Mercato - Daylesford, Victoria

On a brief stay in Daylesford Victoria we visited Mercato restaurant for dinner. Make sure you book ahead. We did and on a Thursday night it did get busy. We are always happy to pay well for food we expect to be better than most. In this case we were not disappointed in fact we were very delighted. Not at Rock Pool standard but then at a third the price. My pork and the wife's fish were both of good portion and superbly prepared. You will not go hungry. We did add a side and I would suggest you do but share it. Leave room for dessert. Accompanying sauces and veggies were also right up there with what you expect really good, well cooked fine food should taste and eat like.

We stayed at Ambleside only ten minutes from the restaurant on the other side of town. I would suggest, if staying at Daylesford, you also stay here. In a word - "Excellent". Back to the restaurant. Service is excellent and efficient. No long waits for your meal as would expect in any classy establishment. Not a huge selection on the food menu but the drinks menus is as thick as an encyclopaedia. I'm sure though you will find a culinary temptation or two. We did.

Décor is old world-ish as is Ambleside. Daylesford can really take you back to the "feel" of early country Victoria. Both our desserts were also very good, add this the earlier great main, a glass of fine wine and a long black to finish off and your done. And done in a nice, no, in a very nice way.

Mercato is worth a trip to Daylesford just for a fine dining experience at a more relaxed price. Stay in Daylesford and cab there and back so you can share a bottle of the local grape. An overnight stay, a walk through a nice little town and a fine meal is a good way to recharge and relax. We did and we are going back for yet another recharge. Check this one out.

Forrest Brewing Company - Forrest, Victoria.

While staying at Separation Creek, on the west coast Victoria, we decided to drive back though the Otway's  to have lunch at Forrest Brewing Company. As advertised, more than a micro-brewer, it is a nice restaurant\café. Personally I didn't sample the beers as I was designated drive but did have one of the local reds. All good. Let's start with the staff. Very friendly, they just want your experience to be memorable. You can graze indoors or out. Being warmish we chose outside looking out over the main road. Not a bad spot as traffic was light and therefore no disturbing noise or petrol fumes. Before you plonk you buttocks down take a walk down the mains street. There is other eateries and I'm sure all good.

The drinks selection is extensive enough to satisfy most with, of course, the beer being the product you should try. Though I had none over lunch we did take away a four bottle sample pack of 500ml delights. The menu provided enough choices with the four of us all having something different. And what of the food? No complaints at my table. The four of us are real foodies and swing from fine dinning to quick café eating. Just one minor comment about the food; I had the ocean eight-legged bubble-headed wonder. Though tasty tough to chew, try something else.

Parking is off street and plenty of it. Just a very pleasant and friendly place to eat, old world feel, serene with lush surroundings and something different. From Melbourne it is a two hour drive and even if you are staying on the coast expect a one hour drive through hills. But then that's part of the fun, not that my three car sick passengers (winding hills and empty stomachs) will agree.