 Chalk Hill Rd, McLaren Vale; pizza-teca.com
The Hills destination welcomes all types, from sophisticated couples lingering over a long lunch, to on-the-go families whose children will happily munch from their very own menu before playing in the big garden out the back. The “El Nino” menu includes Spanish pizza and crumbed chicken with chips, though older kids might enjoy some of the more traditional tapas such as mushroom and cheese croquetas and patatas bravas (minus the chilli jam) – and churros, of course. It’s open for breakfast, too. 100C Mount Barker Rd, Hahndorf; comidahahndorf.com.au
Perhaps leave the pram in the car for this one, depending on your table, but don’t shy away from the flavour-packed Afghan fare at this friendly, family-run restaurant. It’s casual, colourful, and boasts some of the best share-style food around town – even food queen Nigella Lawson dined there on her most recent visit to SA. The celebratory rice dish, Kabuli Palaw and the dumplings are among the favourites for younger foodies. 124B Henley Beach Rd, Torrensville; parwana.com.au
During the summer holidays, Kuti does a roaring trade, sending out fish and chips, coffee and assorted ice creams from a takeaway window. Outdoor tables shelter in the lee of the building, while the main dining area is an enclosed deck overlooking the frothing waves of Goolwa Beach. This is casual with a capital C, with food to appeal to foodies young and old. Finish with a Magnum ice cream to take down to the sand. Main Beach Carpark, Beach Rd, Goolwa Beach; goolwapipico.com
Spacious dining area – check. Expanse of lawn where kids can’t break anything – check. Outdoor tables where parents can enjoy a bevvy while watching their kids on said lawn – check. There’s many reasons why Lost Phoenix Farm is a family winner. The destination diner on a 40-acre property, brought to life by MasterChef-star-turned-restaurateur Andre Ursini and top Adelaide chef Will Doak, is perfect for both prams and busy bodies. Food is contemporary but unpretentious, and a kids’ menu includes mac ‘n’ cheese, chicken or fish and chips and toasties. 34 Mont Rosa Rd, Hindmarsh Valley; lostphoenixfarm.com.au
A perennial local favourite, The Victory is a pub with food that steps things up a notch – and that includes the seasonal children’s menu. Tiny tots can get their hands on the house favourite, Myponga Beach salt and pepper squid, with chips and salad. SA fish can be grilled, battered or crumbed. There’s also a mini Victory burger, steak, and even gluten-free spaghetti, with nothing over $14. The patch of lawn with beach views is a bonus. Old Sellicks Hill Rd, Sellicks Hill; victoryhotel.com.au
One for celebratory occasions. Lot 100 is a restaurant, a cellar door and a distillery, so needless to say there’s something for all ages to enjoy. But this is about the kids – the outdoor space, of course, is ideal for curious capers. Food-wise, it’s the courtyard dining you’re after – groups of four or more can enjoy shared antipasto, a seasonal plate, wood oven pizzas, sides and dessert, for $55 for adults and $25 for children. 68 Chambers Rd, Hay Valley; lot100.com.au
You’re likely to spot a bunch of families here, so there’s no feeling out of place. Tables are spread across three zones: inside close to the kitchen and bar, a deck with sliding plastic blinds and a paved courtyard outside that caters for those wanting a stopgap bowl of wedges rather than anything more substantial. The menu has something for everyone, from burgers to a “kid’s platter” of hummus, cucumber, carrot, ham, crackers and cheese. 94 Barrage Rd, Goolwa; bomboragoolwa.com
One of the finer dining establishments to make this list, the McLaren Vale destination restaurant offers a three-course kid’s menu for $35. While mum and dad savour the contemporary cooking of chef Wayne Leeson, picky eaters will be catered for with a housemade bread roll with butter, a choice of mains including pasta, fish or chicken with chips, and an iceblock. It’s a quiet, elegant setting inside, but there’s a patch of grass and citrus trees for kids to stretch their legs out the back. 104 Ingoldby Rd, McLaren Flat; currantshed.com.au
So new it didn’t make the 2022 delicious. 100, but we’ve got our eyes on this revamped beach club, run by a crew with serious hospo experience. It’s the relaxed setting and good-food-doesn’t-have-to-be-fancy approach that make this new-age clubhouse such an appealing destination for a Sunday afternoon. That, and the setting, which opens out to a deck, then an expanse of lawn, before a ramp leads down to Silver Sands beach. A “Nipper’s Menu” includes fish, calamari, nuggets and pasta, also available as a meal with a drink and housemade smiley cookie. Norman Rd, Aldinga Beach; @silversandsbeachclub
