In Penola on Easter Sunday, we were looking for a lunch stop before heading out tasting. We settled on Vintage Cafe because it wasn't as busy as some of the other cafes and the bakery.
The menu is a mixed bag of breakfast options, bakery style items (quiche, tarts and gourmet pies), along with a few 'pub style' options of fish & chips, schnitzel, wedges etc.
The primary reason this sits at 3 stars rather than 4 is the price. Paying $13-16 for a pie or quiche with a little bit of salad on the side seems a bit rich in a venue that feels a lot like a bakery. I don't know, maybe the stingy student in me is being too harsh. Sadly I completely vagued on taking photos, but none of the servings were all that generous.
The positives though! The quiche and pies were simple but tasty and well balanced in their subtle flavours, the wedges crunchy and fresh with good sized sides of sour cream and sweet chilli, the open yiros was a little gristle-y and smaller than you'd expect, but well seasoned. I also really loved the outdoor bench table sets, they are made from slabs of rustic timber and are just gorgeous. They made a really great spot to people watch along the main street. Again kicking myself I wasn't in photo mode... gah!
Overall, I'd recommend Vintage Cafe for a lunch stop if you happen to be in Penola and are keen to sit, relax for a bit and watch the world go by. read more