The Geelong pub scene has changed recently with many of the old favorites disappearing or transforming into new formats. But is is still easy to find a fantastic pub meal in Geelong, most of our pubs do great meals, these ten are only a sample of some of the best on offer.
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The Commun na Feine
The “Como” in East Geelong is well known as being one of Geelong’s best pubs for a meal. The pub features an extensive menu with plenty of choices including the old favourites and many modern dishes. Prices are great and the newly renovated dining room and bar area are very relaxing. Highlights on the menu include a delicious enchilada and spare ribs which are to die for. While visiting the Commo make sure you check out their huge Furthy mural on the Bellarine Street wall- its sensational!
Sir Charles Darling
The Sir Charles Darling is hidden away in Bellarine Street at the corner of Little Malop Street and is often overlooked by many people looking for a meal in Geelong. This pub is a hidden surprise with a great value menu and very tasty meals. The friendly bar has a TAB plus quite a few places to eat and there is a very comfortable dining room behind. The Darling features special nights including seafood night, parmi night, steak night and so on. Be sure to try their chicken burger and their delicious Thai beef salad and look out for their Guinness stew parmy, it has popped up on the specials board a few times during parmy night…. it has got to be the tastiest parmy ever made!
Sir Charles Hotham
The Sir Charles Hotham on the corner of Brougham and Mercer Street is one of the last classic pubs, family ran with a great atmosphere, ice cold beer and good old fashion value. The fresh looking bar has a delicious menu which always includes some amazing value specials. The huge dining room behind the bar offers warm friendly service and a great choice of hearty meals including many old time favourites.
The Geelong Hotel
Formerly the Corio Hotel, Icon, Bended Elbow and just Bended the Geelong Hotel is one of the city’s best pubs for a fantastic meal. Not only do they have a tasty great value menu, the pub offers a special bar menu full of old favorites. If you haven’t been in the venue for a while it has had a huge makeover, gone are the old world dark wood paneling, its been stripped back with a fresh modern bright and refreshing look.
The Yardz
The Yardz is on Church Street just before the Ballarat Road fork and is one of the region’s most popular venues for a pub meal, especially on Sunday night when they celebrate “Parmys of the World” with a very tasty selection of internationally inspired chicken parmys. The menu features some pretty tasty dishes and are all at a very reasonable price. The Yardz is the perfect place to enjoy a meal and a few ice cold beverages day or night.
The Belmont Hotel
The Belmont Hotel on High Street is one of the newer venues in Geelong. After a long period of renovations the pub now offers a brand new dining room and a very popular bar. The bar meals are great, with plenty of choices and all are at very reasonable prices. Like the sister pub the Yardz, the Belmont offers “Parmys of the World”, this time on Monday nights which has proved to be very popular, and they do some great burgers and plenty of other great more modern pub meals.
The Deck
Located at the bay end of Gherrinhap Street near Deakin, the Deck, formerly “The Max” and for those with a real good memory ‘The Golden Age” has a sensational menu with burgers, pizzas, parmis and all the stuff we love. They have a few specialty nights including taco and gourmet parmis and they even have a special day for our four legged friends.
The Great Western
The Great Western on the corner of Aberdeen Street and Shannon Avenue. The “Western” has always been known for its great feeds and now with its flash new Carlton beer tanks the bar has had a fresh makeover. There is still a specials board and they still serve some great of favorites including the ever popular meatballs. The pub has has huge dining facilities and there is also a large dining room for a more formal meal out the back.
The Sporting Globe
The Sporting Globe is found in Ryrie Street opposite the Village Cinema and is often remembered as the Preston Hotel. Here this great sports bar has an American inspired menu with heaps of tasty items. There is a huge selection of burgers, wraps, chicken wings and steaks, with a menu that has a bit of a USA theme. Look out for their specials nights where you can get special deals on steak, pizza, burgers or other great menu items.
The Barwon Club
The Barwon Club at the river end of Moorabool Street has been known for its vibrant band scene but is also making a name for itself as a great food pub. There is a great menu with a good choice of burgers, salads, steaks and other tasty fare. The pub offers a ever changing specials blackboard and they even have a few specialty nights including a steak night and burger night.
Lets make it 11…..The Gold Diggers
Tucked in behind the hustle and bustle in Scene Street Newtown the Gold Diggers’ is often forgotten for its great food. As well as a pretty tasty menu in the restaurant the bar also has a good menu. There may not be as many options as some of the locals, but everything is a winner and their chicken schnitzel would have to be the best in Geelong.
One more because we are hungry… Murphys
Aberdeen Street’s Murphys (old Irish Murphys) has another menu well worth a try, but don’t look to hard go straight to the Irish Parmi it is incredible. Succulent chicken with bacon, cheese and the most delicious Irish curry sauce.. my mouth is watering just thinking of it.
The ones we miss…..
The National Hotel
Sadly we lost “The Nash” a few years ago, which was a shame as they had a pretty unique dining option. On most pub menus you will find burgers, steak, a schnitzel and parmy and maybe even a fish dish;… well not at the National Hotel in Moorabool Street, it offered something completely different. The Nash was home to the Inter-National noodle house and featured an amazing array of curries, rice dishes, noodles and what could only be described as Geelong’s best dim sim. You could eat in while sitting on the old couches or at a 50’s kitchen set, or even have take away…” But wait…the Nash is back all new and fresh with a fantastic upper deck beer garden and some pretty tasty meals. Well worth a try.
The Carlton Hotel
The beautiful art deco Carlton Hotel in Malop Street i another classic no longer with us, closing in January 2016 to make way for a new development. The grand old pub dad a very tasty bar menu at great prices as well as an ever changing specials board on a mirror in the lounge. For something a bit formal the pub also had a great restaurant; with a wonderful menu and a quality feel.
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Let us know your favorite pub meals in and around the Geelong Region on Facebook or Twitter @IntownGeelong
“I just love the parmi night at the Belmont Hotel on Monday’s” … Tom – Grovedale
“The Mexican parmi is sensational at Belmont” ….Belinda G
“Can’t beat the feed at the Great Western” … Jim
“The Elephant do a chicken snitz and beer night” .. Greg
The Yards is my pick for sure” Cory
“Tuesday is parmy night at the dog” …Tony Belmont
“The Max” ..Rachel
“Great nachos at the Edge” ..TJ
“I miss the Britannia Hotel” … Sean
“Remember the dollar dazzlers …now you cant get a feed under 15 bucks” … Pete
“you never get a bad meal at the Commo…great value” ..Jen
“I like the Sporting Globe but very busy” .. Andi K
“Little Creatures- best in Geelong!” . Sammy
“The burgers are better at the dog” .. Al
“Can’t beat the commo for value” Tony
“Im going to miss those Guinness Pies at Murphys” – shane
Barking Dog’s Burgers- you cant beat em! – Jay
Meatballs at the Great Western – Jim
Yep mac n cheese parmi at the Cremorne sensational- JW
What do you think?
Let us know your favorite pub meals in and around the Geelong Region on Facebook or Twitter @IntownGeelong
