Family Friendly Dining in Canberra?

+1 Magpies Kippax
+1 Pide House Macquarie

If you don’t want to go as far as the helllenic club, the you probably would not want to go to the Rendseverous Cafe in Queanbeyan. Which would be a pity as it is an excellent restaraunt. I’ve seen many a family in there having a meal. They have a great meny, good prices, excellent customer service and plenty of space. It is everything that the Central Cafe used to be and more.

My kids, roughly the same age, love Chinese food, especially dumplings. So yum cha is a great hit. The Dumpling Inn Aranda (they like kids, usually provide a lollipop or two) and Shanghai Dumpling(?) at UniLodge. Most of the asian restaurants in Dickson (except for Thai, which can be quite spicy. Oh, and Sichuan).

Of course, they dont get special kids food but its all shared food, so they can eat as much as they want. Is there a kid that wont eat honey prawns (allergies excepted)? And there wont be supply playgrounds or colouring in books, although there are often fish tanks.

And these arent places where you hang around after dinner and enjoy a port.

The vegie place in the corner in Dickson has been remodelled. It is still good for families, but they have taken away the toyboxes etc that they used to have out.

+1 for the magpies, and I usually detest clubs. The food is basic, filling and well-priced. Kids get a free lemonade, too.

For something less club-like, the Pide House in Macquarie is good, especially if you are with others and can book out the back room. Dumpling Inn (also Macquarie) is pretty good. Both places like kids. They don’t have a kids menu, but there is more than enough choice. The Pide House didn’t make you order an extra meal for young children – but we haven’t been there for a while now. Bella Vista is also very good. It is pricier as you will have to order for the kids, but the staff are delightful and very accomodating. (We’ve been admonished for going without them!)

In Dickson, that Food Court Family Restaurant is not soemthing I would ever go back to. Better places to try are most of the smaller restaurants. The Noodle House is always good (you can arder to avoid chilli), as is the vego place down the road in that little square. Some people like Zefferelli’s, but I’ll let others comment on that.

Getting fancier, Toscellini’s in Civic has always been great, making children always feel very welcome. There’s no kids menu and it isn’t cheap, and I suspect that part of the attraction is that young families eat earlier, before the rush.

I remember loving the Pancake Parlour when I was a kid but it’s pretty expensive.

da Nunzio Caffe Bar Ristorante – in gungahlin. It is on the lake, and has paper tablecloths and pencils for the kids. And lovely pizza with prosciutto and rocket etc.

Indian at Ngunnawal shops is also good, and the nugunnawal playground across the carpark is good also.

Raiders Club at Gungahlin on hibberson st does good fish and chips and has a tiny playroom.

Magies Sports Club at Kippax. Nice food but a club….nice selections for kids and not too expensive.

West Belconnen Leagues (Raiders) club at Kippax has a kids menu with more than nuggets/chips, and a kids activity room (includes video game consoles for older kids).

Labor Club at Belconnen has recently been refurbished, but I haven’t been there since the renovation so can’t comment on the new facilities.

I wouldn’t recommend Gunghalin Lakes due to their very average kids menu, long table waiting time and average food quality.

The Food Court Family Restaurant in Dickson is good value. You can eat all you want and the kiddies are catered for as well.