Love Grub, Alexandria

Love Grub sits cutely on a laneway corner with a row of garden beds and patch of grass strewn with assorted toys. It's a lovely spot on a sunny day with plenty of charming and cheery inner city grunge from the waiters to the clientele to the street art backdrop.

The menu is long and interesting with a Japanese flavour. The chef lived in Japan for years and does a 'Japas' menu- Japanese tapas. We were there for breakfast and while I can't rave about the food, it was decent and the coffee was good.

I would go back for the space and green environs. Stella had a great time watering the veggie gardens, inspecting the worm farms and taking the toys for a spin. They did a kids size smoothie for her in a big plastic cup with a straw and there are high chairs.

Obviously lots of space on the 'green' for buggys. You might feel a little nervous if you've got a toddler that likes to wander off though as the cafe is on busy Mitchell Road. Go to the toilet before you get there.

Open daily and evenings on the weekend. Details, including menu, on their website.

Love Grub
38 Mitchell Road Alexandria 2015

http://lovegrub.com.au/

Nancy's Cafe, Randwick North

Nancy's Cafe is my favourite on the bike shop strip at the beginning of Clovelly Road. It's a typical Sydney cafe with Continental overtones from the Portuguese flag and colonnade wall mural to the menu items such as 'Dutch'/'Persian'/'Turkish' eggs and 'Paris' fresh juice.

The food is fresh, cooked to order. Plenty of tantalising all day breakfast options, including the highly regarded bacon and egg roll which is given a garlicky twist with a smothering of aioli. The cake selection is better than most, with interesting choices such as Hummingbird cake. Coffee is expertly made - Toby's Estate, and Brasserie Bread loaves and takeaway meals such as lasagne and fresh soups fill the counter display.

Nancy's can get a bit cramped for space so best leave the buggy outside.  Not sure if there is a toilet let alone a change table but there a couple of high chairs, a box of toys, and kiddie size shakes and smoothies. Staff are friendly, and generous with the babycino marshmallows.  We got a couple with our coffees which was a nice touch.

It's also one of the few cafes in the area open after 3pm.

Nancy's Cafe and Catering
17 Clovelly Rd

Randwick NSW 2031

Rosebud Restaurant, Rozelle

Impressed by Rosebud today, a big, airy and light-filled corner cafe/restaurant opposite Rozelle's buzzy vintage weekend markets on Darling Street.

We only sampled drinks on this occasion but will definitely return for the delectable sounding middle eastern inspired menu. According to Rosebud's website the new chef has cooked in Sean's Kitchen, Berowra Waters Inn and the old Level 41.

Breakfast items include French toast pan fried raisin brioche w sour cherries, mascarpone, toasted almonds and maple syrup, and slow cooked beans w marinated feta, speck toast, avocado salsa and; rocket. Lunch welcomes in seared lamb tenderloin w radicchio, pumpkin, couscous and sheep’s milk yoghurt and grilled spatchcock w sweet potato two ways, rose and; pomegranate dressing.

The drinks menu was interesting which is always a good sign. I had some Egyptian mint tea but was tempted by the Turkish Delight smoothie, a blend of fresh strawberries, rose syrup, milk and ice cream.

The specials are chalked up on a blackboard wall and the staff are all smiles and help.

The website mentions kids meals and they happily provided Stella with a kids size milkshake in a paper cup with straw. There were several family groups with bubs in prams and at least four high chairs. There is also a change table in the loo.

Another drawcard is Belle Fleur chocolates a few doors away. Pop in for a grapefruit and vodka or strawberry and balsamic vinegar macaroon. The chocolates are sublime with combinations such as dark chocolate and lemon myrtle/mandarin/raspberry or white chocolate and tahini/lime and cointreau.

If you can stand the queue, Adriano Zumbo's new Chocolat patisserie is down the road on Terry Street. We weren't up for it - this time.

Rosebud Bar & Restaurant
654 Darling St. Rozelle

http://www.rosebudsydney.com.au/


Open seven days for breakfast and lunch. Dinner Wednesday - Saturday from 6pm.

Baker Friday, Bondi Junction

Baker Friday is a very delicious bakery cafe tucked away down a little mall next to Westfield. The head baker/owner did a stint at Bourke Street Bakery, and it shows. Similar menu and set up, but a little different and more interesting.

The pear and walnut danish is the best danish pastry I have ever had. It is the perfect balance of pastry, frangipane, poached pear and walnut. I haven't been able to get past it. The quince tart also looked amazing as did the lemon scones, carrot cake and muffins. The almond croissant and ham and jarlsberg croissant sampled by Paul also come highly praised.

The cafe is roomy for prams and they do an average babycino (ie not enough froth). However I didn't spot a high chair. Coffee is decent. Pick up a loaf of sourdough for only $5 - a bargain it seems these days. Other menu items include pizzas, soups, pies and sausage rolls. If I can get past the sweets, I might get to try one some day.

