Pub of the Week: Blackwood Hotel, Blackwood
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Blackwood Hotel
Where: 1 Golden Point Rd, Blackwood
Phone: 4317 4899
Internet: blackwoodhotel.com.au
SCORE: 14.5/20
MAY 9
VENUE: Coming from the Western Hwy, the trip to the Blackwood Hotel is a thing of beauty.
Taking the turn off to Greendale, descending into the aforementioned town’s pub (and good too from my last visit three years ago), the undulating and winding trip to Blackwood through the Wombat National is so picturesque.
You head down into town and the star is the Blackwood Hotel, describing itself as a “haven in the Hills”.
Single storey, white weatherboard, small homestead style pub on the corner, the front door references a Cobb and Co office from yesteryear, while the inside has a brand-newness through the front bar/dining room, and slightly elevated dining deck that looks back to Trentham/Woodend.
This is all set up for a wonderful afternoon and the Blackwood doesn’t disappoint. And always extra love for a blazing fireplace strategically placed with the Fox Footy going above them!
New owners have taken up the challenge. It has been a pub that has traded erratically over the journey given its somewhat remote location, and it is fair to say they are off to a flying start.
A recent Sunday was buzzing and although chilly, all areas including the dining deck, were near to full.
Menu is not massive but all favourites, done with smart touches, pleases all. Starters/shares average around $16, highlights being saganaki with peppered figs and honey ($16) and a sticky soy glazed pork belly, ($20), the latter being a dish where another serving would not be out of place.
The mains number 14, with some specials. Pork and gravy roll ($26), Italian slaw and chips (massive beast) was every bit as popular as the parma ($29), burger (full whack) @ $29 and homemade lasagna ($28). The Parwan Valley porterhouse, 300g, full plate was $45.
Fine tap beer was presented ($7/pot), covering Carlton D, Moon Dog and Mountain Goat, while wine was sourced from near – Fallen Giants, Grampians – and far – Mt Adam, Eden Valley. About 12 in total to choose from with a mean price of $12.5/glass. All good.
Tab: No
Pokies: No
And my last bit of love: Most pub’s merch is so-so. Here though it’s a black T-shirt, outlining a wombat punching a schooey down its gullet was better that most. You may consider buying.
HIGHLIGHT/S:
– Chicken, chorizo paella, $32. Rather good representation of this big mix of meats, prawns, corn, peas, capsicum, chilli, tomato, smoked paprika. Good share, easy eating, different to your standard fare.
A vigorous discussion whether the bottom should have a rice-y crust (it didn’t) or not: no resolution on that, only that this fell into the category of a good pub meal.
Something Different to Eat: Just two different starters, first I think on pub menus. Sizzler toast, parmesan Butter. $8/crisp fried chickpeas, spiced salt, $8. We really have moved on from a trio of dips.
Surcharges: None on cards.
Summary: This version of the Blackwood is a beauty. Everything that you could want on a trip to a just-out-of-town pub is here in spades.
The town itself, surrounding hilly landscape, warm, a welcoming pub – the centerpiece of a town like this – all adds up to a great experience.
And while this idyllic portrait is played out often across the state, this is still hard yakka given the stop/start nature of continuous trading in smaller towns.
Blackwood population 400: Pub trading seven days a week, opens midday-late. Yes, hard yakka!
Locals and visitors should be confident that this iteration of the Blackwood is in for a long run.
Image: iStock