Are you searching the web to find a lekker Family-friendly restaurants in Bedfordview to take the fam to? Guess what? We've got you sorted! From good old steakhouses to fish and chips hangouts, we've got them all! But before the kids start screaming for chicken nuggets, let's get started, shall we?
John Dory's
John Dory's at Bedford Centre provides the ultimate family-friendly dining experience. With a separate play area for the kids and yummy family platters on sushi, seafood and grills, there is no better place to enjoy dinner out with the family. The restaurant also boasts quite an impressive view so you and your partner can enjoy a spot of romance while the kiddies play.
Details: (Tel) 011 615 3846 | [email protected] | Shop M13, Bedford Centre, Cnr Smith Road & Van Der Linde, Bedfordview, Germiston.
Spur
Who hasn't enjoyed family dinner at Spur? This beloved family-friendly restaurant chain has two branches located in Bedfordview. Treat the kids to a night out and come and enjoy premium cut steaks, burgers and ribs at Spur. Little ones are kept out of trouble by Spur's colouring activities, play centres and tales of chiefs of a bygone era. For those nights you simply can't juggle being parent and chef, Spur is the perfect dining option.
Spur Bedford Centre: (Tel) 011 616 1353 | [email protected] | Shop U45, Bedford Centre, Smith Rd, Bedfordview, Germiston.
Spur Eastgate: (Tel) 011 615 5002 | [email protected] | Shop U63/66, Eastgate Shopping Centre, 43 Bradford Road, Bedfordview, Germiston.
Wimpy
Saturday morning breakfast with the kids can be a nightmare. Everyone wants something different to eat and no one can agree on what to watch on television. Round up your brood and bring them to Wimpy at Bedford Centre instead! Here each one can pick and choose their own delicious brekkie and have a jolly good time. Whether you are a waffles in the morning type or eggs and bacon addict, Wimpy is the ideal family-friendly breakfast destination.
Details: (Tel) 011 615 7149 | Shop U56, Bedford Centre, Cnr Smith Road & Van Der Linde, Bedfordview, Germiston.
Chevy Lane
Chevy Lane
Now for something a little bit different. Chevy Lane is a quirky 1950s inspired American diner located at Bedford Centre. Their menu features an array of indulgent waffles, burgers, pizzas and hotdogs, as well as the best milkshakes in Bedfordview. Bring the kids to Chevy Lane after a jump session at Gravity or a movie at NuMetro Cinemas. It's the perfect spot for birthdays and celebrations. P.S: There is a separate cigar lounge and whisky bar for parents to enjoy.
Details: (Tel) 074 919 2739 / 011 615 2450 | Shop M7, Bedford Centre, Cnr Smith Road & Van Der Linde, Bedfordview, Germiston.
Mochachos
Does your bambino love Mexican-inspired cuisine? Pop by Mochachos at Key West Centre to pick up a family fiesta. The menu here features both family-style meals and separate kiddies' meals. Our top pick is the Family Fiesta meal - a full chicken, served with chips or wedges, coleslaw or a garden salad and four rolls. Mochachos also serves a variety of desserts, so you can enjoy a full family dinner without the added fuss of cooking and clearing up.
Details: (Tel) 011 450 3356 / 011 450 3638 | Shop 8, Key West Shopping Centre, 43 Van Buuren Road, Bedfordview, Germiston.
Mozambik
How about a taste of Afro-Porto fusion and oodles of family-fun? Visit Mozambik Restaurant on the piazza at Eastgate Shopping Centre to experience the flavours of Mozambique. Let the kids play on the outdoor jungle gyms while you soak up the beachside atmosphere and sip on a cheeky cocktail (or two). The Tipo Tinto and Sparletta Sparberry mix cocktail jug is said to be heavenly. Don't be surprised if this becomes you and the kid's top weekend hangout.
Details: (Tel) 011 615 0304 | [email protected] | Eastgate Shopping Centre, Shop R14, 43 Bradford Rd, Bedfordview, Germiston.
Mozambik at Eastgate Shopping Centre.