Baker Friday is open Monday - Saturday, early til 4ish.
Shop 9, 237 Oxford St

Hugo's at Manly Wharf

We kind of missed the Hugo's buzz a few years back when it was big in the Cross. However we caught up recently with a lunchtime visit to Hugo's at Manly wharf. We took visiting brother in law from the UK and he and Stella were very impressed with the ferry ride out there.

The location is superb with uninterrupted views over the cove, but also intimate and cosy with indoor heaters and a lively atmosphere. The clientele was pretty diverse with several families, young funky things and older groups celebrating birthdays or just enjoying a tete a tete with a glass of rose. The waiters are strictly Gen Y but attentive and helpful.

There is a kids menu however the starters and pizzas were good for sharing and Stella tucked in with us. The calamari was lovely as were the pizzas; from simple margherita to the meatball and ham with balsamic reduction. All the food coming out of the kitchen looked tasty, especially the desserts. Mains other than pizzas are a little pricey but pizza prices standard for that quality.

There is not alot of buggy space but waiters will help you find some. Kids are offered colouring in on their own clipboard with pencils. There was no change table, just standard loos befitting a bar restaurant.

Verdict: Hugo's at Manly is a good place to take an overseas visitor with its views and Sydney glam element, especially if you've got kids in tow.

www.hugos.com.au/manly

The Centennial Hotel

It's been a long time I know. And this post doesn't even have a pic - what poor form. But please read on as I think this place is worth a visit.

The Centennial Hotel is a pub on Oxford Street, opposite Centennial Park. A bit middle of nowhere but that means relatively easy parking. We were a birthday party of 10 including a newborn baby in a pram on a rainy Sunday afternoon at the unconventional hour of 3pm.

The large modern dining room is out the back and features an open kitchen, a wall of glass windows and wood panelling. It was buzzing, and the clientele ranged from big groups with kids to couples.

The Italian inspired food was surprisingly good. We sampled a range of antipasti including zucchini fritters, whitebait, fried artichoke and grilled haloumi. The blue swimmer crab linguine with chilli was fresh and light but a little spicy for some. The big plate salads, fish and wood-fired pizzas all looked a treat.

Stella enjoyed a margarita pizza off the children's menu as well as samples from everyone else's meals.

The Centennial has high chairs, a good children's menu and crayons for drawing on the paper table cloths. What's nice about this place is that its child friendliness doesn't compromise an elegant sophisticated dining experience.

Prices are average restaurant prices.

88 Oxford Street Woollahra

http://www.centennialhotel.com.au/

Love Supreme, Paddington

Love Supreme is touted as one of Sydney’s best pizza digs, however I beg to differ. It’s like an Aussie foodie’s take on pizza with wonderful well thought out toppings on a less than average base.

To me the essence of a good pizza is a light, slightly puffy, slightly salty base. Love Supreme’s base is flat as a pancake and inconsequential to the toppings rather than complementary. It’s more tarte fine, than rustic pizza.

The space is great and they did have a high chair. However there is nothing else to make this place child friendly. I guess what really left a bitter taste was that our drinks didn’t arrive even though we were the first people there. I think that was down to a disorganised drinks dude too Paddington to care.

The small pizzas were very small – too small for one person (perhaps this was the kids’ menu?!). We had a tasty salad and white anchovies but generally there was little value for money.

www.lovesupreme.com.au

Java Restaurant, Randwick

Java is a little dynamo of a casual eatery on Avoca Street in Randwick serving up fiery flavoursome Indonesian food. It is no frills, cheap and oh so tasty. The service is smiley and the waiters always make you feel welcome even though they know your toddler is about to make an almighty mess.

We have a bit of history at Java. We ate there when Stella was in utero and overdue. And we ate there when she was in hospital down the road, sneaking her out of the ward for some beef rendang before bedtime. Each time we go, we wonder why we haven't gone back sooner.

It's hard to get past re-ordering our favourite dishes. They are: the trusty beef rendang, silky eggplant belado, and kankung terasi, stir fried water spinach/morning glory with chilli. The lemongrass fried chicken is finger licking good and last night we tried the gado gado; egg, tofu, steamed vegies, and iceberg lettuce topped with a sweet peanut sauce and prawn crackers.

The coconut juice with slithers of slimy young coconut compliments the food beautifully. Desserts are interesting and always worth a try; shaved ice concoctions, ice creams and super sweet black sticky rice.

Java is open from 5pm (perhaps earlier) and has a high chair. Not alot of space for prams but this wouldn't be a problem if you went early. There are no toys/books/crayons but the food is quick and the waiters will bend over backwards to make your meal enjoyable, providing straws, plastic cups and lots of smiles.

It's BYO and there is a bottle shop next door.

Selamat jalan!

Java Restaurant - 151 Avoca StreetRandwick NSW 2031

(02) 9398 6990

Ruby's Diner, Waverley

This small roadside diner is more Eastern Suburbs cafe than anything else; and that is a good thing. The food is fresh and expertly cooked, the coffee is Single Origin and the place is as kid friendly as it probably can be given it's small size and location.

That is to say it's on a busy road and the interior is narrow so no room for prams inside. But it's fine for the walking toddler so long as they don't need a high chair (there are none).

