I've been to "Northo's" a couple times in the last few months and it's been solid in both instances.
There are largely positive reviews on Tripadvisor and Eatability that speak for themselves. The mains ranged from decent to pretty good. The big draws for me were their oysters "the Northo way" (freshly shucked with housemade mirin dressing, $18.50 for a 1/2 dozen) and the fact they had Beechworth's Chestnut Pilsner on tap. Keep in mind fresh seafood can be tricky to come by in inland Victoria too! They also had a well-rounded selection of desserts and a few cheeses to choose from. The lemon tart was solid.
It has an unassuming exterior and it's easy to pass, but the interior is roomy and chilled out and the owners/staff all have that warm small-town friendliness. It's got the typical Aussie pub/bistro vibe, but the menu is definitely a step-up from most others without becoming pretentious. Check it out if you're passing through Benalla! read more