Surf Hotel

Chef Jo Barrett, known for her zero-waste approach to cooking, has landed at the new Surf Hotel on Torquay's Esplanade after closing her acclaimed Lorne Bowls Club diner.

Expect the kind of dishes that read like elevated pub fare. In-house mortadella, wild boar dumplings from Barrett's Wildpie project, and a venison schnitzel with parsley cream that's reportedly outselling the steak frites. Produce comes from local growers and foragers, worked into things like seaweed butter and fried king oyster mushrooms. The extended front deck is built for sundowners, with cheap beers and coconut margaritas at happy hour drawing a steady crowd of locals straight off the sand.

Inside, the dining room has a relaxed seaside feel, with a restored fireplace, a timber bar, and local artwork throughout. It works equally well for a quick beer after a surf or a long Sunday lunch. Bookings recommended, especially for dinner.

35 The Espanade, Torquay
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