So it's 35 degrees in the city and you want to get out and do something. Here's my top tip! Jump in…read morethe car and beetle up to Sassafras and visit this cute and charming little restaurant. It's about 10° cooler up on Mt Dandenong if there isn't a northerly blowing...lol. This little place has really fresh, clean food. I would call it honest Fare. You get exactly the food as advertised. Well prepared, clean food is what you can expect here at very reasonable prices. Its a little far from Oslo to come every weekend but this is the sort of place that I could frequent for my Sunday eggs benedict, but the 16000 kms is a little hindrance. Never mind, I'll just have to keep looking for my perfect Brunsj spot as I keep travelling and working. This place is definitely worth the drive.

This is actually a rather charming tavern, located up in the Mount Dandenong Ranges. In a way it's…read morelocation makes it rather charming, but more than that, the building also is quite lovely as well. Basically it is an English style pub, but it has more charm, and more character, than a lot of others that I visit, namely because they don't go out of their way to make themselves appear to be an English tavern. Like, they have some rather nice beers on tap, and the staff are rather friendly as well. Yeah, this is actually a rather lovely place to be honest.

Really friendly staff and ENORMOUS portions, as I learned from ordering a parma (what else would a…read moreforeigner order in an Australian pub? :-) ). Prices are standard and it doesn't play loud obnoxious music.

Located in a renovated cottage in the heart of The Basin, The Acorn on Forest is a prime example of…read moreThe Basin's growing popularity as a little hill's hideaway. With the suburb reporting recent booms in property value, and the freeway only 10 minutes away, The Basin has grown from a small village on the way to the more touristy area of the hills to a trendy little town of its own . The Acorn of Forest has more of a 'Wine Bar" feel to it than it's neighbouring 'Good old-fashioned pub' the Oak Tree. With a focus on quality dining and weekend breakfasts, you could say it's the 'bouquet' to the Oak Trees 'bucket'. The menu features dishes such as Quail, Veal and Kangaroo and while you can expect to pay a little more for your meal than at other nearby pubs, the Acorn is all about Quality over affordability. Popular with functions and parties, The Acorn also hosts live music on weekends, usually from a rotating roster of local favourites.

Amazing food, wonderful service and a terrific cosy atmosphere. They have great bands over the…read moreweekend to, which is a real bonus. Can't wait to go back again and again.

Kallista Tea Room has been on my to-visit list for a while and when we decided to drop in, at lunch…read moreon a weekday, I was very pleasantly surprised. Let's talk food: AMAZING. I had the chilli eggs and would heartily recommend: just the right amount of kick and full of flavour. Hubby had the brioche french toast, slightly elevated from your typical fare by the delicious addition of pear compote and coconut custard. A must have for all the sweet tooths out there. The prices were maybe a touch on the dearer side (think tourist pricing) though I personally think reasonable enough for the quality. As far as atmosphere think ecclectic-bush-hole-in-the-wall; a big tick in my book. With a laid-back, chill vibe it's perfect for a long, gossipy cuppa or just a quick bite to eat. Of note and one of the HUGE highlights for me was the picturesque native cockatoo viewing: free with lunch. The interior of the cafe has a section with this glorious picture window showing the local winged residents chilling, pruning and putting on a free show. It was as unexpected as it was delightful. I'll definitely be back: the high tea is calling my name.

Food was very nice, good atmosphere and enjoyed watching the birds…read moreantics................................

Dudley's has the best food , friendly staff , and the best ambience. There are plenty of native…read morebirds flying around , which adds to the relaxed atmosphere.

We tend to drop in to Dudleys when we're in Olinda. Staff here are always very welcoming, and…read morethere's typically a great atmosphere. During summer months there'll be singers, with a warm, open fire inside for winter. The menu is extensive, and at any one time there'll be several specials to choose from, some of which are better than others. The kitchen boasts a proper wood-fried pizza oven, so you can expect a really good pizza here.

