REVIEW
In a world where nearly everything seems to be dubbed “iconic”, few restaurants achieve – and retain – icon status like Alla Wolf-Tasker’s refined slice of country style. Perched in the treetops outside postcard-perfect Daylesford, Lake House delivers a masterclass in warmly unpretentious hospitality. The four-course à la carte menu harnesses the best seasonal produce from Tasker’s nearby Dairy Flat Farm with surprise and skill – perhaps a bowl of just-pulled brassicas in Pyengana cheddar custard like a modern chawanmushi, or beautifully plated veal tartare with rich salsa tonnato and pecorino, perfect to pile on a plank of house spelt sourdough. The saucing is particularly sublime; think luxurious dashi sabayon on a pristine fillet of Blue Reef coral trout, or thick jus gras splashed over a melting Berkshire pork scotch fillet. It’s easy to see why the adjoining hotel and grounds are in demand for weddings – it’s a bucket-list experience full of romance and old-school charm.
ABOUT
Lake House
Australian
4 King St, Daylesford
(03) 5348 3329
Open Lunch Fri-Mon; Dinner daily
Chefs Alla Wolf-Tasker & Brendan Walsh
Price guide $$$
Bookings Essential
Wheelchair access Yes
This review was written independently for the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide. The guide’s reviewers visit unannounced and pay their way. To learn more about the process, head over here.
Gourmet Traveller Annual Restaurant Guide
Our guide gives a yearly snapshot of the best restaurants to eat at right now. The best-rated restaurants, as judged by the reviewers’ first-hand experience, form our national guide.
