Taste of Autumn
Tuesday, 24 March 2026
Make it all about the kids this Easter
Featuring:
Bob Mellor, Hugo’s Manly NSW
The Easter long weekend is a great opportunity for families to dine together. Venues fill with every generation, whether they are holidaymakers, destination diners or locals. Many bookings include children of all ages, shapes and sizes, but how kid-friendly is your menu?
Bob Mellor is Head Chef at Hugo’s in Manly on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, which took out the Restaurant & Catering Association’s National Award for Family Dining in 2025. We asked Bob to share his thoughts on what goes into a menu that appeals to kids, and their parents.
Give kids real choices
“You go to some restaurants and the kids are just an afterthought,” Bob says. “I think it’s about having a balance, a mixture of different dishes to keep the kids as happy as possible.”
The menu for children at Hugo’s has nine options for mains, plus chocolate or vanilla ice cream for dessert. Bob says the wide choice is a point of difference for the restaurant. “We have a few pizzas and pastas, fish and chips, plus chicken nuggets of course. There’s a fair bit of choice and I think that’s important.”
Quality counts
Bob adds that keeping standards high has been a winner for Hugo’s. “The food on the kids’ menu is the same high quality as the rest of our menu,” he says. “For example the meatballs in the meatball pasta and meatball pizza are the same as the ones in the entrée on the main menu, they’re just served more simply for the kids.”
He says where possible the food is made by his team in the kitchen, like the meatballs, pizzas, pasta sauce, fresh fish and house-made ice cream. Although with covers up around 1000 a day on busy weekends, it makes sense to buy in certain products, like the ever-popular chicken nuggets.
“The chicken nuggets are definitely our biggest seller,” he says. “They come in pre-battered and go straight in the fryer. When they’re nice and juicy and crunchy, the kids just love them.”
The meatballs in the meatball pasta and meatball pizza are the same as the ones in the entrée on the main menu, they’re just served more simply for the kids.
Generous portions, happy parents
While many restaurants simply make small servings for small diners, Hugo’s tends to give the same size portion to dishes on the kids’ menu. Like the pizza, which is the same size for everyone, but the kids’ version has fewer toppings. Pasta portions are identical; the difference is the sauce (or no sauce if that’s what kids want), rather than the serving size.
“Everything is a proper substantial portion,” Bob says. It works for Hugo’s because it’s simpler for the kitchen to have one pizza size and food cost for pizza dough and pasta is minimal. Meanwhile parents notice the generosity and feel the value for money, which keeps them coming back.
Get everyone on board
Appealing to the family market takes more than a well-structured and balanced menu. Make sure you have enough high chairs for busy weekends, and parents appreciate colouring in or other activities to keep the littlies occupied and off their screens.
It’s important to guide your front of house team to be welcoming and patient with families, who may take longer to be seated comfortably. Serving the kids first is sometimes a quick hack for peaceful service.
Everything is a proper substantial portion, it works for Hugo’s because it’s simpler for the kitchen to have one pizza size and food cost for pizza dough and pasta is minimal.
Everyone’s a winner
This Easter, take a fresh look at what you’re offering the smallest diners in your venue. When the balance right between choice, quality and value, the grown-ups will be just as delighted as the kids.
A well thought-out kids’ menu does more than keep the children happy, it is a key driver for bookings and will deliver loyal repeat business. Families are building memories of special occasions and celebrations at your venue, and the kids of today are your customers of the future.
Busy venues rely on Bulla Real Dairy Ice Cream to keep families happy at dessert time. This premium quality ice cream is made with fresh milk and cream for a deliciously creamy taste.
With no artificial colours flavours, Bulla Real Dairy Ice Cream is halal certified and gluten free, and contains 10% milk fat.
10 litre tubs
In chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavours for venues with high turnover.
5 litre trays
In chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavours for convenient storage and easy access.
100ml Cups
In vanilla and light vanilla, perfect for events or where portion control matters.
Vanilla Ice Cream
10L
Chicken nuggets are the hero of every kids’ menu. Ingham’s offers crumbed Chicken Breast Nuggets and battered Tempura Chicken Breast Nuggets, all made with 100% Aussie chicken and no added hormones.
Chicken nuggets san choy bao
Serve nuggets in lettuce cups and let the kids assemble with vermicelli noodles, fresh salad and veggies.
Chicken nugget wrap
With shredded lettuce, grated carrot and mild mayo in a soft tortilla.
Nugget tacos
Serve nuggets on corn chips with mild salsa, avocado and sour cream on the side
Chicken Breast Nuggets
5 x 1kg
Featured Products
Chocolate Ice Cream
10L
Chicken Alfredo Filler
5kg
Chocolate Ice Cream Tray
2 x 5L
Chicken Breast Fillets
5 x 1kg
Cooking Cream
3 x 5L
Chicken Breast Nuggets
5 x 1kg
Dollop Thick Cream
2L
Country Crisp Chicken Strips
5 x 1kg
Dollop Thick Cream
5L
Crumbed Chicken Tenders
5 x 1kg
Frozen Yoghurt Mango
36 x 200mL
Crumbed Wing Dings
5 x 1kg
Frozen Yoghurt Raspberry
36 x 200mL
Devil Wing Dings
1kg
Frozen Yoghurt Strawberry
36 x 200mL
Diced Roast Chicken Meat Free Flow
6 x 1kg
Frozen Yoghurt Wildberry
36 x 200mL
Flame-Grilled Chicken Breast Fillet
5 x 1kg
Greek Style Yoghurt
6 x 1kg
Salt & Vinegar Tenders
5 x 1kg
Imitation Cream Sweetened
3 x 5L
Sliced Chicken Breast Strips
6 x 1kg
Light Party Cups
54 x 100mL
Sweet Chilli Tenders
5 x 1kg
Light Sour Cream
2kg
Tempura Chicken Breast Nuggets
5 x 1kg
Light Sour Cream
5L
Teriyaki Chicken Breast Medallions
5 x 1kg
Premium Sour Cream
2kg
Strawberry Ice Cream
10L
Strawberry Ice Cream Tray
2 x 5L
Thickened Cream
3 x 5L
Vanilla Ice Cream
10L
Vanilla Ice Cream
4 x 4L
