Squires Winery - Yarawona, Victoria.

 Getting out for lunch while staying in Yarawonga a winery had to be on the top of the list. Not far out of town and not far from where we were staying was Squires Winery.  It happened to be a fine but windy day so all were inside. This made for a noisy environment so we ventured outside. Though windy we found a corner all to ourselves with no noise (apart from the wind) and no guests. 

We shared a couple pf entrees from the menu with most of the greens grown on the property. Of course there was a good local wine selection and our choices worked well with the food. Table service was provided by the owner who was chatty and friendly and talked a little about the vineyard. The food was very good and well presented and the wines excellent. Definitely a place to go and eat. It is family orientated but pick your days to go and if cold or wet you may get a quiet table inside. On a good weather day venture out. The outer areas are a little unkept, rustic and rusty but the food and wine are why you are here. The view out to the  river is very pleasant and there is wild life to watch. Parking is plentiful and service excellent, no reason not to go. 

Yarawonga Hotel - Victoria, Australia

 We spent four days in Yarawonga and looking for good places to eat. After dinning where we staying we realised we must look further afield. Glaringly the white Yarawonger Hotel is in the middle of the main street. We eat at the Sebel resort which was a little disappointing but picked up a tip from a waiter there who claimed the Hotel provided good food.  

Great tip, we booked for lunch the next day. The Hotel itself has had a few changes over the years and I read where, many years back, it was badly burnt. When rebuilt was also renamed. It still holds it’s vintage charm but has been modernised all in white. Staff were particularly friendly and knowledgeable and spoke well about the food they offer.  

When the meals arrived they were well presented and plenty to fill the hungriest of eaters. Both my wife and myself were extremely impressed with the quantity and quality of our meals which arrived promptly after ordering. There is plenty of street parking and a good size bar and though the hotel got quite busy it remains quiet inside. I would book early the locals know food is good here and a pleasant place to gather for meals and celebrations. But whatever, if in town, book in and have a meal. If like us you will want to return. 

Alatonero Greek Restaurant - McCrae, Mornington Peninsula.

 We regularly drive down the peninsula for a drive or a meal and must have passed this restaurant a dozen times not knowing it was there. It is off a side road with other shops but if you are looking out for it easy to spot. We like our greek food and thought we would give this extensive eatery a try. Glad we did.

There are a number of  large eating areas inside and out and some can be hired for  special occasions, weddings, birthdays etc. or just drop in for a meal. We did and enjoyed some truly wonderful greek style food. There are a few different ways you can order from the Alatonero menu but for us we went with four selections from the entree menu. 

What we had was excellent and we were impressed with quality and quantity. It was our intention to have dessert but we were too full so maybe next time. Service was prompt and polite and staff knowledgable, both about the food and the venue. The decor is Mykonos white and blue, very greek but pleasant. Staff dressed similarly and simply and appeared to be busy. Parking is easy but watch the signs one side of the service road is one hour the other two hour. We overstated but didn’t get booked. 

In summery this is an excellent place to eat particularly if you like Mediterranean style food, prepared and served well.Take your appetite and try as many selections as you can they are all yummy. An excellent eating experience.

Tracks Cafe - Queenstown, Tasmania.

Unassuming cafe as part of a railway museum. Not small by any means and appears to be well supported by the locals. Clean, neat and tidy. You would expect standard cafe food - coffees, burgers etc.

My selection, Fettuccini Carbonara, was a big, generous serve, hot, saucy and super delicious, far more in quality from what I expected of this cafe. My wife’s meal was also excellent and we both marvelled at the meals in front of us. We enjoyed our dinning experience here and would only suggest if in town do drop in. The food is very, very good. At least the meals we had at Tracks on Point were of top quality. Highly recommended. 

Hamer’s Bar and Bistro - Strahan, Tasmania.

In Western tassy, in some of the quiet little towns, there is not always a lot of eating places, not even a pub. Strahan did have two eateries and one IGA store. One is fast food and the other a reasonable hotel. The hotel was near where we were staying and was open for all three meals. 

First we had breakfast there - waffles - then later back for dinner. Both meals were good and the oysters OK also. These establishments must do it tough in the winter with the town almost empty and only the happy travellers like us. Pricing is pub prices. Good selection of beer on tap and good wine list plus a few bubblies. 

Parking is easy and if lucky you can park at the door. Decor is country pub and pleasant with a big open fire. Staff are knowledgeable and prompt. If in town eat here, well really you have little choice. You’ll enjoy the relaxed experience. 

Tullah Lakeside Bar and Grill - Tullah, Tasmania.

Travelling the wild west coast of Tasmania we were passing through Tullah. Hit on my wife’s eat list was the world renowned meat pies which are made and sold at a local cafe. As luck would have it we arrived a little after lunch to find the meat pies sold out. Prior to this we had coffee and cake at the Lakeside Bistro. Hungry we now decided to go back to the Lakeside Bistro for lunch. In Tullah there are not a lot of eating choices. Here there are also great photographic opportunities. 

Tullah Lakeside is accommodation and bistro, is a big rambling place and is right on the Lake which is very picturesque. Greek lamb pizza sounded good and we decided to share. Now we have all had pizza at sometime, even home made but nothing would prepare you for what the local chef here was about to magically concoct. Big, thick and extra gooey, melted cheese which stretched far above the pizza base. The base was extra delicious and the pizza wood fired. 

Biting into this delicious meal on a plate releases a super juicy mouthful of herbs, cheese and lamb filling your mouth and senses with sheer joy. My wife and self kept attempting to describe to each other the multitude of mouth filling deliciousness while stuffing more pizza in our mouth. It was filling, satisfying and an absolute delight to eat and I had to thank the chef. He was grateful for my exuberant thanks and attempt to describe just how good we both felt this pizza was. World class and crazy good. 

Mures Upstairs - Hobart, Tasmania.

About a year ago, when in Tassie, we ate at Mures downstairs, a quick fish and chips and off. This time we ate at the classier upstairs and started with a cocktail in the cocktail lounge. Warm and quiet it was a great encore to a night of classy eating. Not quite fine dinning but up there. Because you are elevated (and can take an elevator to get there) you have an excellent view of the dock, boats and surrounding buildings. At night the lights make the perfect dine-out experience. 

Décor is pleasant and a touch of elegance, parking is easy but ticketed and wait staff are polite and knowledgeable. We had two delightful courses of well prepared and served food of good quantity as you would expect and a glass of bubbly. I decided to press on to dessert but after trying to get waiter attention for twenty minutes, to order the dessert, gave up. Our metered parking was about to expire. 

We complimented the staff member taking our payment for the meals and commented on our frustration at not being able to signal wait staff. It was not a busy night and there was a number of staff on duty. For which he apologised and we also received an apology from the restaurant. That aside we would go back if in the area again. The food is definitely worth the effort and the pleasant view all adds to a great experience. Looking for a quality meal and dinning experience and love good seafood, this is where you want to be.