HOT: The Hungry Fox, Essendon Fields
The Hungry Fox is a stylish cafe in Essendon Fields that’s nailed the two essentials of family-friendly dining – fantastic food and a fenced-off play area!
The fantastic food is courtesy of the produce from the nearby La Manna Supermarket. The Hungry Fox is a natural extension of this gourmet retail outlet and the quality of the ingredients shines in the dishes that I try.
I order the confit duck winter salad with perfectly cooked meat falling off the bone and a warm salad mix of baby beets, heirloom carrots, radicchio and greens. It elevates salad to another level!
For dessert I circle back to the all-day breakfast menu for Milk & Cookies ($16.50). Wow this a pretty dish and really inventive! There’s a fat cookie dough waffle, milo panna cotta, peanut butter dulce de leche, cornflakes, banana and berries.
Kids have a ‘cubs’ menu with eggs on toast ($5), sausage roll ($6) and cookie dough waffle ($8). There are two additional options at lunchtime – cheeseburger and chips ($10) and popcorn chicken and chips ($8.50). Kids milkshakes are $4.
If you’re not in the mood for a sit-down meal then there are plenty of takeaway options in the cabinets. Try one of their unique Italian style Piadinas, made fresh by LaManna’s Piadina chef, Fiorenzo.
Coffee is made with LaManna coffee beans, natch.
The fenced-off play area is popular on sunny days, with a climbing fort, slides, bridges, play walls, climbing rope and ladder and swings, all set in soft-fall flooring. As an added bonus some of the tables within the glass-in area have direct visibility of the play area, meaning you can sit back with your food while the kids play.
The rest of the handsome timber dining room is warm and spacious, with lots of pram space, numerous high chairs and a disabled toilet with change facilities.
The soaring ceiling does amplify the noise levels so if you want a cosy tete-a-tete I recommend sitting as far away from the play area as possible or next to the cosy fireplace!
The Hungry Fox is a great cafe for those visiting La Manna Supermarket, Bounce trampoline park or any of the other businesses in Essendon Fields. It’s already a popular destination so note that close parking can be tricky as there’s only on-street parking available. It’s not close to any form of public transport.
Click here for more Melbourne cafes with outdoor play
HOT Tips:
Pram access;
High chairs;
Kids menu;
Standard menu suitable for kids;
Disabled toilet with change table;
Outdoor play area; and
Limited free parking on street;
No reservations.
