The Foreshore Bar and Restaurant in Rhyll on Phillip Island's North eastern tip is where the locals go. It's like an affluent holiday house complete with vaulted ceiling and open fire, a great place to shelter from a rainy night during a weekend escape or to sit on the terrace and smell the sea air in the warmer months. We ventured there in the off season on a dark and stormy night and it was full to its warm and comfortable brim.
After being greeted by the friendly staff and making ourselves at home, which is not hard to do at The Foreshore, we ordered the pork belly to start. Like most foodies, we've had enough pork belly in recent years to make pigs nervous in our presence and this one was as good as anywhere. A good, vanilla slice sized serving was enough for two of us and the squid and apple salad was a perfect accompaniment.
I could have eaten a plate of the squid and apple fries, but the Pork Belly was pretty good too.
I ordered the deluxe fish and chips for main, which comes with prawns and scallops in addition to the flathead and the token salad that usually sits ignored on such a dish. A lovingly brewed amber ale from the good people at White Rabbit brewery in Healesville was a good cellar choice, as it is to most things. The meal was a good restaurant style fish and chips. The fish was soft and moist, the prawns and scallops fresh and the chips were crisp and moreish without being an excessive amount that I usually feel obliged to finish. It's rude not to really!
Deep fried bliss. Perfect with an amber ale to the side!
My wife ordered the sweet and hefty double roasted duck which was wading on a tranquil pond of sticky soy reduction and joined by delicious mushrooms. Usually when we dine together my wife promptly thrusts a fork full of food at me and says, "Try this," but this duck must have been of a high standard as no such offer was forthcoming. This is the highest possible praise.
The Superb Foreshore Duck
[ADVERT]Eating during daylight hours will give you a stunning view over Westernport bay and a chance to tuck into a traditional English pie or the steak sandwich on the lunch menu. Hearty tucker to line your stomach for a nice ale as you sit by the fire and watch the waves lapping at the beach across the road.
When friends and family heard we were going to Phillip Island for the weekend they all said, "You've got to go to Foreshore Bar and Restaurant", well now I join them in imploring you, dear Weekend Notes reader. You've got to go to Foreshore Bar and Restaurant. Bookings essential.
The Foreshore Bar and Restaurant can be found at 11 Beach Road, Rhyll, Phillip Island and at
their website.
