If you’ve got children, you’ll know that taking them out to a restaurant can be hit or miss. Not every eatery accommodates little ones, so when you find one with great food that does, it’s almost like discovering a gold mine.

Sorting the kid-friendly restaurants from the rest can be tricky, but there are a few rules of thumb that can help to guide you. Firstly, check the menu. If they’ve got a section separated out just for kiddos, you can be sure they’re family-friendly. Another hint? If the venue has high-chairs, a play area or something to keep your kids occupied at the table (like colouring kits), you’re sorted. If all else fails, a quick call or even an Instagram DM can sort it out for you quickly. Or, you can skip the hassle and keep reading on.

Burger night

Possibly the easiest sell, getting the kids to sign off on burgers shouldn’t be hard. Check the menu before you head out to make sure their favourites – from sliders and fries to crispy nuggets – are covered. Some places also have mini-me desserts if you’re feeling extra generous.

Betty’s Burgers Nippers menu has plenty of children’s classics. To top it off, treat them to a Kids Concretes. For $5 they’ll get a frozen custard ice-cream topped with their choice of M&Ms, Maltesers or meringue mix-ins.

Grill’d has a big variety of Mini Me burger packs, including vego options. Each pack includes a mini burger, a mini serve of chips, tomato sauce for dipping, and water or juice. Best of all, they’re packed in a cute box with a 3D puzzle.

The Sporting Globe has free kids’ meals all day on Monday and Tuesday. Even better, kids can grab a free ice-cream sundae or a mini football with each meal purchased! What a winner.

At The Bavarian kids eat for free on Sunday nights. Little ones aged 12 and under can order a free meal from the Kinder Menu for every adult meal ordered. Choices include crispy mac and cheese balls with smoked bacon, a mini cheese burger with fries, chicken schnitzel with mash or the Kids Grazing Plate. And their Haus Made Gelato is only $3 per scoop.

Around the world

Let your little ones enjoy the tastes of the world without breaking the bank on flights! Mexican is a great choice if you’re keen to keep the menu healthy. Italian is one of the most kid-friendly cuisines on the planet, and sushi is a good one to introduce kids to something new but delicious.

Guzman Y Gomez serves up kid-friendly Mexican with GYG’s Little Guy burritos, pint-sized tacos and kids’ nachos. Everything on the menu is low on spice, but big on flavour.

Sushi Hub is a crowd favourite when it comes to Japanese catering for little tummies. Bite sized maki rolls make for a healthy and delicious food option, and fussy eaters can pick from tonnes of flavour combos. Worried that raw fish will cause noses to scrunch? Opt for yummy veggie tempura or crispy chicken options instead.

Kid-friendly cafes

If your kids tend to be fussy about their food, a cafe can be a stress-free option. Many offer all-day breakfast menus, which are easy to mix and match from. Junior isn’t feeling bacon today? More often than not it’ll be no problem to swap it out for another side. Cafes are also great for light supper options. See: anything on toast.

Café 63 is known for its well-priced menu and the kid’s section is no exception! We recommend the Minnie Mouse pancakes or the Sail Boat (bacon, sausages and toast). The food is made fun at Café 63 and is affordably priced from just $6.

The Coffee Club has a huge kids’ menu. Better yet, the menu features helpful icons that indicate toddler friendly options. We can’t go past the rainbow pancakes or the Mini Bene.

Table 26 has newly opened and is enticing families with their kid-friendly menu, and their gated play area. Parents, sit back, relax and enjoy your meal while your kids safely explore and play in sight.

Sweet Treats

Keen on an after-dinner sugar hit? There are options galore. Whether you dine in somewhere with both savoury and sweet menus, or head straight for dessert, the kids will go wild over pancakes, gelato and cake. Some restaurants offer sweet menus especially for kiddos, so you can rest easy knowing they won’t overindulge.

San Churro lets you savour a decadent Thick Spanish Hot Chocolate, while the kids get thoroughly sugared up with waffles, churros, chocolate fondue, sundaes and more. It’s the ultimate family-friendly dessert destination.

Gelatissimo has bite-sized bambino gelato cones filled with delicious gelato and topped with chocolate. The perfect post-dinner treat (after they’ve eaten all their veggies of course!).