OVERVIEW: Tony Leonard presents 3AW’s Pub Of The Week for De Bortoli wines
For the 21st year with Neil Mitchell, the Pub Of The Week segment returns to find the best pub during 2016 from around 36 reviews each year.
The essential elements of good beer/food/beer/comfort/hospitality are still the basics that all of us look for in a great pub and as is the case, trying to find some genuine value along the way.
Points of difference, excellent service are always highly regarded.
Scoring is still out of 20, subjective of course, as opinions will always differ. Anything above 15 IMO has an ‘X’ factor, while the majority of pubs should fall between a 12-14.5. I hasten to add, scoring is far from exact.
Based on your feedback, the reviews will be significantly paled back to give a snapshot of what was had and what was thought.
Any further info on the pub reviewed, disagreements or suggestions to try then please send an email tleonard@fairfaxmedia.com.au
As a rule, unless a pub has been totally revamped, then it’s about three years between re-reviews (I try to do about 22-25 new pubs per year).
With pubs in regional Victoria, best efforts are made to do a few each year, although pleasingly, the past two DeBortoli pubs of the year are from Trentham and Tinamba respectively.
I will also have a look at a few bars this year, which I think closely represent a traditional pub.
To reiterate, pubs are chosen weekly, at random and there is a preference for independent owner/operators.
Trying to give median prices is tricky, but for what it is worth a proper housemade parma, full whack is closer to $25, steak $30, and a pot $5.
Naturally it varies from venue to venue.
Cheers!
PUBS OF THE WEEK 2016
DATE/PUB/SCORE
January 29: East Brunswick Hotel – 14.5/20
February 5: Queensberry Hotel, Carlton – 13.5/20
February 12: Westernport Hotel, San Remo – 13/20
February 19: Prince Albert, Williamstown – 15/20
February 26: Local Taphouse, St Kilda – 14/20
March 4: The Rochester, Fitzroy – 14/20
March 11: Settlement Hotel, Cranbourne – 13.5/20
March 18: NO REVIEW (F1 Grand Prix)
March 25: The Braybrook Hotel – 14/20
March 31: The Woodlands Hotel, Coburg – 15.5/20
April 8: Three Crowns Hotel, West Melbourne – 13.5/20
April 15: Railway Hotel, Yarraville – 13/20
April 22: Metropolitan Hotel, CBD – 13.5/20
April 29: The Spread Eagle, Richmond – 14.5/20
May 6: FIRST QUARTER REVIEW
May 13: Flying Horse Hotel, Warrnambool – 13/20
May 20: Cowwarr Cricket Club Hotel – 13.5/20
May 27: Rose Hotel, Fitzroy – 14/20
June 3: St Albans Hotel – 11.5/20
June 10: John Curtin Hotel, Carlton – 14/20
June 17: The Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East – 13.5/20
June 24: The Local, Port Melbourne – 13/20
July 1: Phoenix Hotel, Point Cook – 13/20
July 8: Kelly’s Tavern, Olinda – 14/20
July 15: Seamus O’Tooles, Knox – 13/20
July 22: Mrs Parmas, CBD – 14/20
July 29: Courthouse Hotel, North Melbourne – 13/20
August 5: The American Hotel, Creswick – 14/20
August 12: NO REVIEW
August 19: Gladstone Park Hotel – 13/20
August 26: St. (Saint) Hotel, St Kilda – 13/20
September 2: SECOND QUARTER REVIEW
September 9: Riviera Hotel, Seaford – 13/20
September 16: Cross Keys Hotel, Essendon – 13/20
September 23: NO REVIEW
September 30: Fringe Bar, Little Lonsdale Street – 14/20
October 6: Mona Castle Hotel, Seddon – 13/20
October 13: The Peacock Inn, Northcote – 14/20
October 20: The Vale Hotel, Mulgrave – 12/20
October 28: Fitzroy Town Hall Hotel, Fitzroy – 17.5/20
November 4: The Market Hotel, South Melbourne – 13.5/20
November 11: The Black Horse Hotel, Bulla – 13.5/20
November 18: Malvernvale Hotel – 13.5/20
November 25: Highlands Hotel, Craigieburn – 10.5/20
December 2: FINAL QUARTER REVIEW