carnival crepes, bentleigh
Is there ever a bad time for crepes? Mamma’s crew doesn’t think so!
Now you can grab some delectable bites to go, from this brand new crepe kiosk!
Is there ever a bad time for crepes? Mamma’s crew doesn’t think so!
Now you can grab some delectable bites to go, from this brand new crepe kiosk!
You can satiate those tastebuds whether the craving hits you for brekky, lunch or dinner. With sweet offerings like nutella, cookies and cream, icecream with milo, fudge-filled or fruit filled; and savoury options like lemongrass chicken, and southern fried chicken to name a few! You can also get traditional flavours like lemon and sugar (Mamma’s fave) and maple syrup. There are loads of options and additions to create your own crepe delight. Also on the menu are indulgent thickshakes (nutella praline is amazing), smoothies, slushies and coffee.
Mamma's special mention:
Grab your treats to go and head around the corner to one of these awesome playgrounds to burn off some sugar - Allnut Park or Wattle Grove Reserve playground.
nitty gritty
OPEN
Sunday - Thursday 6.30am - 10pm
Friday - Saturday 6.30am - 11pm
Wanna know more?
Click here
little wolf cafe, cranbourne south
NOW SERVING FRIDAY NIGHT DINNERS!
The menu is simple- but delicious - offering breakfast and sandwich options, fresh pastries/muffins, as well as a small kids menu.
Breaking news! Friday night dinners are now available! Happening fortnightly (with weekly dinners happening later in the year) you can now have delicious family dinners! There will be a different theme each dinner - with a kids menu option as well. Mamma was lucky to visit on curry night - and it was AMAZING!
This lovely little cafe is perfectly located across the road from a wonderful playground, it screams out to grab a takeaway coffee and sandwich to enjoy as the kids play. Or you can also eat in! The cafe offers indoor dining and outdoor tables spread across the building.
The menu is simple- but delicious - offering breakfast and sandwich options, fresh pastries/muffins, as well as a small kids menu (including free babycinos with any purchase). The food is delicious and fresh, and Mamma can highly recommend the Chicken baguette - very tasty!
There’s also a little community garden out the back with some cute statues the kids will love.
Mamma's special mention:
Head across the road to have play at the awesome Encore Blvd Playground.
nitty gritty
OPEN
Wednesday to Sunday
7.30am - 2.30pm.
Friday dinners -
Every second Friday
Wanna know more?
click here
wild food farm, rhyll
The cafe is on a homestead surrounded by beautiful bush scenery, even offering small bushwalk trails. The rainforest room is phenomenal!
Mamma is super excited to have discovered this gem! Such a cool place to stop at when you visit Phillip Island, and a favourite of the locals, too. The cafe is on a homestead surrounded by beautiful bush scenery, even offering small bushwalk trails.
This used to be a trout farm, not all that long ago. You will still see the remnants of this, with the two outdoor lakes and an inside pool (not the swimming type) in the awesome rainforest room. Speaking of which, the rainforest room is spectacular! When you walk out the back of the cafe you are transported into a a huge area full of lush greenery, trickling waterfalls and a giant pool. Scattered around the room are tables for you to dine at. There’s also a little gated sandpit area for the kids!
You can also dine outdoors under the shade of umbrellas, along the veranda and within the cafe itself.
The food is terrific. There’s a distinct native Australian flavour to the menu, with over 40 herbs and spices grown right there on the farm! Such options as pepper-berry pies, Davidson plum jam, finger lime aioli are sure to tantalise those tastebuds!
Make sure to add this place to your list!
Mamma's special mention:
There’s SO much fun to be had in Phillip Island - click here for more.
nitty gritty
OPEN
8am - 3pm Thursday - Monday. (Closed Tuesday - Wednesday)
Wanna know more?
click here
pelikan societe, hastings
If you like your meal with a view - you are going to LOVE this absolutely magical spot.
If you like your meal with a view - you are going to LOVE this absolutely magical spot.
Set on the Hastings foreshore, you can enjoy a delicious meal al fresco (indoor dining as well) and may just be lucky enough to be in the company of pelicans strolling the sand down below. Your view over looks Hastings pier and out onto Westernport.
This great family friendly cafe has some delicious offerings on the menu. For the little ones, they can choose pancakes smothered in maple syrup, fish and chips, toasted sandwiches to name a few. A juice is also included with their meal.
Mamma can’t resist a good banana bread, and theirs is a really GREAT banana bread. But the hero dish of the day goes to the Cuban sandwich, served in a cigar box! So cute.
