Image courtesy of Jamie’s Italian
Summer’s well and truly here, and that can only mean one thing… school holidays! If you’re in town this month, you’re going to need to take the sprogs somewhere, if only for your own sanity. Here are three family-friendly eateries to try out when you’re all in need of a day out.
Beef and Liberty
(Kids’ menu, highchairs, changing facilities)
Image courtesy of Beef and Liberty
A junk-free take on good old junk food classics, Beef and Liberty are a good, solid, family-friendly choice, with branches in Wan Chai, and what is probably THE ultimate kid-centric dining destination, Stanley Plaza. Burgers are made from Tasmanian grass-fed beef, and there are plenty of veggie choices on the menu, making this a high-flavour, low-parental guilt option.
For $88, kids under 14 get a burger, fries, side salad and soft drink or juice, and the portions are more than big enough to share with hungry parents as everyone will want to save room for the EPIC cookie skillet at the end. (Thank me for this tip later).
A small pet gripe of mine – while it’s hats off to Beef and Liberty for providing changing facilities, these are currently only available in the ladies. C’mon guys – it’s 2016. Dads change nappies too.
2/F, Star Street Precinct, 23 Wing Fung Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong; +852 2811 3009
G04, 23 Carmel Road, Stanley Plaza, Stanley, Hong Kong; +852 2563 2798
And, popping up until 14th September:
109, 1/F, Block A PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong +852 2548 9789
Braza
(Kid-friendly buffet, highchairs)
If your little one is about as likely to embrace vegetarianism as Peppa Pig is to stop being a rude little brat who deserves to be made into sausages, then Lan Kwai Fong’s Brazilian Churrascaria, Braza should be on your radar.
The concept is straightforward enough – there’s an extensive buffet of salads available, but the real attraction here is the free-flowing grilled meat, served right to your table. From experience, kids love the novelty factor of choosing exactly how much, and when, they eat, and the table-side service means that parents can enjoy a vino or two in peace while the gannets feast.
Braza’s new brunch promotion means that your protein-hungry offspring eat for free every Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday between 12pm and 3pm, leaving less of a steak-shaped dent in your wallet.
3/F Grand Progress Building, 15-16 Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong; +2890 9268
www.diningconcepts.com/Braza
Jamie’s Italian
(Kids’ menu, highchairs, changing facilities, play area, kids’ cooking classes)
Image courtesy of Jamie’s Italian
I’ve reviewed Jamie’s Italian in the past, and it’s fair to say that there are still very few places in Hong Kong that have the family-friendly dining formula down so well.
As you might expect from a chain helmed by a man with a large family who’s on a crusade to improve our eating habits, there’s plenty of healthy, appetising options on the menu, loads of room to roam and highchairs aplenty.
To add to the appeal, there’s now kids’ play areas on offer at both the Causeway Bay and the Tsim Sha Tsui branches, along with monthly kids’ cooking workshops. Classes will be held on the last Sunday of each month and include a restaurant tour, pizza-making class, nutrition and food talk and – of course – the chance to chow down on their own creations. Classes cost $250 + 10% per child, run between 3-4.30pm and you can book by ringing 3958 2252. Pukka.
2/F Soundwill Plaza 2, 1 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong; +852 3958 2222
412, Level 4, Ocean Centre, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon; +852 3758 3333.
Accidental Tai-Tai 