Correction (5 October 2026): an earlier version of this page listed places and details we could not stand behind. It has been rewritten from scratch: every place below was confirmed at two independent sources on 5 October 2026, and every price was copied from the page it was published on.
Doing the family-meal planning at 9pm? Start here. This page covers five places in and around Kalkallo: one in Kalkallo, one in Mickleham, two in Craigieburn and one in Donnybrook. Each entry gives the kids’ menu or family tags where a source prints them, the listed hours and the prices we could copy.
We checked every place against two independent sources on 5 October 2026. Where a fact comes from a listing and not the venue itself, we say whose listing it is. We have not assumed fencing, shade, toilets or step-free access anywhere, so ring ahead for those.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Order this | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pub with a kids menu | Kalkallo Hotel (Steak House and Pizzeria) | Spaghetti Bolognese | $26.90 |
| Pizza and parma, late weekends | Smokin’ Joe’s Pizza & Grill (Merrifield) | Joes Veggie Supreme pizza, Small | $12.90 |
| Halal family restaurant | Al-Sayed Restaurant & Cafe Craigieburn | see below | not printed here |
| Cafe opposite a playground | Peppercino Cafe | Eggs on Toast | $16.00 |
| Child friendly takeaway | Hytyde Fish & Kebabs | see below | not printed here |
Kalkallo Hotel (Steak House and Pizzeria) — 1324 Hume Highway, Kalkallo VIC 3064
The Kalkallo Hotel’s site prints Kids Menu $15, which is the line to check first. It lists opening hours as Monday to Sunday 11.30am til late, and says pizzas are available from 5pm onwards, with Traditional pizza at $22. For a bigger table, the site has a prompt about booking for a group of more than 20 people.
On the menu (copied from kalkallohotel.com.au/food on 5 October 2026):
- Spaghetti Bolognese: $26.90
- Fettucini Carbonara: $26.90
- Gorgonzola Gnocchi: $28.90
- Kids Menu: $15
Pram check: we could not find a published note on step-free entry or high chairs, so ring the hotel before you go.
Smokin’ Joe’s Pizza & Grill (Merrifield) — Shop T15, 270 Donnybrook Road, Mickleham VIC 3064
Smokin’ Joe’s sits in Merrifield City, and the centre’s directory lists it from 12:00 pm every day, to 11:00 pm on Friday and Saturday and 10:00 pm on the other days. Its Merrifield menu lists Chicken Tenders w/ Chips at $12.90 under the kids menu, and a Joes Veggie Supreme pizza at $12.90 for a small. The site also offers pizza, pasta, ribs or a chicken parma for pick up or delivery.
On the menu (copied from smokinjoespizza.com.au/merrifield on 5 October 2026):
- Joes Veggie Supreme pizza, Small: $12.90
- Joes Veggie Supreme pizza, Large: $15.90
- Bolognese: $19.90
- Traditional Parma: $29.90
Pack: the site offers pick up or delivery, so there is a fallback if the plan to eat out falls over.
Al-Sayed Restaurant & Cafe Craigieburn — Shop 1, 1-9 Mareeba Way, Craigieburn VIC 3064
Al-Sayed’s site calls itself a family restaurant, a warm and welcoming space for the whole family. Its FAQ says all dishes are prepared using halal ingredients, lists vegetarian dishes including falafel, hummus and baba ghanoush, and offers takeaway. AGFG lists hours of 8:00 AM - 12:00 AM daily, so treat that as a listing, not the venue’s own word. We could not read menu prices, because the menu page is images only.
Pack: mention any dietary needs when you book, since the site’s FAQ covers halal preparation and vegetarian dishes.
Peppercino Cafe — 34A Albury Avenue, Donnybrook VIC 3064
Peppercino’s site says it is opposite Peppercorn Park and Playground, so you can sit with a coffee while the kids play. It lists 7 days, 8:00AM - 4:00PM, and notes hours may differ on public holidays. The menu PDF we read, a winter edition, prints Brekky Roll at $15.00 and Eggs on Toast at $16.00, so check current prices.
On the menu (copied from peppercinocafe.com.au menu PDF on 5 October 2026):
- Eggs on Toast: $16.00
- Brekky Roll: $15.00
- Eggs Benny: $22.00
- Chilli Croissant: $22.00
Nap block: the site lists 8:00AM to 4:00PM, which fits a morning or lunch slot but not a dinner plan.
Hytyde Fish & Kebabs — 300-332 Grand Blvd (Highlands Shopping Centre), Craigieburn VIC 3064
Hytyde is a takeaway at the Highlands Shopping Centre in Craigieburn. AGFG tags it Child Friendly, Delivery, Disabled Access and Takeaway. AGFG lists Tuesday to Sunday 9:30 AM - 9:00 PM and shows Monday closed, but that is the listing’s word, not the venue’s. We could not find a menu or prices we could read, because the venue’s own page is Facebook only.
Pram check: AGFG tags it Disabled Access, but ring the shop about pram entry before you take the whole crew.
Quick answers
Which family restaurants near Kalkallo list a kids menu?
The Kalkallo Hotel’s site prints Kids Menu $15. Smokin’ Joe’s in Merrifield lists Chicken Tenders w/ Chips at $12.90 on its Merrifield menu. Check each menu for what is included before you order.
Where can we eat near Kalkallo with a playground close by?
Peppercino Cafe in Donnybrook says on its site that it is opposite Peppercorn Park and Playground, so you can sit with a coffee while the kids play. It lists 7 days, 8:00AM - 4:00PM, so it suits a daytime meal.
Are there halal family restaurants near Kalkallo?
Al-Sayed Restaurant & Cafe in Craigieburn says on its site that all its dishes are prepared using halal ingredients, and it calls itself a family restaurant. It also lists vegetarian dishes including falafel and hummus. We could not read menu prices.
Which family-friendly places near Kalkallo are open late?
The Kalkallo Hotel’s site lists Monday to Sunday 11.30am til late. The Merrifield City directory lists Smokin’ Joe’s Pizza & Grill at 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Friday and Saturday. AGFG lists Al-Sayed at 8:00 AM - 12:00 AM daily, so confirm with each venue.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources on 5 October 2026: the places’ own websites, OpenStreetMap, merrifieldcity.com.au and the Australian Good Food Guide. Every price is copied exactly as printed on the page linked under Sources, on 5 October 2026. Menus, prices and opening hours change, so check with the venue before you go. The photos are illustrative, from Unsplash: they show the kind of food or place, not the places on this page.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- Kalkallo Hotel (Steak House and Pizzeria): kalkallohotel.com.au, openstreetmap.org/313245877, kalkallohotel.com.au/food
- Smokin’ Joe’s Pizza & Grill (Merrifield): smokinjoespizza.com.au/merrifield, merrifieldcity.com.au
- Al-Sayed Restaurant & Cafe Craigieburn: alsayed.com.au, agfg.com.au/alsayed-restaurant-cafe-craigieburn
- Peppercino Cafe: openstreetmap.org/11442889270, peppercinocafe.com.au, peppercinocafe.com.au menu PDF
- Hytyde Fish & Kebabs: agfg.com.au/hytyde-fish-and-kebabs-84515, openstreetmap.org/5813457291