Great food. Great coffee. Great service and GREAT view. This one’s a winner folks!
Mamma's special mention:
You can spend the day here. Head for a stroll out on Hastings pier and walk the foreshore to spot some pelicans. Then head behind the cafe and play at Fred Smith Reserve and enjoy a takeaway coffee under the shade of the many large trees.
settle gretel cafe, carrum
This stunning cafe serves up the lot. It really is a treat for all senses.
This stunning cafe serves up the lot. It really is a treat for all senses. Your eyes will be drawn to the beautiful pink filtered throughout the rooms. From the pink flowers covering the walls, down to the gorgeous pink teapots and mugs filling the tables. The aroma of fresh coffee brewing and the sight of the colourful - and plentiful - collection of confectionery stacked on the shelves will get your tastebuds excited.
The kids (and lovers of all things sweet) will be in heaven here. There’s lollies, slushies and even an ice cream fridge to treat yourself with. They also stock earrings, hair accessories, masks, toys, unique gifts and more.
Then there is the food! There’s a great menu with lots of options and they have a kids menu as well. Mamma can highly recommend the halloumi chips - yum! The coffee is awesome - so good we grabbed one to go when we left!
There are multiple (gorgeous) dining areas inside, and also undercover seating outside.
Mamma's special mention: Grab some takeaway and head around the corner to the awesome Pirate themed park - Roy Dore Reserve.
the nitty gritty
OPEN
7 days
7am - 2.30pm
Walk-in and bookings available
wanna know more? click here
click here for more great eats in Melbourne's South
boatrocker brewery, braeside
Sit outside in the sunshine sampling beer and gin and tuck into some tasty food.
Mamma can’t believe it took so long to get to this amazing place!
The vibe here is just awesome. You can sit outside in the sunshine, sampling boutique beer and craft gin - made on the premises - and tuck into some tasty food from rotating food trucks. There is also live music on occasion (keep your eyes on their socials for dates).
Mamma highly recommends ordering the sampling paddles of both the gin and the beer. It’s a great way to try what they have on offer - and they are all delicious! The raspberry gin and the Alpha Queen Pale Ale were our top picks!
They have rotating food trucks offering delicious food, all taste-tested by the lovely staff to make sure the quality is top notch. The staff are amazing, too. Full of knowledge (and love) of their products and super attentive.
Kids are very welcome; in non-Covid times they have giant games set up - like chess, Jenga and quoits ect.
Such a great place to spend a long lunch with the fam, a date-night, or drinks with your mates. Mamma can’t wait to head back and sample more (without the kids and car next time!)
Mamma's special mention: Run out some energy after lunch and head to Pencil Park or visit the dinosaurs at Garden World.
the nitty gritty
OPEN
Friday 2-11pm
Saturday 12-9pm
Sunday 12-6pm
Walk-in only, or booking available for groups of 8-10 people
wanna know more? click here
click here for more great eats in Melbourne's South
dolce fantasia cakes, oakleigh south
Just - WOW! Mamma has never seen so many delicious morsels of food in one shop!
Just - WOW! Mamma has never seen so many delicious morsels of food in one shop! As soon as you enter Dolce Fantasia the aroma of sweet pastries and fresh coffee fill your senses. You won’t know where to focus your attention first. Do you check out the dozens of delicate little biscuits or head straight to the custard-filled cannoli and petit cakes? Or perhaps you are after something more savoury? Mamma says you HAVE to try the spinach and fetta pastries. YUM. As are the homemade sausage rolls and beef pies.
You can tell that each and every item here is made with love and a lot of experience, as the lovely owner Vicky has owned the shop for around 14 years!
You’re gonna want to try everything - so Mamma’s hot tip is to go with the shortbread biscuit and petit cake assorted boxes, or the best idea, grab a picnic box which includes everything you need to just head to the park and go - even serviettes and sauce!
These are seriously amazing and Mamma can’t wait to head back and sample more! Oh - and the coffee is awesome as well!
Mamma's special mention: Grab a pack to go and head down the road to the awesome Bald Hill Playground - you can even give Disc Golf a go!
the nitty gritty
OPEN
Monday - 8am - 4pm
Tuesday - Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday - Friday 8am - 5.30pm
Saturday 9am -4pm
Sunday 8am - 2pm
wanna know more? click here
1202 Centre Rd, Oakleigh South
click here for more great eats in Melbourne's South
smashed pinata cakes, melbourne
WOW is the word that will be on your lips as you get a glimpse of these incredible cakes!