Piatto
Another one of Eastgate Shopping Centre's top child-friendly restaurants, Piatto offers an extensive kiddies' menu. From breakfast to supper, Piatto caters to little tummies. Serving up wholesome meals packed with flavours the kids will love, Piatto is our number one spot for Sunday lunch with the family. Sip leisurely on a glass of red or white while the kids play on the piazza. You'll surely feel relaxed and ready for the manic week ahead after dining here. Piatto is the is one of the best when it comes to Family-friendly restaurants in Bedfordview.
Details: (Tel) 011 622 3009 | Store R12, Eastgate Shopping Centre, 43 Bradford Rd, Bedfordview, Germiston.
Adega
Adega is one of Bedfordview's many popular Portuguese restaurants. Known for its delicious seafood platters, grilled chicken and spicy rich dishes, Adega is also a great place to take the kids out for a bite to eat. Above and beyond the sumptuous food offerings there is a play area just outside the restaurant to keep them entertained. Adega offers specials throughout the week and on weekends, so you're always sure to get a good deal fit to feed the whole family. The monk knows best! That's why they're on the list when it comes to Family-friendly restaurants in Bedfordview.
Details: (Tel) 011 450 4646 | [email protected] | 1 Park Street, Bedfordview, Germiston.
Kiddilicious
Sometimes the very last thing you want is to cart the kids off to a restaurant cramped inside a mall shopping centre. If your little ones could use a good dose of the outdoors, bring them to Kiddilicious - an outdoor kid's play centre, party venue and restaurant. Parents are welcome to sit on the deck to enjoy a breakfast platter or mid-morning mocktails while the children play to their heart's content in the gardens. Their kid's menu is also known to appease even the fussiest of eaters, so be sure to visit as soon as you can.
Details: (Tel) 076 358 6003 | [email protected] | 15 Nicol Road, Bedfordview, Germiston.
Photo sourced from Happily Ever Laughter on Facebook.
Happily Ever Laughter
Moms and daughters, we are sure you could use a break from the boys every now and then. For when you've had enough of Dad's jokes and pestering big brothers, visit Happily Ever Laughter to enjoy a much needed break. Here you will find a delightful kiddies' play centre, party venue and restaurant. Put on your Sunday best and come and enjoy a picture perfect afternoon tea complete with mini quiches, fruit kebabs, chocolate brownies, cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, mini cupcakes, mini lemon meringue, scones and tea or coffee. (Dads are allowed too, so long as they promise to behave themselves!) it's all in the name! Happily Ever Laughter is defs worth checking out when it comes to Family-friendly restaurants in Bedfordview.
Details: (Tel) 011 450 0711 | [email protected] | 24A Riley Rd, Bedfordview, Germiston.
Vini's
Vini's has been in the business of churning out happy, satisfied customers since 1992. An Italian meets continental dining experience awaits you at the restaurant's lush outdoor piazza. Bring the kids along to enjoy wood-fired pizza, authentic Italian pasta and delicious family-style spreads. Vini's serves a classic Sunday lunch roast with all the trimmings as well. Join them for a breezy lunch and live music in the summertime or a warming roast to feed the whole family in the colder months.
Details: (Tel) 011 455 1731 | [email protected] | 12 Kings Rd, Bedfordview, Germiston.
The Fat Mermaid
Bedfordview boasts a number of Greek and Mediterranean restaurants. However, only one can truly call itself kid-friendly. The Fat Mermaid offers an attraction most restaurants simply cannot - a swimming pool! During the long summer school holidays this is the top spot in Bedfordview for fresh, filling meals and ample fun. Soak up the sun while sipping on a refreshing iced coffee and watch as the kids have a ball splashing about in the crystal clear water. It's a definite must-visit.
Details: (Tel) 011 450 0053 | 4 Jasmine Road, Bedfordview, Germiston.
The Fat Mermaid
Fiddlewoods Restaurant
Last but certainly not least on this list is Fiddelwoods Restaurant. Situated at Ryan's Nursery and Garden Centre, this quaint coffee shop and restaurant is geared towards family-friendly dining. Surrounded by the smell and sights of the plant nursery, the restaurant features a kiddies' play area and resident parrot. The menu spans a variety of cuisines, including Italian, Greek and Portuguese. Meet up with other moms, dads and tots here for Saturday brunch or afternoon tea. It's a great place to take a breather from the madness of parenting.
