There’s nothing better than being able to take the family out for an afternoon at your local, and you’d be lucky if your local was The Aussie Inn. In fact, my other half started looking up house prices in the area for this very reason. Located on Main South Road at Hackham, as far as child friendly pubs in Adelaide go, The Aussie ticks a lot of boxes.

Offering the laid-back atmosphere you need when venturing out with the little people, this family friendly establishment is the cornerstone of the community. A place where attentive and friendly staff make you feel welcome from the moment you walk through the door, regardless of how many drink spilling, spoon banging children accompany you. My kids are mildly obsessed with colouring so were delighted by being kept busy with crayons and a colouring sheet while they waited for us to order and lunch to arrive.

Let me start by saying, the food that is plated and presented here is immaculate. We could have been tricked into thinking we were at a Michelin Star venue with their perfectly placed garnishes. The Pork & Prawn Dumplings were a tasty first course and the mains were both of generous servings and full of flavour. The Smoked Kassler Pork Chops deserve a mention – they were delicious. A nice chargrilled sear, and oh so tender.

Hats off to the person who created the junior menu (worth noting, meals come with a drink and an ice-cream for only $14) which quite frankly made me laugh-out-loud, the kid-friendly, parent-approved fare includes;

• ‘I don’t know’ – Popcorn chicken, chips and ketchup
• ‘I don’t care’ – Battered fish, chips and ketchup
• ‘I’m not hungry’ – Linguine bolognese, grated tasty cheese
• ‘I don’t want that’ – Chicken schnitzel, chips and ketchup
• ‘I’m not eating that’ – Fried calamari, chips and ketchup
• ‘I guess that will do’ – Cheeseburger, chips and ketchup

It’s the age-old question “what do you want to eat?” The 6 pm dinner struggle that parents are faced with seven days a week and the team at The Aussie have absolutely, 100% nailed every single one of our kids answers on that hilariously well-executed menu. Take a bow.

Whatever you decide to order, I recommend finishing on a high note with the Sticky Date Pudding (thanks for the tip Hamish) – it’s sinfully good and worth the indulgence. Perhaps the best in South Australia? Keen to hear your thoughts.

After your meal, let your little darlings loose on the brand new outdoor playground while the adults watch on from the decking with a cheeky cocktail. Fully enclosed with fencing it features a swirly slide, tunnels, a fireman pole and climbing platforms. There’s also a large grassy area for the kids to run about and let off some steam or partake in some good ole’ fashioned ‘roly poly’ down the hill… need i say more?!

Plus with live music on Sunday’s, chef specials, a gorgeous alfresco area, plenty of space for high chairs and a super friendly atmosphere, I promise that once you discover this place, you’ll keep coming back. From experience, if our kids are happy and entertained, then the whole family will enjoy themselves and that’s exactly what we did.

If we lived closer, we’d be regulars for sure!

The Aussie Inn
Location: 108 Main South Rd, Hackham, 5163
Dining Times: Lunch; 7 days: 12 pm – 2: pm
Dinner; Sunday – Thursday: 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Friday – Saturday 5:30 pm – 9 pm
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