WOW is the word that will be on your lips as you get a glimpse of these incredible cakes!
Mamma’s little Mr is a huge pinata fan, so with parties being cancelled at the moment, this was a real treat for him to smash into. It only took 3 smashes, with the supplied mallet, to crack into the goodness of over 1kg of mixed lollies!
These indulgent ‘cakes’ really put another spin on the term ‘cake smash’ . You can order them in two styles, dome and drip (like Mamma’s). The dome style is a bit smaller, perfect for ISO home celebrations; whilst the drip offers a bit more to go around. You can pick your own theme and have it topped with some of your favourite lollies and chocolates.
Fill up your lolly bags and share the love - there is a HEAP to go around!
Mamma's special mention: These can be delivered throughout Melbourne or local pick up (Malvern) is also available. There are different sizes and tiers of the cakes available.
the nitty gritty
Delivers across Melbourne
wanna know more? click here
click here for more great eats in Melbourne's South
red hill confectionery, red hill
These delectable chocolates make the perfect treat, especially when we are stuck at home!
There is no such thing as TOO much chocolate, right?!
If you haven’t discovered Red Hill Confectionery, you’ve been missing out. These delectable chocolates make the perfect treat, especially when we are stuck at home. This a family-owned business in Red Hill, and the staff are so super lovely! But, thankfully, you don’t have to be a local to enjoy their range as they deliver all across Melbourne!
You can also get a hamper sent as a present- which makes birthdays and spoiling someone special, super easy.
It’s hard to pick a favourite here, but if Mamma had to - it is pretty hard to go past the delicious chocolate coated raspberries - yum! The husband says the dark chocolate coated Turkish delight is the best he has ever had - BIG call! It’s all amazing. We are talking choc-coated almonds, caramel mates, mixed lollies, humbugs, honeycomb, fudge and so much more.
Go on and treat yourself!
Mamma's special mention: . You can organise special hampers to be delivered for any occasion. Click HERE for more.
the nitty gritty
Delivery available throughout Melbourne.
Free delivery over $75
wanna know more? click here
high tea @ mr burch, mckinnon
Treat yourself to some decadence and indulge in this great vintage inspired cafe
Treat the family to some decadence and indulge in a delightful traditional high tea, at this great vintage inspired cafe.
Mamma is in love with this gorgeous “old fashioned” (as Little Miss calls it) cafe. The building itself is over 100 years old and you could be forgiven for thinking you have stepped back in time as you walk up the creaky narrow stairway. Make sure you say hello to ‘Mr Burch’ as you step into the High Tea room. Here you will find a cosy room, decorated with local artwork, a fireplace, some lounge chairs and tables decked out with fine china plates.
Then comes the High Tea! Depending on the option you choose, you will have a 3-tiered stand complete with mini sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, and an assortment of cakes, biscuits and desserts. Mamma opted for the cheese plate as well - full decadence! Topped off with a glass of bubbly, of course.
The Little Ladies also thought they were in heaven and a little bit ‘fancy’ as they munched on their cookies and slurped down their milkshakes.
Mamma can highly recommend this place for a bit of a treat on the weekend or school holidays. It is full of charm, fantastic service and delicious food!
Mamma's special mention: Grab a coffee to go and head down the road for a play at the stunning Allnut park.
the nitty gritty
OPEN
High Tea
Saturday and Sunday 2pm - 4pm
Bookings are essential
Cafe is open
Monday - Sunday
8am - 4pm
*current restrictions include maximum of 20 people indoors
wanna know more? click here
urban ground, mordialloc
This awesome precinct offers outdoor dining, an onsite cafe, outdoor (undercover) kids play area - AND a distillery specialising in Brandy!
Now here is a place that makes Mamma jealous of the locals!
Imagine having this as your go-to!
This precinct offers an onsite cafe - BOWL’D, outdoor undercover dining and kids play area - including swings, cubby house- AND a distillery specialising in Brandy! What’s more, there will are rotating food trucks, as well as a permanent pizza truck - from the folks who own D.O.C pizza and mozzarella bar.
This will become a favourite. Especially with the rotating food trucks, a large screen, cocktails and music! Grab your mates - mother’s groups - partners and check it out!
the nitty gritty
OPEN
BOWL’D
Mon to Wed
11am to 4pm
Thurs to Sun - 11am to 8pm
FOOD TRUCKS
Thurs & Fri – 5pm to 9pm
Sat & Sun – 12pm to 9pm
During school holidays - also open Wednesdays 5pm - 8pm
wanna know more? click here
Mamma's special mention:
Just around the corner is a delicious chocolate shop - Guras Cacao - make sure to stop by!
madam mekong, frankston
You can choose an entree like crispy spring rolls or rice paper rolls; mains like rice dishes, vermicelli noodle salads and from Thursdays to Saturdays you can take home a “make at home” Pho!
