Limericks Arms Hotel

Limericks Arms Hotel in South Melbourne is what I consider to be your classic Australian pub. I'm talking an open roaring fire that makes the no-frills décor seem warm and inviting in the colder months, various TV screens for all of the local sport fanatics, staff so friendly you'd think you'd known them for years, and the sort of prices which are affordable even on the day before pay day.

Offering up traditional pub fare, it's menu features all of the pub culprits including Ale battered fish and chips, Pie of the day, Ceaser Salad and the Chicken Parma. On this occasion I couldn't go past the 'Rodriguez Parma with Napoli, ham, two types of cheeses, jalapenos, guacamole, sour cream, fries and spicy slaw.

The parma itself consisted of a plump and juicy generously sized chicken breast covered with juuuust the right amount of toppings, and the accompanying chips were crisp and well seasoned. The spicy law, however, must have been having a bad day, as it was far from spicy and was verging on bitter.

Spicy slaw aside, with its warm ambiance, friendly staff, decent food and reasonable price tag, I will definitely be back again.

Food: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Total: 10.5/15
Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some point

The Richmond Club Hotel

The Richmond Club Hotel is pretty famous for its night life - packed to the rafters most Friday and Saturday nights, it's a favourite among the locals.  It also has an incredible venue - multiple stories, indoor and outdoor spaces and a plethora of seating arrangements.  But I never really knew  whether its food was any good?

It was a hungover Monday after Labour Day Sunday, so we were looking for some hearty (and hopefully not too healthy) tucker. The menu itself is what you'd expect from a traditional pub menu - we're talking burgers, parmas and a couple of good steaks on the menu.  On this occasion we ordered the crispy calamari and the Chilli Con Carne Nachos.

Being a pub, I didn't have the highest expectations for the crispy calamari - expecting it to be on the tough and/or dull side. But it was nothing of the sort - tender on the inside and crisp on the outside, it was perfectly cooked and deliciously seasoned.

Next up was the Chilli Con Carne Nachose. Whilst the guac tasted a touch like the cheap store bought dip, and it probably spent a touch too long in the oven (where's my gooey cheese??), it wasn't a terrible dish and was definitely edible.

With its decent price tag, great vibe and friendly staff, I would not be opposed to heading back to Richmond Club Hotel for a meal.

Venue: 3.5/5
Food: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 10.5/15
Like - get around to trying it at some point

The Napier Hotel

Tucked away amongst the neighbourhood streets of Fitzroy, The Napier Hotel is a local institution. First opening its doors in 1866, this historical venue, filled with character and hipster-charm, has been serving up pub grub to its customers for years.

The menu has all of the usual pub suspects, but on this occasion I couldn't go past the traditional chips and Parma. The Parma itself was delicious - the chicken breast was fat and juicy, the cheese generous and the Napoli sauce was rich with flavour. The chips, however, were soggy (and not just the ones underneath the parma) and could have done with a touch of seasoning.

The staff were a bit short and on the unhelpful side, but with a room full of Friday night drunks, their lack of enthusiasm was somewhat understandable.

Otherwise, with its great food, outstanding atmosphere, and the sort of character you would think you could only find in a pub depicted in an American made movie on "outback Australia", it is easy to see why the The Napier Hotel is a favourite watering hole among the locals.

Venue: 3/5

Food: 3.5/5

Service: 2.5/5

Total: 9/15

Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point

210 Napier Street, Fitzroy

 

God's Kitchen

I've long been on the hunt for the perfect traditional parma. The perfect Mexican parma is a no brainer (The George in South Melbourne) but what about the perfect traditional parma with cheese, ham and Napoli sauce. Thanks to God's Kitchen, I finally found it.

Situated off the Main Street in Mornington, being a renovated church from the 1800s, the venue itself just oozes with character. Offering a cosy indoor area, and both a covered courtyard out the back and an open courtyard out the front, God's Kitchen has got every season covered which is well reflected in the number of patrons which walk through its doors. 

But onto the main event, the chicken parmigiana. The chicken was fat and juicy, the crumb was crisp, the sauce and was flavoursome and there was a generous amount of cheese smothering the delicious parcel. The chips on the side were were cooked well and the side of coleslaw was a clever alternative to the usual green soggy garden salad.

If you're ever down the Mornington Peninsula and looking for a great feed, or even just a drink in the sunshine, I'd highly recommend heading on down to God's Kitchen. 

Food: 4.5/5

Service: 3/5

Decor: 4/5

Total: 11.5/15

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon 

 

The George Hotel

Offering consistently good pub fare at very reasonable prices, The George Hotel in South Melbourne is an iconic drinking hole for many of the locals.

On Mondays you can get yourself a burger and pot for only $12, Tuesdays offer up a parma and pot for only $15 (plus FREE TRIVIA - how can you go wrong), Wednesdays are $12 steak nights, and on Thursdays $15 will get you a burrito and a pot of cider or beer.  It just so happened to be a Tuesday night on our latest visit to The George and, even though our trivia skills were dismal and I'm pretty sure we came last, the staff were terrific and the food was delicious.

Whilst it wasn't on the $15 parma menu, I couldn't go past the Mexican parma topped with bean salsa, cheese and jalapenos (on my request), served with sour cream, guacamole, chips and salad ($22).  Being one of my favourite parmas in Melbourne (indeed, it's one of the meals I have cravings for), the chicken is always thick and juicy, the accompaniments are generous (there is nothing worse than a stingy smear of avocado) and the chips are always well seasoned.  Unfortunately on this occasion it was a bit cold - but was delicious nonetheless.

