If you’ve got children, you’ll know one thing to be true – taking them out to a restaurant can be a 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 spelled 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 real quick. Or, you can skip the hassle and keep reading on.

Burger Night

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

Grill’d has a big variety of Mini Me Meals – including vego options. Each one includes a mini burger or chicken bites, a mini serve of chips and water or juice. Best of all, they’re packed in a cute box with a 3D puzzle.

At TGI Fridays, kids eat free between Monday and Thursday. Yep, for every full price adult main meal purchased, you can score one free kids’ meal. Discover more >

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.

Zitto is known for its well-priced menu and the kid’s section is no exception! We recommend the monkey pancakes or the waffles. The food is made fun at Zitto and is affordably priced. Check out their full menu here >

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.

St Louis House of Fine Ice Cream & Dessert lets you savour a decadent white chocolate mocha, while the kids get thoroughly sugared up with waffles, crepes, chocolate fondue, sundaes and more. It’s the ultimate family-friendly dessert destination.