Yum! This bright, tasty and fresh new Vietnamese restaurant has just opened up its doors. For now, it is strictly take-away only (due to Covid) but when restrictions ease, there will be the opportunity to eat in.
You can choose an entree like crispy spring rolls or rice paper rolls; mains like rice dishes, vermicelli noodle salads and from Thursdays to Saturdays you can take home a “make at home” Pho! You get all the goodies and then heat up the broth and pour it over the meat (or veg option) and sprinkle in the herbs. Delicious!
There are options for vegetarians and vegans, and most things are also gluten-free! Everyone is covered! You can also grab a Vietnamese iced coffee, iced tea and other fresh drinks.
Mamma's special mention: Grab some pho to go and head to the awesome Ballam Park just down the road.
the nitty gritty
OPEN
Tuesday - Saturday 12pm - 3pm
5pm - 8pm
*Takeaway only available at the moment due to Covid
Pho to go Thursday - Saturday only.
wanna know more? click here
rocky road festival @ mornington peninsula chocolaterie & ice creamery, flinders
It’s Rocky Road heaven right here at home
Caution - Rocky Road AHEAD! For the month of May, the Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie celebrate all things marshmallow and chocolate with the ROCKY ROAD FESTIVAL. 31 different flavours in all sorts of combinations of milk, dark or white chocolate.
It’s a great excuse to head down to the stunning Flinders!
Mamma's special mention: Rocky road is ALWAYS on offer at the Chocolaterie not just in May but never to this extreme. The BEST thing that is on offer here is always the REAL hot chocolate!
the nitty gritty
Rocky Road Festival is on 1st - 31st May
OPEN
7 days a week
9am - 5pm
wanna know more? click here
click here for more great eats in Melbourne's South
beach bar carrum, carrum
The awesome new courtyard boasts an undercover sandpit complete with buckets and shovels, a shopfront, a little boat (kindly donated by Parkdale Yacht Club), and a surfboard they can pretend to surf on
This place is bright and FUN!
The awesome courtyard boasts an undercover sandpit complete with buckets and shovels, a shopfront, a little boat (kindly donated by Parkdale Yacht Club). Lots of fun for the little ones.
You can also sit inside at a table, or lounge on their comfy couches. There are few board games and colouring options for the kids.
By day it is a cafe serving delicious food and drinks - perfect for mother’s groups!
They have recently added a brand new Take Away section at the back - where you can grab some food and drinks to go and picnic at the beach - or enjoy in their sunny courtyard.
Keep an eye on this one - as they will be offering kids school holiday activities, and special fish n chip takeaway options in summer.
Mamma’s special mention
Take the kids down the road for a play at the awesome Carrum Foreshore Playground.
the nitty gritty
OPEN
Monday/Tuesday CLOSED
Wednesday/Thursday
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday/Saturday
8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday:
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
okay lucy gelato, mornington
Here you can choose from delicious hand-made gelato and fresh and fruity sorbet, with rotating daily flavours. And to put the cherry on top - you can have your scoop drizzled with nutella!
If you are a gelato fan (who isn’t?) you are gonna LOVE this place.
Perfectly located opposite Mornington Park, is this light, bright and funky new ice cream shop.
Here you can choose from delicious hand-made gelato and fresh and fruity sorbet, with rotating daily flavours. And to put the cherry on top - you can have your scoop drizzled with nutella!
The gelato is seriously delicious, this Mamma has to keep visiting to make sure every flavour has been sampled!
With a few tables outside under the shelter of umbrellas, and a few bench seats; you can savour the flavour as you watch the world go by. Or you can head across the road to the Mornington Park reserve.
Friendly staff, delicious flavours and a great location make this the perfect spot to grab a scoop!
Special note - takeaway available
Mamma’s special mention
Head across the road to have a play at Mornington Playground.
chiavelli gourmet ice cream, mordialloc
Perfectly positioned across the road from the gorgeous Mordialloc beach, Chiavelli will be a MUST for those hot summer days - or any day really!
Mamma LOVES a really good gelato, and this brand new ice cream shop definitely delivers!
Perfectly positioned across the road from the gorgeous Mordialloc beach, Chiavelli will be a MUST for those hot summer days - or any day really!
