"Mum, I'm hungry!"
When you've got kids, you're never not on the hunt for family-friendly cafes, restaurants and eateries!
Here's some of our top picks for dining out with youngsters in Ballarat...
1816 Bakehouse
18 Armstrong St Nth, Ballarat
Bakeries are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser with kids but step it up a notch at artisan bakery 1816 Bakehouse.
We're talking handmade pies, freshly-filled sandwiches, housemade pastries and sourdough bread, all in the heart of the Ballarat CBD.
The Forge Pizzeria
14 Armstrong St Nth, Ballarat
Right next door to 1816 is The Forge Pizzeria, where you can have your dinner with a side of theatre.
Watch the talented staff in action as they toss the dough, whip up gourmet masterpieces and then cook your pizzas in the restaurant's wood fire oven.
Little ones will love the kids-size bolognese and napoli pastas along with Little Blacksmiths pizzas (there's even a cheeseburger option!).
And make sure you save some room for the Nutella and strawberry pizza, plus the mini doughnuts topped with salted caramel gelato and butterscotch sauce.
Aunty Jacks
315-317 Mair St, Ballarat
Yes, Aunty Jacks is a CBD brewpub but it's also very family-friendly!
The younger kids will love the margherita pizza, nuggets and fish and chips, while the older kids will smash the southern fried chicken burger, tacos, popcorn chicken and dirty fries.
And given the eclectic space is made entirely from repurposed materials — think 1950s meets steampunk — there's plenty of things to look at as well!
Ballarat Yacht Club
18 Wendouree Pde, Ballarat
Sitting pretty on Lake Wendouree is the Ballarat Yacht Club (or, as the locals call it, The Yachty!).
Take a seat inside or outside on the deck for casual family dining done right.
The Little Tackers breakfast menu boasts pancakes, fruit bowls with yoghurt, fried eggs on toast and cheese toasties.
And then there's the Little Tackers lunch menu with steak strips, fish bites, ham and cheese pizza, cheese toasties and — of course — nuggets and chips!
The Lake View Hotel
22 Wendouree Pde, Ballarat
Another top-notch lakeside option is The Lake View Hotel.
Open daily for breakfast, lunch and tea, this historic hotel has a bumper kids' menu with everything from penne bolognaise through to calamari and steak.
And here's our hot tip – visit weekdays between 3.30pm and 5pm for half price milkshakes, soft drinks, chips, wedges, pizza, hot drinks, house wine, tap beer and more during School's Out happy hour.
Carboni's
152 Eureka St, Ballarat
For authentic Italian cuisine that gets Nonna's tick of approval, make a beeline for Carboni's.
Ballarat's little Italy is renowned for its artisan wood-fired pizzas, fresh pasta dishes, antipasti, seafood and delicious desserts.
Maccheroni al burro (fresh pasta with butter and parmigiano) and pizza maialona (tomato, mozzarella, ham, sausage and salame) are just some of the standouts on the bambini menu.
And pop into the adjoining Carboni's Next Door to stock up on pastries, gourmet panini, homemade sauces, cured meats and more.
Tim's Toasties
1 Opportunity Close, Delacombe
Coming in hot is this hidden gem courtesy of TV host and MasterChef Australia alum Tim Bone.
A long-time favourite at Ballarat's farmers' markets, Tim's Toasties now has its own shopfront with a rotating selection of gourmet toasties, along with Tim's seasoned shoestring fries and crispy tater tots.
And who needs a Happy Meal when there's the Little Rascal Deal — a kids'-size cheese/ham and cheese toastie, a side of fries or tots plus a drink.
The Little Cupcake
223 Eureka St, Ballarat
The Little Cupcake describes itself as being little by name and little by nature.
Its super adorable cupcakes are about "3-5 bites big" and are made from scratch using local ingredients.
Choose from up to 18 varieties of cupcakes in store every day, along with a small range of gluten-friendly and vegan cupcakes.
Il Piccolo Gelato
217 Sturt St, Ballarat
Who could possibly resist a visit to Il Piccolo Gelato, with up to 24 flavours available daily from a range of more than 100 flavours.
This artisan gelato is made using fresh milk, no artificial ingredients, colours or flavours. And why not try the sorbetto for a dairy-free and vegan option?
Il Piccolo can be found just metres from the Ballarat Town Hall in the city's main street.
Darrell Lea Ballarat Chocolate Experience Store
66 Bridge Mall, Ballarat
Buckle up for a sweet adventure at the Darrell Lea Ballarat Chocolate Experience Store.
Think monster shakes, towering sundaes, velvety hot chocolates and so much more.
And did someone say chocolate fondue?!
