This is one of those really charming country pubs. Okay, I wouldn't expect anything all that fancy…read morehere, just your standard Australian beers, so don't expect any of the craft beers you would find in the city. However, there is a charm about this place that I really liked. Sure, it is one of those pubs that has its residents, yet it was quiet enough that I could sit out the back in a really comfy chair and read a book. Well, okay, I was greeted by the dog, which I guess is why I really loved the pub, because a pub with an animal is simply awesome. And the dog is heaps friendly as well (which I suspect is because it is used to a lot of strangers wandering through).

I didn't think that this pub was too bad, especially since it does make the claim to be the oldest…read morepub in Victoria. Well, I won't argue with them on that one, since I'm certainly not an expert on the matter. Anyway, I do have to say that I liked it, even though the beer selection really wasn't particularly great. Well, it was decent enough, and the pub certainly did have a rather nice atmosphere, though it probably does have something to do with the nature of the crowds that tend to flock here. Another thing was that it did have a pretty cool beer garden, so I'll certainly be giving it points for that as well. Yeah, pretty cool pub.

Caledonia Inn/The Stump -- great priced home food in a pub setting. Unfortunately we ate there the…read morefinal night. There are a lot of trendy places in town that charge about twice what you will pay here. The food is generous and the flavor is still there. Add to this the bread, veggies and potato bar area and you have a great meal at a decent price. We had a chicken plate and a Guinness beef stew dish. Both were way too much food but we ate them since they were so good. Drinks were normal price. It could get noisy in there but it wasn't the night we were there. Music was playing over the speakers.

This was another charming little pub, and I have to admit that it was somewhat better than the…read moreprevious one that I had visited, though that probably has something to do with there being some decent beers on tap, even if the selection was somewhat limited. The service was also pretty good, and which it didn't seem as popular, it still did have a bit of charm about it. In fact it did feel like one of those places that would be quite nice to visit again if I was in the area.

Seven different mains - all superb. Delicious desserts & a great drinks menu. Lovely friendly,…read morehelpful, quick service. We had a brilliant Christmas Eve dinner. Thank you!

A very hipster place!! If it were in the US it would verge on dive bar status just given its dark…read moreand dingy (though candle-lit) quality BUT it is very cool. Indoor and outdoor seating for the bar and an excellent pizza menu- we accidentally went on 2-for-1 night, bargain!! Great pizza and good sized side salads to balance it out. Drinks menu had all you needed. And there was live music in the basement- very cool!!

My friends and I came here as a first stop on our night out together. I can safely say that this is…read moreone of the best Bars I have ever been to, it has a beautifully rustic vibe about it that feels cozy, warm and welcoming. The back Garden is also lovely in the evening with elegant lights strung overhead. I felt a deep sense of peace in this place. Would totally 100% recommend it to anyone, whether you drink or not. I can't wait to visit again. Thank you Dart and Marlin! P.S. The Bar staff were absolutely lovely, kind and attentive. Many thanks to them.

This restaurant is something that Bendigo has been lacking and needed. A fresh, modern Australian…read moretake on Asian dishes done really well. Beautiful decor, great food and cocktails. The stand out dishes on our table would have easily been the bao buns (served DIY style with the buns, crispy pork, bean shoots and coriander deconstructed for you to mix as you please, along with hoisin sauce), the vegetable spring rolls (quite large, served with greens to add on top to your liking) and sand mullet (served whole to your table to carve - be careful of the bones). We finished out the evening sitting outside, drinking espresso martinis and enjoying the warm summers night. A great experience.

The Vines is a very nice looking establishment, but if the staff don't think you're their type of…read moreclientele they will seat you at a table and proceed to ignore you. It is the place to be seen at in Ararat, but the food is overpriced and the service is pathetic. I've been there three times, the last time we walked out in disgust at the lack of customer service. We are decent people, not bogans and were treated like muck. This is a well known phenomenon in Ararat. Obviously the owners and staff think they are in Toorak! Don't bother with this eatery equivalent of a stuffed shirt. Snobsville. A great cafe with excellent, well priced food and friendly service is Café 96, otherwise known as Kerry's café. This is an independent review, I'm not affiliated with either business.

Awesome!! Ron Swanson would be at home with the quality of bacon in this house of breakfast love…read more Must have scrambled eggs.