This little cafe is bursting with gourmet goodness and Art Deco inspired country charm…read more Boasting three seating areas, you can choose to people watch in the atrium, read a magazine in the main dining room or chill out in the courtyard. The main dining room has two open fire places and plenty of room to relax in. The staff here are simply divine. Well presented and very knowledgable on the local produce and wine on offer. The breakfast menu was short and succinct. Offering a little something for everyone. We opted for porridge with poached fruit and poached eggs on toast. A word of warning the meal servings are very generous! While the menu suggests a Melbourne flare, you won't be served up delicate dishes to nibble on. The coffee was so-so but redeemed itself when served in local Bendigo Pottery crafted vessels. Worth a stop by on a chilly mornings drive. Definitely a best of brunch venue.

The Vines had been an institution in Ararat for years. It is one of the best places in rural…read moreAustralia for delicious food and great coffee.

Stopped in for a quick snack on our way to Adelaide and was blown away by this cute little old…read morefashioned diner! Historical ads and pages from the Woman's Weekly Magazine paper the walls (think 1950s and earlier) and you must make a quick trip to the restroom to check out the decor! Lamb, feta and spinach sausage roll was absolutely delicious - big enough for a decent snack for two and perfectly balanced with the gaminess of the lamb and the saltiness of the feta! Tempted by the HUGE biscuits but needed to get back on the road and not in a food coma!! Stop by.. The food and the atmosphere is awesome!!

This local favourite is so much better than it looks. A wide variety of rolls and quiches and cakes…read moreplus some creative extras eg fruit salad ( pineapple and berries) with chia yoghurt Watch out for homemade iced tea on hot days.

Quaint surroundings with space out the back for kids to run around and a great menu selection…read more Although it's not in the heart of Ballarat it's only a short scenic drive and well worth making the trip. They host live music on occasions as well as catering for functions and special events but it's also a great place to go for lunch with family or friends. There's a wide menu selection catering for almost everyone with gluten free options, kids menu, right through to options for those who'll only eat meat and potato. A few of the highlights we've enjoyed from the menu include the selection of pizzas, the homemade meat pies & sausage rolls as well as a few of the salads. The only thing close to a complaint from the above selection was that they were almost too generous with the quantity of meat in the pie, but only "almost". If you're taking the kids then I would recommend the "bites & nibbles" menu item as there was enough of a variety on the platter to cater to most kids. Our kids also really enjoyed the sausage roll however ordering it on its own wouldn't have been enough variety or quantity for them. They also have a great selection of drinks including their own dry apple cider which was rather pleasant and a sweet apple cider from harcourt if that is more to your taste. The beer selection included a few locally produced and other micro brewery options as well as a few of the more common imported beers. They also had a good selection of Australian mass produced beers for the less adventurous. The staff were friendly and helpful with my only complaint on our most recent visit being that they didn't call me back when leaving a message for a reservation the day before and the service was a bit slow on the day. They did apologise and advise it was due to being busy although being that there were tables free it was more likely due to being understaffed on the day. Not a big complaint though as I've definitely had longer waits at other establishments and the quality of the food, picturesque surrounds and friendly staff more than compensated for it.

Been here 12mths ealier and food was ok, came back last weekend and food range now poor (less than…read more10 items for lunch) and quality was very poor for the price range. Floors were dirty and kitchen staff could be heard from dining area speaking foul language and very loud. We waited an hour for a souvlaki and toated sandwich. Very poor. Also witnessed a member of staff verbally abuse and scream at a young mother and her group booking of 30+ guest in next room after they asked how long there meals were going to be. They left in disgust as did we. Very disappointing and shameful. Will no t be recommending this place. Avoid at all cost.

Consistently good coffee, ex Melbourne barista who is the owner!…read more Food is good also, fruit toast and relish have been stand outs for us. Friendly staff and baby friendly.