Not only do they have dozens of delicious gourmet flavours such as, coconut lime, baci, an amazing choc-mint and more; they also sell cakes, too! Yum!
You can sit out on the deck and enjoy, or cross the road to sit in the silky sand and soak up the goodness.
Mamma’s special mention
Grab one to go and head across to the awesome Peter Scullin Reserve Playground.
the nitty gritty
OPEN
Monday - Thursday 12pm - 10pm
Friday - Sunday 11am - 10pm
wanna know more?
click here
the famished wolf, braeside
Make sure you bring your appetite when you come here, folks! The burgers are big and the brats are packed full of flavour.
This little gem is hidden away in an industrial estate, so you may not have discovered it yet. Make sure you bring your appetite when you come here, folks! The burgers are big and the brats are packed full of flavour. The kids meals are very generous, especially if you get the fab kids pack. This comes with the choice of a burger, chicken strips or fish, chips and a decadent milkshake served with whipped cream, lollies and a Tim Tam! You can opt to purchase an activity pack for $2 - that goes to Make A Wish charity.
They are licensed so you can enjoy a cool beverage as you sit in the undercover decking area out front.
Great food, great service and a cool vibe makes this the perfect spot to enjoy a tasty meal with the family.
SPECIAL NOTE - Burgers can be collected and delivered to you!
Mamma’s special mention
After you’ve grabbed a bite, head down the road to Garden world and check out all the cool Dinosaurs.
the nitty gritty
OPEN
Monday - Friday 9.30am - 9pm
Saturday - Sunday 12pm - 9pm
wanna know more?
click here
tooradin ice cream shop, tooradin
Mamma’s giving you a heads up - with over 30 flavours of scrumptious ice-cream to choose from here, you may have a hard time making a decision!
Mamma’s giving you a heads up - with over 30 flavours of scrumptious ice-cream to choose from here, you may have a hard time making a decision! Unless, of course, you are like Mamma’s little ones and simply cannot order anything other than Bubblegum!
The ice-cream here is delicious and plentiful. Mamma cannot resist a really good choc-mint, and this one is just perfect. But so is the toffee, jaffa, coffee, chocolate .. and the list goes on.
Perched on the foreshore of Tooradin Jetty, you can have the option of grabbing a cone to go and walking across the road to the river, or down the road to the sandy foreshore, amongst the mangroves.
Mamma and crew love this place. It is always a MUST do on the way (and way back!) to Phillip Island.
Mamma’s special mention
Head across the road and have a play at the very cool Lighthouse Playground.
the nitty gritty
OPEN
Monday - Friday 12pm - 5pm
Saturday - Sunday 11am - 5pm
wanna know more?
click here
little olly's, frankston
This great little coffee van resides at the bottom of Oliver’s Hill in Frankston, for all your coffee needs!
Coffee and the beach. Two of Mamma’s most favourite things in the world. Now, thanks to Little Olly’s - Mamma can indulge in both at the same time!
Newly opened, this great little coffee van resides at the bottom of Oliver’s Hill in Frankston. It has permanently set up home in the boat ramp car park, for all your coffee needs! Of course, there is more than just coffee on offer, you can also choose from delicious smoothies, hot chocolate, tea or treat yourself to a little snack as well.
There a few tables that you can sit and enjoy the view at, or grab a takeaway as you stroll along the water’s edge.
Mamma’s special mention
Drive down to the next carpark and have a play at the Frankston Foreshore Playground.
the nitty gritty
OPEN
Monday - Friday
5am - 12pm
Saturday - Sunday
8am - 3pm
coffee van - some seats available
wanna know more?
click here
blue mini cafe, rosebud
Now THIS is a cool place!
Set in the old Rosebud Ten Pin Bowling Alley, is this great cafe and emporium.
Now THIS is a cool place!
Set in the old Rosebud Ten Pin Bowling Alley, is this great cafe and emporium.
With a delicious menu packed full of fresh peninsula produce, terrific coffee - and there’s even a bar! The bowling theme is spread throughout the decor, as well as showcasing retro wall art and signs - think the Skipping Girl, Peters Ice cream and Vegemite.
There’s also a little nook with tables for the kids to colour/read at.
You can also sit out in the courtyard amongst the cute little garden.
The emporium stocks great eco-friendly products, the cutest little pot plants (you MUST see the piggies) lots of locally made candles and SO much more.
Mamma’s special mention
Head down the road to the awesome Rosebud Jetty Foreshore Playspace and let the kids have some more play time!