If wanting to visit The George Hotel I would highly recommend going on a Tuesday night to take advantage of the free trivia - but book ahead, as the locals definitely head there early.

Food: 3.5/5
Décor: 3.5/5
Staff: 4.5/5
Total: 11.5/15
Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon.

Republica

Situated at the St Kilda Sea Baths, Republica is best known for its beachside outdoor areas - perfect for people watching and a few drinks in the sun.  But is the food any good?

Whilst not exactly cheap, Republica offers a variety of menu options, ranging from a wagyu beef rump ($39) to an assortment of pizzas (from $19).  On this occasion I went for the salami pizza with peppers, olives and salsa verde ($20).

The pizza was surprisingly delicious - the salsa verde worked well with the salami and the base was thin and crispy.  It was a tad salty for my liking, but then again, I'm not the biggest fan of salt (what was I thinking ordering a pizza with both salami and olives - the saltiest foods going around) and I'm sure it would be to most people's liking. 

Whilst in the future I may feel more inclined to pop up to Captain Baxter's for a bite to eat, if settled in for a decent Sunday sesh, Republica's food is definitely a worth a try. 

Venue: 4.5/5
Service: 3/5
Food: 3.5/5
Total: 10.5
Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some point.

La Di Da

With only a 2.4 rating on Zomato, I didn't have high hopes going into La Di Da, but luckily I was pleasantly surprised.

La Di Da offers ridiculously cheap lunch specials during the week.  For only $15 I managed to get myself  a parma with chips and salad, and a house white wine. For such good value, the parma was actually pretty good.  The chips were well seasoned and the chicken was plump and juicy - nicely topped off with a herbed napoletana sauce.

To top off the lunch, we were offered a free round of Patron shots on the way out (which were sensationally delicious!).

Let's be honest, unexpected free alcohol is always a sure way to win patrons over - but luckily the food alone was cheap / good enough for me to want to return to La Di Da soon.

Food: 3.5/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 10/15
Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some point

Prahan Hotel

With its iconic round windows, dining table come dance floor and gorgeous outdoor courtyard, Prahan Hotel is a favourite among Melbournites - but would you ever eat there?  Well we certainly did and, in a word, it was 'nice'. 

After finding ourselves a seat (please book if you want to eat there!) I decided to opt for the more traditional pub fare and went for the chicken schnitzel burger with cheese, slaw and hot sauce ($23). The chicken was cooked well but could have done with more seasoning, and the burger itself was sparse on the spicy sauce, making it lack in the necessary zing to liven up the dish.  However, the chips that accompanied the burger were well seasoned and delicious and the overall meal definitely filled me up. 

Whilst I may have just been a victim of poor ordering, the meal I had at Prahan Hotel was rather underwhelming for the $23 price-tag.  That being said, if you're feeling peckish after an afternoon of drinking and you find yourself there anyway, what's a bit of hot sauce between friends when your taste buds are tipsy?

Food: 2.5/5

Decor: 4/5

Service: 3.5/5
Total: 10/15

Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some point.
 

Saint and Rogue

With its mahogany interior, chesterfield booths and warm welcoming vibe, Saint & Rogue reminds me of an up - market pub you would find in an Australian country town.  Whilst the CBD is definitely not lacking in pubs or hotel options for lunch time dining, Saint & Rogue is definitely one of the better pubs I have tried.

Saint & Rogue offers an extensive traditional pub menu (think chicken parmas / steak sandwiches) and to eat I had the pie of the day - chicken and vegetables in white wine.  Whilst the pie usually comes with mashed potato and peas, the staff were kind enough to satisfy my hankering for chips and replaced my mash for a delicious serve of fried chippy goodness.

The filling of the pie was bursting with flavour and its pastry top was light and fluffy.  Unfortunately, the texture of the pie wasn't quite right and was rather watery - it needed a touch more thickening in order to be classified as a pie and not a soup with a pastry lid.

Two of my dining companions tried the petite chicken parma and said it was delicious. Personally I think it is an exceptional idea to offer a half of a parma over lunch - especially when you don't want to go back to your desk feeling like you have half just eaten half a chicken.
 

Overall, if you are looking for a decent pub meal in the CBD that is reasonably priced, I would recommend giving Saint & Rogue a go.

Food: 3/5
Service: 3.5/5
Décor: 4/5
Total: 10.5 / 15
Verdict: like - worth a try at some point

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Hotel Warrnambool 

Hotel Warrnambool is everything you'd expect from a good country pub - warm and cosy interior, delicious hearty food and a friendly welcoming vibe. 

Settling ourselves into the bar area, we were surrounded by eclectic lampshades, comfy couches and wooden tables in all sorts of shapes and sizes. To eat I had the chicken schnitzel with chips, salad and gravy. 

The chicken was tender, juicy and deliciously crumbed and the salad turned out to be a Greek salad - a delightful surprise given most side salads often only offer a few lettuce leaves and the odd cherry tomato. The gravy could have done with a touch more seasoning, and the chips could have gone with a bit of extra crunch - but all in all a delightful pub meal and a place I would definitely recommend people should go to if they are in Warrnambool. 

Food: 4/5

Decor: 3.75/5

Service: 3.75/5

Total: 11.5/15

Verdict: Like - worth a try at some point