Tiny Bites: Forbes Thirty Six, Forbes Street, Kennedy Town

K-Town mamas in need of a weekday bite to eat… this one’s for you! Newly opened Forbes Thirty Six may have all the features of a sports bar at first glance, but with the management keen to stress that it’s not all beers and balls, and that families are very much welcome, I headed westwards to see if appearances are deceptive.

The menu consists of pretty much standard pub grub – although executed well – so expect consistency here rather than big surprises. My rotisserie chicken sandwich with caramelised grapes was excellent, and my dining companion’s veggie chilli was also very decent, although perhaps could have benefitted from being heavier on the kidney beans.

The kids’ menu features the usual suspects of pizza, fish fingers, chips, etc., but again, these were freshly prepared and to a good standard (and there’s a reason they’re such faves, right mama?). As ever, top marks for bringing the kids’ meals out first.

Thumbs up?:
To start with, this place is huge, meaning that regardless of whether you’re wielding a stroller or trying to tame a ricocheting toddler, the sheer space of Forbes Thirty Six works in your favour. You have an option of regular tables or banquettes to the rear of the pub, which is divided into two quite distinct areas, which means that there’s room for a decent-sized mama gathering without feeling that you’re disturbing the other patrons.

The kids activity kits on the tables got a bit thumbs up from our junior test subjects, featuring stickers, drawing paper and a pot of the newest-looking crayons I’ve ever seen on a restaurant table… seriously, these things were all still intact WITH their labels on. Amazing! The traditional British red phone box (actually a very smart mobile charging station) kept my son fascinated for quite some time, allowing me to get on with perusing the menu.

Thumbs down?:
The service was a little slow on the day that we were there, although this is to be expected at a new venue. I’d personally love to see more healthy options on the menu for littlies too.

Stroller access?:
Yes, and plenty of space for parking.

Highchairs?:
Yes. The pristine highchairs plus flip-down baby changing station in the ladies’ bathroom show that Forbes Thirty Six is serious about making families feel at home here, so hats off to ‘em.

Kids’ Menu:
Yes.

Price Range
Kids’ Menu is $110, including drink and dessert; sandwiches and wraps $70; mains from $180.

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday 12pm-12am; Weekends 9am-12am.