I go to a lot of child-friendly cafes and restaurants, and for me the best are definitely those that have a separate room or area where the kids can play. I have zero issue with being segregated from my fellow diners. It's not you, it's me… and my noisy three year old.
I'd heard about
Kerry Street Pear Tree cafe in Hamilton Hill from a fellow writer. I'd scanned the website before going, which also said there was a play area, so off I went with my two children after their swimming lessons. But when we get there I couldn't find a play area.
Kerry Street Pear Tree Cafe has some lovely exterior artwork
Uh oh! Not a toy or kids book in sight. While the interior of the café was truly lovely, with light, airy furnishings and various flora motifs, I didn't really want to disturb the other diners. So I asked the friendly lady behind the counter and it turns out it's at the back, in another section, well away from the people without children who don't want to hear my child singing 'TNT' at the top of her lungs.
The cafe has outdoor and indoor dining
Before we headed out there I ordered a cappuccino and the Big Breakfast for my toddler and myself to share, plus a babycinno. They don't have a kids' menu, but there are child friendly options such as toasties and eggs on toast. They serve brunch from 6:30am to 12:30pm and the lunch menu kicks in at 11:30am.
Inside the main cafe area
You can choose from 'traditional' breakfast items, such as bacon and eggs and vegetarian breakfasts, or opt for something a little different, such as wood fire eggs or scotch fillet steak and eggs. Lunch is a hybrid of delicious sounding salads, woodfire ciabatta sandwiches and paninis. They also serve pizzas after 4pm to 8pm from Wednesday to Saturday and from 12pm to 8pm on Sundays. You can view the full menu
here.
Order a coffee or stay for brunch
The back area is located through a hallway. We had barely chosen a seat and looked at the large selection of toys before the coffee was served, with the Big Breakfast served shortly after.
The Big Breakfast
Did I say Big? It was HUGE! There was more than enough for myself and a toddler who eats like a sparrow. And I mean more than enough, as in neither of us finished what was on our plates.
My daily fuel
Let me start with the sour dough toast because it was absolutely delicious! It was a teeny bit burnt on the bottom, but that's OK with me. It was crunchy on the outside and lovely and soft in the middle.
The children's play area
The hash brown was interesting – I assume it was homemade as it certainly didn't look like any hash brown I'd seen before. The wood-fire baked beans were my favourite part and were far better tasting than anything you get in a can. There was a huge Cumberland sausage, fluffy scrambled eggs and a serve of bacon, which my daughter ate most of.
The coffee was quite delightful, with my daughter's babyccino served with a homemade marshmallow. Unfortunately neither of us were partial to this, but that's probably just because we are so used to eating the processed pink and white bundles of sugar that come in a packet from the supermarket.
The back area of the cafe
Kerry Street Pear Tree didn't disappoint. Apart from the absence of a dedicated kids' menu, it ticks all the boxes for me for an outing with my children and there is no doubt we will be back soon. If you don't have children, check it out for the great coffee and delicious homemade, woodfire menu options.
