REVIEW: Canadian Bay Hotel
Venue: Canadian Bay Hotel
Where: 35 Ranelagh Dve., Mt. Eliza
Phone: 9775 2331
Date: 12 June 2009
Score: 14.5
Here’s one for starters today.
Take a moment and think about where your children spent their holidays last year? Was it a family trip to Broome or Cairns?Did they go to Bali for Schoolies, or is that sooo yesterday and it is Cancun (pre-swine flu) or Ibiza , the only spot for “it’ teenager of 2008-9?
Invoking the memory of Eric Burdon, it was Frankston when I was young: nanna’s house, Findlay St., off Beach St., and long, long, walks to the Frankston Pier.An extra treat was also a trip in an uncle’s car to other hot spots like Martha, Mornington and Mt. Eliza.
Try telling that to junior and wait for the incredulous response!!
It has to be 35 years since I have been to the village of Mt. Eliza so it is no point telling you how it has developed; it has.
Delightful, peaceful, quaint shopping strip; naturally. Hard to get a park; you bet!!
The Canadian Bay Hotel is a ripper, suited perfectly to the environs.Local, friendly, warm.It doesn’t look like a pub, per se, more of an extension of the shops that surround it, but under expert direction of “Joe” whose pub credits include the John Curtain, Half Moon, Bridge (Richmond), and has nearly 40 years in the game, the CBH is going to work.
Nine months into his ownership, a loyal following has been developed.Food is still good pub grub, but with a touch of dash that elevates it higher.The public bar has the usual offerings, steak roll, burger etc., all priced around the $12 mark there, but having seen one come out in the bistro, it is a very fair price for what you get.
The bar is soon to be carpeted (good, I think it needs it), and there is an upstairs area that doubles as conference/function room.Foxsports, yes, no pokies or TAB.
The dining room seats around 60 on 2 levels.It has a raised natural fireplace in the middle belting out the heat.Polished boards (soon to be carpeted), good sized wicker chairs, and smallish tables face toward the street. Staff ensures no one is kept waiting a long time.
Half a dozen specials support the large menu.Entrees around $11, fully plated mains in the low-mid $20s, wines from high $20s reflect a sensible approach to pricing in this very popular destination on the Peninsula.
Prawn cutlets, $16e, $22m, circle the green Asian salad and taste a treat.Between 3 of us, a main (9 prawns) was shared and the house-made chilli sauce was sensational. Shared also was an entree ($12.50) of duck spring rolls (2), packed with vegetables with a house made hoi-sin.Wonderful again, priced though I think to the mark.
OK, a seafood platter ($62 for 2) is a seafood platter and is bomb-proof. Really?? Not so Dr. Watson but this was a feast, shared again between the 3 of us.
Do the maths and for $20/hd, the freshest mussels (the standout), grilledflathead, king prawns, oysters, salt and pepper calamari,oysters, sweet chilli scallops (coffin bay) were easily knocked over.
**Note – nothing fried to weigh you down as so many who do this dish whack on the plate.No chips, but not needed.
Plenty of per glass options for wine and chosen was the T’Gallant Pinot Grigio ($30), which by any measure is outstanding shopping.
But it is the basics of any pub – draught beer – that makes a place tick and here it is as important as any other aspect of the business. A real plus.
The best is to come for the Canadian Bay and another 12 months into the current ownership will see it even better.
Driving back along the Nepean Hwy., memories of the ‘60s sheet home and then the greatest view of Melbourne is revealed from the top of Oliver’s Hill – by some distance the most majestic vista from any angle.
Down the hill and stop at the corner of Davey St., where the 3 pubs face each other and a benign, warm feeling engulfs me; yes, I really do love Frankston.
Where: 35 Ranelagh Dve., Mt. Eliza
Phone: 9775 2331
Date: 12 June 2009
Score: 14.5
Here’s one for starters today.
Take a moment and think about where your children spent their holidays last year? Was it a family trip to Broome or Cairns?Did they go to Bali for Schoolies, or is that sooo yesterday and it is Cancun (pre-swine flu) or Ibiza , the only spot for “it’ teenager of 2008-9?
Invoking the memory of Eric Burdon, it was Frankston when I was young: nanna’s house, Findlay St., off Beach St., and long, long, walks to the Frankston Pier.An extra treat was also a trip in an uncle’s car to other hot spots like Martha, Mornington and Mt. Eliza.
Try telling that to junior and wait for the incredulous response!!
It has to be 35 years since I have been to the village of Mt. Eliza so it is no point telling you how it has developed; it has.
Delightful, peaceful, quaint shopping strip; naturally. Hard to get a park; you bet!!
The Canadian Bay Hotel is a ripper, suited perfectly to the environs.Local, friendly, warm.It doesn’t look like a pub, per se, more of an extension of the shops that surround it, but under expert direction of “Joe” whose pub credits include the John Curtain, Half Moon, Bridge (Richmond), and has nearly 40 years in the game, the CBH is going to work.
Nine months into his ownership, a loyal following has been developed.Food is still good pub grub, but with a touch of dash that elevates it higher.The public bar has the usual offerings, steak roll, burger etc., all priced around the $12 mark there, but having seen one come out in the bistro, it is a very fair price for what you get.
The bar is soon to be carpeted (good, I think it needs it), and there is an upstairs area that doubles as conference/function room.Foxsports, yes, no pokies or TAB.
The dining room seats around 60 on 2 levels.It has a raised natural fireplace in the middle belting out the heat.Polished boards (soon to be carpeted), good sized wicker chairs, and smallish tables face toward the street. Staff ensures no one is kept waiting a long time.
Half a dozen specials support the large menu.Entrees around $11, fully plated mains in the low-mid $20s, wines from high $20s reflect a sensible approach to pricing in this very popular destination on the Peninsula.
Prawn cutlets, $16e, $22m, circle the green Asian salad and taste a treat.Between 3 of us, a main (9 prawns) was shared and the house-made chilli sauce was sensational. Shared also was an entree ($12.50) of duck spring rolls (2), packed with vegetables with a house made hoi-sin.Wonderful again, priced though I think to the mark.
OK, a seafood platter ($62 for 2) is a seafood platter and is bomb-proof. Really?? Not so Dr. Watson but this was a feast, shared again between the 3 of us.
Do the maths and for $20/hd, the freshest mussels (the standout), grilledflathead, king prawns, oysters, salt and pepper calamari,oysters, sweet chilli scallops (coffin bay) were easily knocked over.
**Note – nothing fried to weigh you down as so many who do this dish whack on the plate.No chips, but not needed.
Plenty of per glass options for wine and chosen was the T’Gallant Pinot Grigio ($30), which by any measure is outstanding shopping.
But it is the basics of any pub – draught beer – that makes a place tick and here it is as important as any other aspect of the business. A real plus.
The best is to come for the Canadian Bay and another 12 months into the current ownership will see it even better.
Driving back along the Nepean Hwy., memories of the ‘60s sheet home and then the greatest view of Melbourne is revealed from the top of Oliver’s Hill – by some distance the most majestic vista from any angle.
Down the hill and stop at the corner of Davey St., where the 3 pubs face each other and a benign, warm feeling engulfs me; yes, I really do love Frankston.
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