There is a kids' dinner menu which is fun and a little gourmet; home made chicken nuggets (kind of mini schnitzels) and fries ($7), spaghetti with shaved parmesan and butter ($5). The kids' lunch includes cheese on toast but I'm not sure why they serve it on white sliced bread and not one of the other great bread options on the regular menu.

For dinner, the tables are covered in butcher's paper with pencils supplied. There are no baby change facilites and be warned there is long spiral staircase to descend to get to the toilet.

The food for grown ups is very tasty, generous, freshly cooked and all mains are under $20. Three of us sampled the beef burger with pickles, vintage cheddar and beetroot (home cooked) served on ciabatta triangles. The salt and pepper squid was accompanied by a zingy lime aioli and gorgeous little cucumber salad with an Asian dressing. One of our party also had chicken breast with corn and buttermilk which was also enjoyed.

The dessert menu included vanilla pannacotta, affogato and waffles with raspberry coulis but none of us could fit it in and the kids were starting to lose it.

Dinner service was alot happier than I've experienced there during the day.

Ruby's Diner is open for dinner in summer only; Thursday - Saturday night from 6pm and is BYO ($2 corkage pp).

173 Bronte Road, Waverley

Lots of online reviews including Time Out rating it one of Sydney's top five burger joints.

http://www.timeoutsydney.com.au/venue/restaurant/modernaustralian/rubys-diner.aspx

Abdul's, Surry Hills

Abdul's is a Sydney institution; a no frills Lebanese take away and sit-in on the corner of Elizabeth and Cleveland Streets. We recently enjoyed an early dinner for a friend's birthday with 9 children under 6 years.

The kids loved the cushion room and food, plate after plate of Lebanese delights including felafel, babaganoush, blackeyed beans, lady's fingers, chicken kebabs, kofte and stacks of flat bread.

The owners were relaxed and left us to our own mess, coming in only to serve up some thick black Lebanese coffee and sweets.

The banquet was only $25 and it was BYO. What more could you want for a big group dinner with toddlers? Ok, maybe a playground.

563 Elizabeth Street Surry Hills

No website but all over the web.

Pilu Kiosk, Freshwater

We fancied a beach excursion a bit further than Clovelly so braved Military Road to get to Freshwater Beach, next to Manly. I had read that the hatted Pilu restaurant was now doing a smart little kiosk.

Freshwater was a breath of fresh air, a bit like a holiday spot up the coast, fewer people, more green, less concrete.

The Kiosk is a quaint little building on a bit of decking adjoining Pilu restaurant. Like the restaurant, the fare is Italian. It 's one of the few places I've found those Sicilian delights - sfogliatelle. They also do a Nutella pastry, home baked muffins and a nice looking selection of sandwiches including a roast suckling pork, apple and mustard one.

Stella had a great ham and cheese toastie called a Mantanella in which the 'toast' was a flaky Burek style pastry. Coffee was good, a roast called 'Florence'.

Not alot of space for prams, no high chairs and no toilets, but the amenities nearby, including two playgrounds, decent public toilets and a gorgeous beach more than make up for it.

The location of this little gem makes it a great place to take visitors to Sydney or even just refresh your own faith in our great metropolis by the sea.

The restaurant menu looked amazing and we will be back sans l'enfant.

http://www.piluatfreshwater.com.au/index.html

http://yourrestaurants.com.au/guide/pilu_kiosk/

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Deus Ex Machina, Camperdown

Heard rave reviews about this cafe cum moto bike shop so thought we'd make a dash over to Camperdown. We weren't disappointed with the space or sumptuous breakfasts.

Who would have thought a shop dedicated to two wheels could spawn a great cafe. It's big, airy and industrial, appropriate for its stinky Parramatta Rd location. Reminded me of a Belgian/Dutch cafe, big and functional with communal tables but with a distinct 'cool' factor with the artworks and buzzy atmosphere. We sat next to a big retro 2 metre tall speaker amplifying ambient music from a little iPod plugged in at the side.

Breakfast and lunch menus are displayed large format on blackboards behind the counter. Customers order and pay upfront - a bonus for people with kids who like to make a quick exit should things go pear-shaped.

We sampled the highly regarded Boston baked beans with AC Butchery sausages, poached egg (a little hard) and a side of crispy bacon; creamy scrambled eggs with dill speckled Tassie gravalax on toasted brioche accompanied by perfectly dressed watercress, and a bit of toast and jam for Stella.

Huge serves, fresh and very tasty. The other dishes coming out of the kitchen looked great too: strawberry crepes with burnt orange butter curd; prosciutto, asparagus and poached eggs, and classy looking pastries, made in-house by Chef Pierre.

Coffee was good and the babycino came in a little paper espresso cup which is handy for two year olds with butter fingers.

Deus is open for Italian-inpired dinners. Anyone tried it?

Parking was relatively easy and there is plenty of space and easy access for prams. Weird thing was that although they didn't have high chairs, the loo had a baby change table.

The shop next door was more interesting than expected, probably helped by the great sale they had on. I scored Stella a great little pair of batik Thai fisherman's pants for $10.

http://www.deus.com.au/