5 days Ago By Tomas Telegramma
While the Mornington Peninsula is undeniably a year-round destination – home to some of the state’s premier regional wining and dining – it’s a true summer wonderland. It’s bordered by a pristine, ruggedly beautiful coastline; blanketed in rolling vineyards and hinterland; and best of all, it’s within 90 minutes’ drive of Melbourne’s CBD. So, whether you’re whiling away the summer on the ’Ninch or plotting a delicious day trip, here are 10 of the best spots to eat and drink this summer – from a hatted Sri Lankan hideaway and stellar Italian and Indian options to a great crop of newcomers.
The Cellar Kitchen at Avani Wines, Red Hill South Avani winery has long been an incubator for some of Melbourne’s most exciting Indian talent , hosting summer pop-ups by the likes of Biji Dining, Saadi and more. But now owners Shashi and Devendra Singh have introduced a permanent cellar door offering. Fridays through Sundays, there’s a wine-friendly, share-style Indian menu that could include buffalo paneer salad and a lamb shoulder dish from the Indian city of Lucknow.
98 Stanleys Road, Red Hill South, avanisyrah.com.au Nora’s Pizza House, Rye If you’re hurtling down Point Nepean Road towards the tip of the Mornington Peninsula, Nora’s Pizza House is a tasty new reason to make a pit stop in Rye.
It’s by Kael Sahely and Mike Arena (St Paul’s General Store) and chef Safal Aryal (ex-Neighbourhood Pizza). Gather your mates, commandeer a sea-breezy picnic table out front, and go hard on Italian classics, from arancini and spicy vodka rigatoni, to pizzas of all descriptions. 2113 Point Nepean Road, Rye, noraspizzahouse.
com.au The Rooftop at Hotel Sorrento, Sorrento After unveiling luxe new suites (plus a pool and day spa) last year, the multidimensional Hotel Sorrento has continued its evolution with a 320-person rooftop bar and diner, inspired by those on the French Riviera. Neutral tones let the sparkling sea view shine, while the offer seamlessly transitions from day to night, so you can snack on lobster rolls and sip spritzes in the arvo, then stick around for more cocktails long after sunset.
Shop 5, 15 Hotham Road, Sorrento, hotelsorrento.com.au Pizza Luna pop-up at Quealy Winemakers, Balnarring Every weekend until the end of January, a visit to the cellar door of respected Mornington Peninsula winery Quealy also means an opportunity to try the long-fermented, leopard-crusted sourdough pizzas of recently established pop-up Luna.
Set up alongside the lo-fi Quealy HQ, Luna turns out a tight edit of pizzas, from a classic marg to a confit-garlic number, to enjoy with a glass of top-notch pinot grigio (or noir). 62 Bittern-Dromana Road, Balnarring, quealy.com.
au Terasu pop-up at the Portsea Hotel, Portsea This bang-on-the-beachfront beauty has a pretty unbeatable outlook, but there’s a new drawcard this summer. Until January 19, Tokyo-born chef Yukio Ozeki will bring his Townsville restaurant, Terasu, to the Portsea Hotel ’s Bertrand Bar for an upmarket Japanese dining experience. The six-course, $150-a-head set menu includes rock lobster chawanmushi, intricately presented sushi and sashimi, plus sake-spiked cocktails.
3746 Point Nepean Road, Portsea, portseahotel.com.au Regional Italian cooking at Bau Bau , Mount Eliza Even if you’re a regular at this much-loved Mount Eliza Italian, it’s impossible to get bored.
Produce comes from the owners’ market garden, prompting a rewrite of the fixed-price menu every few weeks. At lunch, there’s a special two-course menu with salad and a glass of wine for $90. 18 Ranelagh Drive, Mount Eliza, baubaudining.
com.au Spice Island snacks and feasts at Many Little, Red Hill South Chef Gayan Pieris presents his vision of Sri Lankan dining in the unexpected setting of a cluster of shops in Red Hill South. Focusing on Victorian produce, he serves “short eats” (snacks), larger plates, and curries such as central Victorian duck accompanied by curried peanuts and a zesty pineapple relish.
Shops 2-5, 159 Shoreham Road, Red Hill South, manylittle.com.au Natural Italian wines, big flavours at Mr Vincenzo’s , Mornington This Italian diner and wine bar combines a tight, bright menu with wines from cult producers spanning Piedmont to Sicily.
Grilled radicchio might bring an assertive note to vitello tonnato made with lightly seared veal backstrap, and lemon zest may brighten house-made ricotta tortelloni. 784 Esplanade, Mornington, mrvincenzos.com Relaxed fine dining at Moke, Flinders Against a cottage-like backdrop of rustic timber, colonial-style windows, and a bluestone fireplace, the deft flavour combinations exiting Moke’s hatted kitchen seem like a cunning sleight of hand.
Classic European technique and on-trend Aussie ingredients meld beautifully in dishes such as poached orange roughy with tagliatelle-like strands of squid in a finger lime-spangled beurre blanc. 60 Cook Street, Flinders, mokedining.com.
au Dine among the vines at Polperro, Red Hill South Everything feels easy at this luxe farmhouse-style winery restaurant. Not least because the set menu offers a parade of skilfully executed small dishes, such as swordfish tartare with wasabi oil and flying fish roe, followed by a main course such as dry-aged duck breast glazed with plum vinegar. In sunny weather, head to the deck for a deconstructed dessert.
150 Red Hill Road, Red Hill South, polperrowines.com.au 10 of Victoria’s best regional pubs worth planning a road trip around The Good Food guide to eating and drinking in Dromana.