Details: (Tel) 082 865 2528 | Geldenhuis Estate Cnr. Kings Rd and, Skeen Blvd, Bedfordview, Germiston.
Eastgate Shopping Mall
Eastgate first opened in 1979. Since then it has undergone renovation, reconstruction and expansion to bring you an even better retail experience. This mega mall now houses over 300 stores, many of which are branded fashion emporiums. Eastgate is known for having something for every kind of shopper - from the kiddies to busy moms and dads, teens, young adults and even grandma. They pride themselves on being a lifestyle hub in Bedfordview, offering an array of restaurants, clothing stores, homeware and boutique shops.
Eating at Eastgate
Eastgate boasts an impressive food court. Whether you are in the mood for fast food, oven-fired vegan pizza or gourmet tjips, the food court is sure to have something to curb your cravings. While it's almost impossible to pick a favourite, we have to give a special nod to Primi. Their outdoor deck overlooks the Bedfordview suburb, making it the perfect place to chill out with friends or for a Friday night date. Plus, Primi's pizzas are made to perfection - a thin base, just the right amount of Napoletana sauce and the freshest toppings. Their cocktails are pretty good, too.
For kiddie-friendly options, pop into Mantovani's or Mozambik. Mantovani's is the ideal place to take the family out to dinner. Their Half-Price Pizza Tuesdays are famous for being crowd pleasers, as are their steaks and selection of wines. Mozambik offers something a little different - an Afro-Porto fusion of flavours with a dedicated kiddies menu and play area. What more could you ask for?
Click here to read our full article on dining out at Eastgate.
Photo credit: https://www.yomzansi.com/
Shopping
You could well and truly get lost at Eastgate Shopping Mall. Next time you feel the shopping spree itch, head on over to check out their variety of department stores, fashion boutiques and homeware emporiums. Our must-visit fashion store at the centre is H&M. This store stretches on for what feels like forever, displaying aisle upon aisle of trendy fashion staples for work and play.
When it comes to home and interior, you are spoiled for choice. Shop around at Coricraft, House & Home, Carrol Boyes and Mr Price Home for all your decorating needs.
Lastly, for good old grocery shopping, roll your trolley into Checkers Hyperama, Woolworths or Game. These supermarkets are great for Christmas shopping or month end grocery dashes. The queues can be quite hectic, but you can always pop into the Lindt chocolate shop for a special treat afterwards.
Entertainment
Eastgate knows the meaning of bigger is better and more is more. This is more than just a shopping mall, it's a hive of entertainment for all ages. The kids can have their fill of fun at The Fun Company arcade. With tons of games, bowling and snooker, this is a paradise for kids.
Right opposite the arcade, you will find Hamley's toy store. Let the kids be entertained by the princesses, clowns and giant teddy bears. The Hamley's train also makes its way through the mall every half an hour. Never again will a child cry crocodile tears over having to go shopping with mom or dad!
Older kids can catch the latest movies at Ster-Kinekor's IMAX Theatres. Featuring 10 cinemas, this is one of Ster-Kinekor's largest movie houses. Luxury cinema seating and a Pizza Hut menu to order adds to the experience. Click here to see Ster-Kinekor's latest blockbuster offerings at Eastgate.
Bedford Centre
Believe it or not, Bedford Centre is even older than Eastgate! Originally developed in the early 1970s, Bedford Centre underwent massive reconstruction in 2006. Bringing shoppers the ultra-chic, European-inspired Bedford Piazza, this expansion saw the mall become a premium retail and restaurant destination. Featuring 62 000 square meters of retail space with 170 stores, numerous delectable eateries, a Planet Fitness Mega Club and two pristine cinema houses, Bedford Centre is a fine choice for local shoppers and visitors.
Fine Dining at Bedford Centre
Bedford Centre puts a classy spin on the idea of a mall food court. Surrounding the open air piazza, these restaurants offer cuisines ranging from Greek and Italian to Mexican and Portuguese. So, whether you are looking for a decadent slice of cake, a tequila party or a classic date-night restaurant, Bedford Centre should have something right up your alley.
