I'll start with the good and then get into the bad…read more I like the decor of The Pig & Whistle. Inside has a bunch of beer steins, and alcohol memorabilia, fun posters and pictures in frames, it's all fun to look at and take in. The outdoor area is nice too, plenty of picnic type tables to help enjoy the good weather. And there is what looked like a mini garden, that's nice too. On the other side of things, when you order a starter and it's brought to you, sometimes it's nice to have plates to eat on too. The calamari was not tasty and was a rubbery texture, it came with a matching portion of french fries/chips and a small salad. The best thing about that plate was the aioli dipping sauce. The veggie stir fry was dripping in sauce and was far too spicy for my liking. It wasn't an even plate, with the over-sized vegetables and the skinny rice noodles in a pool of spicy sauce. And the prices for what you're getting, that didn't please me either. I'm sorry for the negative, but it was solely based on just the look and feel of the place, for sure it'd be a five star from me.

This is a great Irish pub to get yourself a pint or a half pint of Guinness and some chips n gravy…read more They have bands plenty of outdoor seating and are close by to a lot of wineries and parks up on the hills of the Mornington Peninsula. I have been in for drinks on several cold and windy days (which are numerous up there) and have always longed to enjoy all the space they have outdoors. They have a giant lawn area and lots of patio seating with colonial pine plantings around the place. Fun decorations inside with a very British theme.

This is a very fun place to do a tasting. Everyone was helpful and gracious and it was a beautiful…read moreplace with great ambiance and food available.

Foxey's Hangout is simply stunning and an absolute must when travelling through the Red Hill area -…read morethe view alone should be enough to get you there! We popped in on a Friday afternoon and the place was pumping, surprising for a week day! The service was fast and efficient and while we didn't get a seat outside on the deck, we got one right in the window so were still able to take in the breathtaking hilly views of the Red Hill country side. Foxey's offers wine tastings if you are on a cheeky tour, otherwise you can grab some simply yet delicious nosh to accompany your glass of wine, with all menu items costing $12. We ordered: + Bread with olive oil and pistachio spice + Mushroom sausage rolls + BBQ quail The sausage rolls were truly a standout and an absolute must if you visit. A lot of the wine at Foxey's is award winning. Best ask the friendly staff what might go best dependent on the flavours you like.

It was the perfect half day mini break. The morning started crisp and sunny, with heat forecast for…read morethe afternoon, so we packed our bathers and set off for lunch by the beach. An hour's drive later the clear aqua waters of Dromana beach were to our right and a little further along we found a lighthouse, and opposite a white and blue weatherboard beach house set behind a small garden. This is where you find Saltwater Bistro at McCrae Beach Pavillion. To one side is a café with generous outdoor seating, where breakfast and casual lunches are served in the holidays and on weekends, but we were headed to the bistro on the other side, fronted by garden. I first met Saltwater's chef Stacy Thompson a few years ago when he was at Steer Bar & Grill at the Olsen Art Hotel. Before that he had left his native NZ for the UK and then a stint in Sao Paolo, Brazil. I knew how long and fired his enthusiasm is for cooking, his interest in sourcing local boutique produce and his personally high standards. So I kept up with his moves. He arrived at the McCrae Pavilion around 6 months ago. The bistro has had time to hit its stride and was doing a healthy number of covers over the Summer all based on word of mouth, not PR. When we were there couples and ladies in mumu's, fresh up from their nearby beach bathing boxes were grabbing a quick bite in the café and the bistro crowd were favouring the shady veranda and seats closest to the open French doors looking across the front garden. The vaguely French, shabby-chic beach house aesthetic in cool blues sets you instantly at ease. The kitchen pass can be seen from the room and the bar sits alongside. Long banquettes and clustered tables make this also a good function space, hence their wedding package with permits for beach weddings. This is not a locale where modern gastronomy is at home, so the menu is small but a well considered exploration of bistro dishes, and Victorian boutique produce makes an appearance as I would expect. The selection has been in place a while, so our lovely waitress filled us in on seasonal updates and specials. Likewise the wine and cocktail selection is small and well considered. My McCrae Seabreeze cocktail was an ideal start. Happily wines by the glass were poured at the table, a pet peeve of mine. One observation - while there are plenty of wines from the region, I would have liked to have seen some of Mornington Peninsula's own excellent craft beers and boutique ciders listed. I found artisan skills and attention to detail in a terrine that Chef has been perfecting the recipe for for 2 years, house smoked salmon using three kinds of wood chips, milk soaked eggplant and smoky babaganoush with hazelnut and red peppers. Likewise attention to detail in local heirloom apples, in produce from farmers who are providing Stacy with mini veggies, micro herbs and flowers that are sourced for flavour not just looks. Boutique items I liked included house pickled vegetables, Hart Olives and Boatshed Cheeses, and yes there is also good bread and olive oil. Importantly for the holiday population in the neighborhood at peak season, there is a kids menu too. Stacy's a dad, so his fish fingers, alphabet soup with toasties appear with a slider and mini portions of sides are available too. I honestly enjoyed everything we tried. It knocked the disappointing regional 'Good Food Guide' hatted venue I ate at recently out of the ball park for technique, produce and gentle country service. And knowing Stacy, even if he hadn't known I was there, it would have been the same. Have a look at my photos to see the dishes we had. If you're there on a hot day do what we did - go for a swim in the stunningly clear water at the beach over the road afterwards, shake the meal down and relax into your food coma on the warm, soft pale sand before heading home. You will feel nurtured, relaxed and happy....and perhaps even start to wonder if you could move there?

Lovely restaurant to dine with friends and families. I have done a few visits with friends we all…read moreloved it. There's a solo singer that entertains your evening while you enjoy chatting with friends. Food wise, absolutely delicious. Atmosphere? Very comfy and friendly staff

The space is lovely and welcoming. The staff are friendly and helpful. It was very busy but they…read morehandled it superbly. Most of the menu is share platters and tapas style food. The fish and chips were excellent. Just about as good as you can do them, I reckon. The ham and cheese croquettes with red pepper sauce were also terrific together with the wombok salad which was fresh and zesty. A really good local restaurant. A very sound option in this area.

FOUR stars is what this place deserves for the food, the drink and the service. Unique highlights…read moreis their blended white, the lamb, and the range and quality of small plates. However, two things stand against this, the acoustics are terrible, and the Boss stereo is too loud, it isn't actually loud music, and it isn't music that you can actually hear, although I guess that is what they are playing, but the noise created, mixed with the terrible acoustics means that you have to raise your voice so the person sitting opposite you can hear you. This problem goes away when the place is packed as the noise of everyone raising their voice means you can't hear the non-music anymore, plus it is even harder to be heard. The Peninsula has lots of great winery restaurants. The food here is good, and I really liked the mixed white and their Cab Sav, however, the acoustics mean I'll probably never come back.

There was great expectation going to this restaurant, however was not what was expected. The…read moreatmosphere was pretty good, but the menu was very confusing and then to top it off was supplied with a share menu. We had to ask the waitress to explain the whole concept of the menu, which she did professionally and well. I don't think she should of had to though. After all that, the fancy food was good, but not great, no "Wow". I have no interest in going back, but I wouldn't say don't try for yourself, just good luck trying to work the menu out!