After a LONG drive through Victoria's Great Ocean Road, we needed some food - like whoa. These…read moresmall ocean towns are not known for staying open late, and Austrailia doesn't have a strong Yelp scene - so we thought we'd gamble on Pippies before hitting the local Mackers if it was closed.
As we walked up, we could smell the bay from the steps. It immediately put us in a seafood kinda mood. The menu was diverse and they had the local flare.
Stepping in, we asked the server if they were closed -- and alas -- she told us that they had just closed for the night. Well, we were disappointed.
As we were walking away, the manager ran out the door and said "please come in! We'll stay open for you!!" It was music to our ears!
I ordered a glass of local white wine and my husband had a locally brewed beer. The prices for alcohol are determined by taxes, so they don't control them. Also keep in mind that they pay their servers a livable wage, so the costs of restaurant food reflects that. This was definitely a "higher end" establishment though with mains starting at around $20.
The restaurant is nicely appointed and modern, very clean. There's a gift shop next door that looked nice, although closed after 8 pm. They're situated right on the bay and it would be an incredible view during daylight.
We first ordered the abalone for the appetizer (entree). I ordered the seafood plate and my husband ordered the scotch filet. The seafood was incredibly fresh -- and I got to try a yabbie!! Lots of large prawns, scallops, calamari. The fish and chips were fresh and juicy. The filet was cooked to perfection.
We had another glass of wine and chatted with the waitress for a while. Then, headed off to our campsite with our bellies full.