On the east side of the mall there are also a number of takeaway and family-oriented eateries. If you visit only one, we recommend Chevy Lane. A retro-inspired diner, complete with chequered tiles, Chevy replicas and pinball machines. This milkshake and burger joint provides good food, entertainment and a vibe unlike any other. Grown ups can take some time out at the adjoining Hollywood Detour Bar which has an incredible view of the suburb, while kids are sure to be delighted by the props, costumes and colourful treats on offer.
Retail Therapy
The greatest thing about Bedford Centre is that you can shop in relative peace for most of the year. While it does tend to get a little mad around the holidays, off-peak time is a shopaholics dream. You can easily have an entire shopping trip at the centre without becoming overwhelmed by crowds or noise.
Bedford Centre is home to all the good oldies when it comes to clothing and fashion. Edgars, Pick n Pay Clothing, Mr Price, Cotton On and Foschini are all located on the ground level. Hop from one store to the next to find that perfect outfit or accessory. Plus, these stores often have seasonal sales, so you can score a number of bargains in one shopping trip.
For interesting curio stores and geeky havens, visit Heroes of Games and Comics. This quirky store greets you with Harry Potter memorabilia displays, Marvel figurines and DC branded hoodies. It's the perfect place to pick up a gift for a fanatic friend. Just across it, you will find Planes, Trains and Automobiles - a specialised hobby store, offering repairs to radio controlled planes, cars and boats. All your comic, craft and curio need are sorted!
Click here for a full rundown of the exciting retail options at Bedford Centre.
Family Fun
Bedford Centre makes up for its seemingly small stature with tons of fun entertainment for the whole family. With two prestige cinema complexes, ArtJamming, VR Gaming and a Gravity Jump Centre, you and the kids will never be bored here. That's why during school holidays, this is a kiddies playground.
However, adults haven't been forgotten. Bedford Centre's Exclusive Books caters to the bookworms and scribes, while the outdoor piazza often hosts fun runs and Halloween dress up parties for the whole family. Additionally, there is a baby grand piano just outside Foschini which often sees musicians perform impromptu concerts.
The Verdict
Eastgate Shopping Mall and Bedford Centre each offer their own special retail and entertainment experiences. Visit them both to pick your favourite, or hop between the two to make the most of the Bedfordview retail mile.
Happy Shopping!
Chevy Lane
This American-style diner at Bedford Centre offers up delectable burgers, waffles, milkshakes and hot dogs. The garage theme encompasses cars, street signs, a petrol station and even a car crash scene. The venue features entertainment for all ages with a cigar bar for the grown ups and a jungle gym, arcade games and adjoining ice cream parlour for the kids.
Mama Taco
This Mexican fast food chain offers up a delicious variety of Mexican food including tacos, quesadillas, burritos, nachos and churros. Perhaps our favourite menu item, Mama Taco has a Build Your Own option. Patrons can choose their base of a taco, burrito, Muncho Bowl or nachos and stuff it their very own choice of grains, protein, veggies, cheese and salsa.
Kong Sing
This Chinese restaurant specialises in sushi and dim sum. Their menu has a wide variety of deliciously flavourful soups, chop suey, chow mein, curry, sweet and sour dishes, dim sum and sushi. We love their selection of desserts which includes deep fried ice cream, deep fried bananas, bow ties and crispy buns.
Brooklyn Brothers
For gourmet burgers, dessert style milkshakes, crunchy chips, sticky ribs and perfectly cooked chicken wings, head to Brooklyn Brothers. This urban-style diner offers up dude-food that ladies can pig out on, too. Although, there is no actual pig as this establishment is Halaal certified.
Calistos
With Portuguese flavours and flair, Calistos Bedford Centre offers all the scrumptious Portuguese classics. These include items like the Trinchado, Prawns, Rissoles, Piri-piri and Prego. But their menu also has some unique finds such as the Argentinian Steak, Chicken Schnitzel and Avocado Ritz. All this can be enjoyed with their fine selection of imported cognac, premium whiskey and cigars.
