Sunshine Social transforms an old service station into a hip restaurant and bar inspired by old-school charcoal chicken shops.
During balmy weather, the outdoor beer garden is the place to hang out. There are lots of picnic tables bedecked with jaunty yellow umbrellas and room for kids to roam under the eaves of the servo where the petrol bowsers used to sit.
A highlight is the timber cubby house filled with books, toys and craft materials.
There’s also a single tricycle in hot demand!
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Inside the space is airy and spacious and allows for pram access. The big open kitchen cooks rotisserie meats and seafood over hot charcoal then barbecues to order for extra smokiness.
You can eat in or takeaway, the menu is the same. The highlight is obviously the chicken, with a choice of half a chicken with two sides or a whole chicken with three sides.
The whole chicken feeds 2 adults and 3 children easily. For our sides we choose the charred corn on the cob, crunchy thick cut chips in ‘Sunshine’ seasoning and a light and crisp slaw that is thankfully not smothered in mayo.
The meat is juicy and tender and there’s a smoky char to the skin rubbed in a marinade of onion, garlic, paprika, cumin and oregano.
We round out our meal with an ice cream sanga ($7.50) – two balls of vanilla bean ice cream between McVities Digestive biscuits.
Sunshine Social’s speciality is definitely protein from the grill, so if you’re vegetarian stick to the salads. A salad plate for three salads is a very reasonable $15. There are also burgers and small snacks, including crumbed chicken nuggets using proper chunks of chicken which the kids might enjoy ($10.50).
Note that the bar is well-stocked, particularly with local tipples, but its licence only applies to the restaurant inside.
Sunshine Social is a great addition to Melbourne’s west, with its classic, finger-lickin’ menu presented in a relaxed, family-friendly vibe.
HOT Tips:
- Pram access;
- High chairs;
- Standard menu suitable for kids;
- Toys, books, colouring-in, cubby house;
- Toilets are small, may not fit a pram; and
- no bookings for groups of under 10.
Sunshine Social, 64 Glengala Road Sunshine West 3020 (03) 9312 0223
7 Days 11am-11pm
