Cubbyhouse Canteen

CUBBYHOUSE Canteen might just be the new benchmark for child-friendly cafes. It's run by sisters Narelle and Bec Thompson, both with backgrounds in early childhood development.

Together, they have about 30 years' experience working as nannies and in daycare and from the moment you arrive, you can tell they have a deep understanding of The Toddler.

Open for almost a year, the Cubbyhouse is in the former clubhouse/kiosk of the Malvern Tennis Centre, transformed into a fresh, airy space with flower-painted walls, smart wooden decking and a mural of vintage Golden Book covers.

Tennis courts flank one side, parkland the other and there's an enclosed playground with toddler-sized equipment. Over yonder is a bigger playground and shady trees - take one of the Cubbyhouse's picnic rugs, find a patch of grass and staff will deliver your food.

At the parkside counter window, purpose-built steps allow kids to ''play shops'' for real, ordering by themselves while mum or dad watches.

''They get that maths exchange and interaction,'' says Narelle.

Indoors, tables are low-set, many with small terrariums - so '70s, so awesome (I was obsessed with ours as a nipper). There's also playdough, bubble-blowing equipment and eight clean highchairs.

Staff keep a watchful eye - ''Your son is drinking the dog-water,'' for example - and all have experience working with children. There are two menus, one for ''little people'', the other for ''bigger people'', offering ''yummy sambos'', toasties and wraps, such as smoked salmon and goat's cheese.

Kids' dinners can be booked from 5pm and the Cubbyhouse does children's parties, too.

When I was there, prep was under way - mini iced cupcakes, inviting triangles of fairy bread, bite-sized sausage rolls, chicken sandwiches and ''racing bears'' with teddies and Smarties for wheels.

The ''cheeky monkey'', a honey-swirled cinnamon banana smoothie, is popular.

Toasties, made with La Madre bread, are cut into soldiers, and the bento boxes (the Cubbyhouse version of the Happy Meal) include any fresh or toasted sandwich, a skewer of fresh fruit with a marshmallow, a cupcake and a toy - this week it's a jumping frog.

Next year, they plan to have exercise books for the regulars with the child's photo on the cover.

As one customer remarked: the Cubbyhouse is like a children's version of Cheers. If only every suburb had something this good.

■Cubbyhouse Canteen is closed from Friday until January 11.  

Where Malvern Tennis Centre, 43a Union Street, Armadale, 0421 173 886

Prices Breakfasts, $4-$13; lunches, $6-$13

Cards MC V Eftpos

Unlicensed

Open Mon-Thurs and Sat, 8am-6pm; Fri, 8am-4.30pm; Sun, 8am-2pm

Cuisine Cafe

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