[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Dandenong Pavilion is celebrating its 10th birthday this year as a stalwart of the dining scene in Melbourne’s outer south-east. It is the original home of some of Melbourne’s best burgers and owner Dani Zeini has taken them from Dandenong Pavilion menu to places such as Grand Trailer Park Taverna, Motorhome Majestic, Truck Stop Deluxe and Royal Stacks.
I’m invited to visit Dandenong Pavilion and I’m keen to actually NOT try the burgers for a change. My best description of the food is ‘a little bit retro’ with classic pub favourites chicken parma and steaks and dishes like Caesar salad and garlic prawns making an appearance. The servings are uniformly enormous.
The kids menu is $13.90 and includes milk or juice, a choice of napoli spaghetti, burger and chips, chicken strips and cheese or mac and cheese and an ice cream to finish.
All kids, regardless of whether they order a kids meal, are given an activity pack to keep them amused as a matter of course. It is a lifesaver!
I spy a large rotisserie grill in the open kitchen so try the open souva with a skewer of beef and chicken each, pita bread, chips, tzatziki and Greek salad. I’m glad that I don’t bother ordering a separate meal for Baby 2.0 as it is more than ample for both of us.
In the interests of research I order a dessert, a chocolate pudding. It is not very inspiring to be honest. The pudding is not a moelleux with a molten centre, but rather a chocolate cake with an overly chewy crust served with a gloopy chocolate sauce and bland commercial vanilla ice cream.
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The service is super-friendly and solicitous. The waitresses are all very chatty about Baby 2.0 and ready to help with extra cutlery, plates, napkins. I’m asked about how my food is before I’ve had a chance to take a bite.
If you need it there are high chairs, a disabled toilet with a change table and plenty of pram space.
Finally, next to Dandenong Pavilion is Hemmings Park, with a great looking skate park and playground under shade sails. Unfortunately we visited on a very wet day so couldn’t have a go.
Free parking is available at the restaurant as well as on the service road on Princes Highway.
After ten years Dandenong Pavilion is evidently still a popular destination for local families and workers. Its menu has broad appeal, with huge servings at reasonable prices, and the welcoming service as well child friendly facilities means that it’s an easy eat-and-play combo. As it’s open throughout the day you can drop in for a coffee, snack or meal.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”thon-hot-tips-panel”]HOT Tips:
- Pram access;
- High chairs;
- Kids menu;
- Standard menu suitable for kids;
- free activity pack for kids;
- Disabled toilet;
- Change table;
- Next to Scout Hall and Hemmings Park skate park and playground 100m walk; and
- Free parking on site and on service road of Princes Highway.
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