Cute little bakery with delicious baked goods and simple dishes (sandwiches, quiches, salad, etc)…read more Everything was fresh and seemed pretty healthy. There is indoor and outdoor seating available, altho indoor seating was a bit limited (especially for tables; plenty of bar/stool seating). Free still & sparkling tap water available. This place is perfect for a bite after a rigorous bike ride or hike. Service staff is friendly (like all of Aus that I've encountered). Not open everyday so check the hours before you go! Ordered the spinach, ricotta and feta pie with a side of daily salad (green bean and a bunch of other veggies in vinaigrette dressing). The pie came with a side of homemade chutney and the serving size was pretty big (for a pie). Even though it was filled with cheese, it didn't feel heavy in the stomach. My partner ordered the sausage apple roll (made from free-range Victorian Pork) and it was the biggest sausage roll I've seen. Jam packed with quality meat and also served with a side of homemade chutney.

Delicious. Eclectic. Quaint. The pastry chef should be commended. The pastries are world class. The…read morebreads, home made jams etc are perfection. The staff baristas can make a good cup of coffee. Highly recommended!!

What a place! Well worth the drive and what a picturesque drive it is. The first thing you notice…read moreis the magnificent looking silos. On a wet summers day the mist was rolling in so it made it all the more pretty. Everything about the cafe is thought thru, from the bakery to finishing touches of the decor. Our waiter was efficient and had a great sense of humour. He certainly made it all the more memorable. The drinks came quickly followed by our delicious meals. We were there for breakfast but there is everything from buying a loaf of bread and toasting it yourself, pastries to the purchase of three different sized picnic baskets. And if the salads on display are anything to go by I'll certainly be back to order one and stroll through their gardens. They are currently expanding the gardens. But there is plenty to do! From lawn bowls, children's play areas, picnic area and meet bubble and squeak the residents of the pig sty. I couldn't recommend the Piggery Cafe enough. I will certainly be back. I could imagine that it will get busy on the weekends if during the week was anything to go by - so be prepared. Happy eating.

Really enjoyed it. We had the cheeseburger, a whole grilled trout with a side of rosemary fries,…read moreand a smoked sausage hot and pink from the smoker, a little spicy and served with pickled cucumber and carrot. One of the few places in Melbourne that cooks burgers to order, but unfortunately we ordered medium rare and it arrived well done. Still tasty though! The trout, however, was genuinely AMAZING. Succulent and cooked to perfection on a hot grill. Chips were golden and crispy with a rosemary salt, really good. The sausage and pickles were delicious. There's no phone signal (for us anyway) so it's a rare chance to fully focus without the temptation of peeking at the phone. The meals took a fair stint to arrive, but we weren't there for fast food and the location is incredibly beautiful so it was a nice chance to stop and breathe. Speaking of breathing - we were seated outside, and every time the wind gusted our way there was a waft of .... I don't know what. Sewage? Pigs? Something on the septic side of the scent spectrum (I know, pure poetry). It wasn't pleasant so I removed a star for that.

Poor food,small portions,too expensive,crammed space. Like most new business',you soon learn which…read moreones are keepers and which ones crumble over night. This is a crumbler.

i saw many cops here... food must be pretty good to stop by hey? service + ambiance!read more

Okay, I wouldn't say that this place is all that fancy, but it is still rather nice actually. Like,…read moreI found the staff to be rather pleasant, and the beers here were also actually pretty good. In a way there is something about this place that is just really rather charming. In fact, I found the front bar area to be rather comfortable, even though it was a little small. The location is pretty good as well, being up in the hills and surrounded by bushland. Yeah, this place was nice actually.

A lovely pub with excellent tap beers you won't find in most pubs. The log cabin feel is very nice…read moreparticularly in winter when the open fires are going. The restaurant menu is good & not too pricey. Wednesday nights are fun if you like live music as its Open Mic night & attracts a lot of good musos from al over the hills.