The brand new Cafe Kalina is a clean, modern and well organised cafe, perfect for families with young children.
We recently went to test out the food, the service and the atmosphere and boy, were we impressed!
Housed in the new Stockland Kalina community and boasting multiple children’s playgrounds, this kid-friendly cafe is perfect for families to enjoy breakfast, brunch and lunch.
Food
Value for money 4.5
Variety of kids menu N/A
Portion sizes 5
Food quality 4
Special dietary options 5
How likely are you to recommend venue? 5
We loved the food!! And lets face it, that is why you go out for a meal, right!!?
Although there is no specific kids menu for breakfast, the ‘Build Your Own Breakfast’ option would be a hit for both adults and kids alike! The kitchen was also very flexible and responsive to requests for kids meals. We found that there were plenty of gluten free/dairy free/lactose free & vegetarian options with most made fresh onsite.
Because it was a warm morning we were given iced water when we arrived which was greatly appreciated.
Service
Staff Friendliness 5
Willingness to accommodate kids 5
Prompt delivery of meals 5
Additional services like child care N/A
The staff were exceptional and it was so easy to communicate with them. We had to change our order slightly a couple of times, but found no problems. The young lad who brought our food over and cleaned our table afterwards was confident and chatty.
The menu offered a wide variety of food, which was really tasty and came in large servings. The Nutella latte was delicious! The drinks came out only a few minutes after ordering, and the food came not long after that.
Facilities
High chairs and change tables 5
Room for prams and strollers 4
Dedicated play area 5
Can parents see into play space 5
Caters to all age groups 5
Is safely fenced and away from bar 3
Adequate parking 4
Not only was the food delicious, but the cafe itself was gorgeous and comfortable for us to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. All the facilities were brand new and very clean. There were multiple play areas, which are perfect for all ages. The area for the kids isnt fenced, so you will need to keep an eye on them. There is also a fantastic view over all play areas from the cafe.
Atmosphere
The cafe seemed very casual and relaxed. Most of the other customers were families or couples with their dogs as the cafe is pet friendly – they give animals water when they arrive, and they have puppicinos and home made dog treats on demand.
There is a huge open grassed area great for dogs or kids who want to run we recommend bringing a ball, if that’s your kids (or dog’s) thing. In the coming months this space will be used for movie nights, markets, games and other events including Australia Day and live music on the lawn. So make a note in your diary now to like their Facebook page so you can stay across their events!
Highlights
I thought the ‘build your own breakfast’ was a great idea. The elevated position of the cafe meant we caught nice breezes and had a great view of the play areas. We were there in the morning but the aspect of the cafe would make it a great spot to catch a beautiful sunset. Please keep in mind it is in the middle of a developing housing estate so the view beyond isn’t that interesting, however it was really quiet, with next to no traffic and large parking area made it very convenient.
Issues
There was no specific menu for kids for breakfast but the kitchen was happy to take requests. Because there are multiple play areas, it will be important to keep an eye on toddlers. Flies were a bit of an issue but the cafe said they were looking to install fans to help with that.
Overview
The cafe has only been operational for two weeks at the time of writing, but it is already running like a well oiled machine. They will gain an alcohol licence in the coming weeks, so they will hold events later into the afternoon/evening such as tapas night, pimp my parmi nights and cocktail afternoons with live music. They have suggested that they will keep the focus on families.
REVIEW: Cafe Kalina
The cafe is a beautiful place for families with children, (and dogs) to enjoy a nice meal, take advantage of the playgrounds and relax in Springfield.
