REVIEW
Locally sourced goat, storied wines from a cellar that holds up to 30,000 bottles, and a kitchen plot bigger than most market gardens. This is the culinary toybox available to chef Robin Wickens. There can be few shorter distances from paddock to plate than at this upmarket country pub in Victoria’s pastoral Western District. A tender slice of goat comes with the tang of Japanese pepper and beets. Duck served with its dinner (if it eats fermented barley, turnips and white strawberries, you do, too) is a signature. Menus come with extra snacks – tuna banh mi, or Rocket Fuel, a foamy cocktail of ginger, rocket and lemon sorbet. To finish? A slab of chocolate ganache, caramel ice-cream and hemp seed wafers. The comfortably elegant room may divide diners with its somewhat prosaic architecture, but this much is true: service is spot-on, the food memorable, the wines unforgettable and the location beside the Grampians’ Mt Sturgeon unique.
Phone:
(03) 5577 2241
Website:
Bookings:
Bookings essential
Features:
Licensed
Bar
Vegetarian-friendly
Wheelchair Access
Private room
Impressive Wine List
Accepted card types:
American Express
Eftpos
MasterCard
Visa
Chef(s):
Robin Wickens
This review was made independently for the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide. The guide’s reviewers visit unannounced and pay their way.
Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide
Food: ★
Wine: ★ ★ ★
Gourmet Traveller’s star-ratings, which range from zero to three stars, reflect reviewers’ first-hand experiences. The best-rated restaurants form our national Top 100. Our wine ratings, from zero to three stars, are made by wine editor Max Allen on the strength of the quality of the restaurant’s wine list. View our rating key here.
