A meal at a chain-steakhouse with indoor playground, for the sake of a quiet lunch with kids, gives me the heebie-jeebies. I’m all for kid-friendly venues, but I never want to sacrifice a good quality lunch for the sake of Little Chef being entertained. So THANK GOODNESS for places like Naked Apple Cider Perth Hills! A restaurant where great food and kid-friendly vibes go hand in hand.
Naked Apple Cider House (formerly Hopscotch Perth Hills) is just one cidery of several in the Pickering Brook/Roleystone region of the hills. Naked Apple Cider is as popular as ever – definitely best to book on weekends! The chilled spot offers mainly outdoor dining options, shaded by gumtrees.
Inside the cosy cottage there are a few tables, plus a fireplace for wintery days.
Cider and Bickley Valley Brewery beers are on tap, as well as good coffee, tea, soft drinks and Naked Apple juice too.
A lot of the seating is close to the playground, making it easy to keep an eye on your kids playing. During school holidays, there is often a bouncy castle here too.
Naked Apple Cider – The Menu
The menu has small plates that are perfect for sharing over a cider or two. If you’re after a bigger feed, there’s plenty to pick from; steak sandwiches, pasta, salads, burgers, that sort of thing. I tackled the huge and crispy porchetta ($35). The generous serve of Italian spiced rolled pork roast, complete with crunchy crackling (yum!!), is served with a Paris mash, sautéed baby spinach and a rich pork jus.
Little Chef is growing out of kids menus, so chose the buttermilk chicken burger ($26) from the main menu. Bursting with crisp chicken, herb cabbage slaw, aioli and parmesan cheese , plus shoestring fries – it’s well worth getting your chops around that.
The kids menu has good choices for lunch and dinner, including pasta, popcorn chicken and burgers. With the promise of a play on the playground and exploring the gardens, kids are sure to wolf down their food!
The Gardens
There is extensive gardens to explore as well as a modern playground. The grounds at Naked Apple are lovely.
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you turn another corner and discover something new! There are a few ponds and water features around, so be mindful of those with toddlers.
The playground has a wood chip base, and is set amongst natural bushland, giving it partial shade at some times of the day.
There’s something for children of all ages. Swings, slides and lots of climbing – based equipment.
The Modern Australian style food is tasty, fresh and well-cooked. Little Chef loved to explore the grounds at Naked Apple Cider House and there’s good food, drinks and a relaxed atmosphere. What a gem!