Mythos
Deliciously prepared traditional Greek food can be found at this eatery. Mythos serves authentic pitas and dips, meze, souvlaki, yiro and all the other Greek food we've come to know and love. Their range of desserts, or glika, stands out from the crowd with the choices or loukoumades, baklava, rizogalo and kataifi.
Lupa Osteria
This Italian restaurant, named for the Roman Goddess, prepares mouthwatering meals consisting of antipasti, pasta, pizza and main meals. They also have a vegan menu with vegan pasta, pizza and dessert choices on offer. Their wine and liquor menu is extensive with many interesting and tasty cocktails.
Salsa Mexican Grill
Bedford Centre has another Mexican offering, but in the form of a restaurant this time. Not only can you find tasty and spicy nachos, enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas, platitos and fajitas, but you can also get craft gin, tequila and beer. Finish off your meal with a thick and creamy milkshake, available in six flavours.
Banjaara
We complete our round-the-world trip at Bedford Centre with delectable North Indian cuisine. Bunny chow, tandoori breads, roti rolls, tandoori grills, briyani as well as chicken, vegetarian, seafood and lamb dishes grace the menu. Their meals are available in mild, medium or hot options and they are Halaal certified.
PHMIC
We can't resist the sweeter side of life, and what's sweeter than Paul's Homemade Ice Cream? Bedford Centre is one of the few, if not the only, locations in the east where we can get a lick of these indulgent scoops. Favourite flavours include Passion Fruit and White Chocolate; Mint Chocolate Brownie; Vegan Strawberry; Chocolate, Nutella and Oreo and Birthday Cake.
Contact details: Bedford Centre | 011 622 1840 | Cnr Smith & Van der Linde Rd, Bedfordview | [email protected] | http://www.bedfordcentre.com
To find more weird and wonderful things worth exploring at Bedford Centre, check out this nifty article.
Dining Out
Chevy Lane
The scene at this American-style restaurant is set with vintage cars, street signs and diner style seating. This one-of-a-kind eatery is the ultimate spot to grab a gourmet burger, delectable milkshake, yummy desserts and a few retro Instagram shots.
Lupa Osteria
Lupa Osteria is an authentic Italian restaurant offering mouthwatering pizza, pasta, antipasti and truly scrumptious Italian desserts. Their menu also includes vegan antipasti, pizza, pasta and desserts. This is the place to be if you want to experience genuine Italian fare made with traditional methods.
Mythos
Voted Best Greek Restaurant by Best of Joburg, Mythos serves up some of the best meze, souvlaki and yiros in Joburg. With a decadent range of Glika Desserts including Rizagalo, Loukoumades, Baklava, Kataifi and Baklava Cheesecake, this eatery is sure to be a hit with any sweet tooth.
Salsa Mexican Grill
America, Italian, Greek and now Mexican. Bedford Centre truly offers a round the world cuisine experience. Mexican cuisine featured here include sumptuous quesadillas, burritos, tacos, nachos, platitos, ensaladas and churros. They also offer a wide array of craft tequila which includes The Reaper HP22B, a chilli tequila that's so spicy, you'll need to sign a disclaimer before trying it.
Retail Therapy
The Tea and Coffee Emporium
Get all your coffee and tea needs including ground coffee, coffee beans, coffee capsules, coffee machines, coffee grinders, milk frothers, tea infusers, tea pots, black tea, herbal tea, green tea, loose tea, hot chocolate and syrups at this emporium.
1959
This store specialises in all types, shapes, sizes, flavours and colours of sweets. Visit this store to find a wide selection of Lindt, Tolberone and giant M&M chocolates. You can also get new and interesting cool drinks, unique jelly beans, tough wine gums, sticky marshmallow fluff, minty gum and boxed truffles for that special someone.
Plains Trains and Automobiles
This specialised hobby store offers service and repairs to remote controlled airplanes, cars and boats. This is a paradise for die-hard collectors with a passion for diecast, plane, train, car and boat models, whether they are starting out or have been at the game for years.
