EATING OUT in Adelaide
There are LOTS OF OPTIONS for families eating out in Adelaide – from a GARDEN CAFE offering up colossal SUNDAES to a specialist spaghetti restaurant SERVING tiered trays of PASTA.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA IS HOME to some of the best restaurants in the world, which those who have managed to nab a hot ticket to a Tasting Australia event can attest. We’ve rounded up some of the best eating experiences in Adelaide from those that will suit the pickiest of palates to pubs with excellent play areas and even cosy igloos that have bubbled up just metres from Glenelg Beach.
THE MOSELEY IGLOOS
Tweens will especially love these cosy dining domes that pop up in winter at The Moseley Bar & Kitchen, which is located a stone’s throw from Glenelg Beach. The artfully curated igloos feature groovy chairs, blankets and throws arranged around a cosy fireplace that would look great on the ’gram. Invite the extended family to hibernate in a hired igloo (available for 2.5-hour-long sessions for up to eight people), which includes kiddie-friendly menu options such as ham and pineapple pizza. themoseley.com.au
AFRICOLA
Africola is a vibe. And it’s one that gastronomically inclined families will love. Dining in this loud and chaotic East End Adelaide restaurant, which was modelled on a South African shebeen (read: a once disreputable unlicensed drinking establishment), is as heart-warming as it is hectic. Keep the entire clan happy at the hatted restaurant with rounds of crisp chicken skin ‘tea sandwiches’, peri peri chicken, whole roasted cauliflower, housemade hummus and flatbreads. africola.com.au
PARKSIDE HOTEL
Parents who declare dinner tables to be a device-free zone will love the double-sided kids’ menu at Bob & Olive’s Garden at the Parkside Hotel, which includes a colouring sheet and is delivered with a set of pencils. The renovated hotel, originally built in 1858, has indoor and outdoor areas and includes an enclosed all-weather kids’ play area replete with a cubby house. All kids’ meals are $15 and include a colossal ice-cream sundae. parksidehotel.com.au
SPAGHETTI ISLAND
Change down a few gears and into holiday mode at this quirky spaghetti temple that caters to families with young children particularly well. Kiddies are welcome to make a racket in the butter-yellow dining room at Spaghetti Island, especially when the pasta arrives in spectacular fashion atop a three-tiered party platter. Choose between 12 different pastas including spaghetti crab, ham, cheese and peas, and bikini Bolognese (made with lean chicken and turkey). spaghettiisland.com.au
BEACH BUM
Hop on the train to Hove bound for Beach Bum where you will find a menu that offers an amalgam of Japanese, Hawaiian and Mexican cuisines. Choose between pork belly tacos with Tabasco mayo, chicken katsu, Mexican beach balls, pineapple pork ribs and poke bowls. Adults will appreciate the shaved-ice cocktails and the fact kids under 12 eat free on Sundays at the beachside restaurant, which is near to an Insta-famous 200-metre-long jetty. beachbum.net.au
CANCUN COWBOYS
In the northern suburb of Holden Hill, a quick 20 minutes from the CBD, Tex-Mex favourite Cancun Cowboys has the kind of menu that kids love to love, with piled high nachos, tacos, loaded fries, sloppy joes and mac and cheese all making an appearance. You will love the relaxed vibe of it all, the frozen margaritas and the pièce de résistance fact that kids eat for free on Sundays at lunch and dinner. cancuncowboys.com
BLOOM
This former tram barn in the inner-city suburb of Thebarton has been transformed into an airy and bright cafe with a sprawling green lawn that is perfect for little ones to run themselves to a standstill on. The all-day menu is filled with perfect breakfastbrunch-lunch options, with an extra column of share plates, and a dedicated kids’ menu. Dishes utilise fresh local produce, with lots of gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian and vegan options. 38bloom.com.au/bloomcafe
TONY TOMATOES
Lauro Siliquini and Enzo Verdino are the duo behind Spaghetti Island. And their cult following also extends to Italian eateries Ruby Red Flamingo, Coccobello, L’Italy and Tony Tomatoes. Pizza devotees will love Tony Tomatoes, which wows little people and their parents with options such as the Tony Pepperoni and the classic Margherita. tonytomatoes.com.au
THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE KITCHEN
It pays to have a hot pancake spot in your list of commendable eateries. And now that The Original Pancake Kitchen has four outlets around Adelaide, the call for pancakes at this institution should probably be considered compulsory when visiting the SA capital. Prime your palate for a good time with rounds of pillowy Hedgehog pancakes smothered in chocolate fudge or Mozzarella pancakes with fried eggs and ham. theoriginalpancakekitchen.com.au