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Family-friendly eateries
Just because you start breeding doesn't mean you should miss out on the joy of dining out. However, unfortunately many restaurant staff have strong opinions about rusks littering the floor and rambunctious munchkins darting around the tables - and they're not always tactful about expressing themselves.
However, parents don't have to resort to the golden arches to feed their tots. There are eateries out there that like to see cheeky infant grins at their tables and don't mind cleaning up the odd wet wipe or slobber-covered toy. Some of these even actively woo the pre-teen market with entertainment and family-friendly food.
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Le Rendezvous
Manuka
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A winner of state and national accolades for its family-friendly style, this restaurant caters for the kids with children's meals and colouring books to keep little hands occupied. With a menu packed with pastas and pizzas, parents won't be able to wipe the bolognese-smeared smiles off their kids' faces.
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Ablaze Grill + Bar
Moore Park
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Though this restaurant is slick enough to please mum and dad, it's a casual eatery at heart. If you don't mind a mess, the kids will love sinking their baby teeth into the pork ribs, or alternatively there's a menu of child-sized burgers, chicken nuggets and pasta, all served with an ice cream for dessert. The easy proximity to the entertainment quarter means there's plenty of ways for the kids to burn off their sugar high before home time.
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Kam Fook
Bondi Junction
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A word to the wise: get here early or find yourself waiting outside for half an hour with a crowd of people and your increasingly whiney children. Once inside though, the yum cha trolleys trundle past regularly, doling out dumplings and kid-friendly fried treats.
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Seoul Garden
Melbourne
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Kids are always going to play with their food, no matter how much frazzled parents try to stop them. At least at this Korean barbecue restaurant it's positively encouraged. As long as your kids are old enough to have learnt the essential 'burnt skin is bad' rule, they can have a ball chucking bits of meat and vegies on the hotplate.
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Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm Cafe
Elizabeth Town
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Kids love raspberries, being more willing than most adults to brave the spiky bushes to get to the fruit. This raspberry farm offers tours, which will be popular with sticky-fingered kiddies, or alternatively parents can just park their kids at the cafe with a raspberry-laden ice cream.
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Bluewater Grill
Applecross
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With stellar city and river views, this restaurant is a popular fine dining choice for adults. However, parents might appreciate this venue most for their regular kids' cooking classes. Keep an eye out for classes on chocolate snacks, party food and edible decorations around the festive season. Parents aren't left out; while the kids play in the kitchen, mum or dad usually get treated to some quiet time over tea and scones.
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