Heroes of Games and Comics
Besides the huge and well-stocked Exclusive Books, Bedford Centre is also home to a comic book store. Heroes of Games and Comics offers everything from graphic novels and manga to trading cards and super hero collectibles. Whether you're team Marvel, team DC or altogether prefer Dark Horse, this is the place to find the next item of your collection.
Entertain Me
Movies
Bedford Centre offers not one, but two cinemas, Nu Metro and Ster-Kinekor. The Ster-Kinekor theatre offers six screens, all making use of the latest technology to showcase the best entertainment for audiences. The Nu Metro cineplex offers luxurious viewings with the leather recliners, bar, VIP lounge and à la carte menu.
Find out more about Ster-Kinekor here and Nu Metro here.
Artjamming
Have fun painting the town red at Artjamming. Choose from 12 different canvas sizes and spend hours painting, sponging and spraying with any of the 45 available colours. And the best part, you don't have to spend hours cleaning paint off clothes, the floor and brushes.
Blue Ocean
This virtual reality arcade has the latest technology and games, with a 3 x 4 m green gaming area, headset and two motion controllers. Have a blast experiencing something new in an alternate reality and finally learn what all the virtual reality fuss is about.
Gravity
Gravity is a fun and interactive jumping park with wall-to-wall, floor level trampolines. Children, parents, adults, friends and family can all spend an exhilarating day jumping off that extra energy. You'll have so much fun, you won't even notice those calories burning off.
Contact details: 011 622 1840 / Cnr Smith & Van der Linde Rd, Bedfordview / [email protected] / http://bedfordcentre.com
Chevy Lane is hidden away on the top floor of Bedford Centre in Bedfordview. This is a retro-styled diner inspired by the 50s, serving up American food serving up burgers to hot-dogs and everything in between.
Walking in, everything about this restaurant screams diner, from the black and white tiled floors, to the tables and chairs, the pinball machines and retro cars. One almost expects to see the waiting staff riding around on skates. The first thing you see is half a car stuck to the wall with bricks sticking out every which way, made to look like it had driven into a wall. Further in, there is a jungle gym and play area for the little kids, as well as pinball machines for the older kids and adult kids. You can sit in the diner-style seats, out on the veranda or in one of the classic cars that has been turned into tables.
For drinks, we ordered milkshakes. Simply because we can't try out Joburg's biggest diner-style restaurant without having a milkshake. He had a Trump - a vanilla and ginger biscuit concoction with a spicy ginger kick. I chose the Blueberry Cheesecake - crushed biscuits topped with a deliciously bright purple creation that tasted like heaven. Other milkshakes worth trying out are the Elvis, Cookie Monster and Cherry Cola. If you're in the mood for some a little stronger, try one of their spiked milkshakes in Roasted Hazelnut, Salted Caramel and Popcorn. For those not be worried about their waistline, Chevy Lane has a range of freak milkshakes available in Caramel, Bacon & Waffle, Death by Chocolate and Floating on Cloud 9 (blueberry, marshmallow and candyfloss).
For starters, we chose the Mozzarella Battens, as we are suckers for crispy melted cheese, or any cheese really. This is mozzarella cylinders crumbed and fried, served with a sweet and spicy chilli dipping sauce. Another starter worth trying out are the Mixed Poppers, chilli and peppadews stuffed with cream cheese and bacon, battered and fried, served with your choice of sour cream or BBQ sauce.
Now for the main course! I chose the regular nachos - a huge plate of crispy corn chips layered with a spicy salsa and topped with a very generous amount of cheese. All of this was served up with a bowl full of guacamole. My partner decided to try out The Mustang Monster Burger - a huge beef patty topped with bacon, egg, grilled mushrooms, cheese and onion rings. Oh boy, was this burger certainly worth the title of 'Monster Burger'!
For dessert, they have some decadent options. Such as their selection of waffles and crepes. But, our choice would have been the selection of three miniature desserts; apple pie, pumpkin pie and cheesecake. We did not get any of these desserts because they have an adjoining ice cream parlour, where you can get some creamy and frosted goodness. For a grownup "dessert", you can go to the built in Hollywood Detour Bar for a nightcap of whiskey, wine and cigars.
