Pub Of The Week: Mirboo North Hotel, Mirboo North
70 Ridgeway Mirboo North.
Ph: 5668 1552
When?: March 8 2024
Summary:
Set in the majestic Strzelecki Ranges in South Gippsland, the rural town of Mirboo North is around 150km from Melbourne and simply put is drop dead gorgeous.
A focal point of the town is the Mirboo North Pub, fairly typical of many smaller towns with its ’60s brick façade, the long rectangular space punctuated by the bar servicing both areas of public and bistro dining.
The interior is one replayed across the nation in look, feel, and comfort. Stock standard, serviceable, nothing more or less. The beer garden looks great and accommodation is available.
The menu is fairly priced, well presented meals with a bit of dash, and the beer and wine offerings cover familiar ground. (Would like to see more locals please).
Pokies: No.
TAB: Yes.
However, the benefit of doing social media was the winner. Closing in on 30 years of talking about pubs, there has never been a more eclectic offering of parmas by any pub.
Dave, the cook and owner, genuinely ascribes to the view that anything can be put on a parma/schnitty and Tuesday’s specials night at $20 confirms the audacity, or gastronomic alchemy, depending on your POV.
To honour the great workers in the recent cyclones (evidence of how severe is visible to the sides of the road), the pub came up with some creations, such as;
- The Mulcher: Chicken schnitty, napoli, cheese, ham, South Melbourne dim sims, sweet chilli and soy sauce
- The LP Parma: full whack with lemon pepper calamari
- The Basil Ball: parma full whack, topped with chicken and basil balls
- Corned beef Parma: w/parsley, white sauce, cheese
- Lamb Rogan Josh Parma: Self explanatory.
And many more. According to Dave, they all work!
The more traditional pub offerings read well. Duck sizzle plate, Asian style, vegetables teriyaki ($26 each) was a good starter (and comforting to know there is a sizzle plate doing the rounds). Seared scallops, pea puree, prosciutto, parmesan chips ($26) is another good share. All pub bases, entrée and main, were covered.
But a parma had to be tried, and while the Strzelecki appealed (ham, bacon, mushrooms, onion rings), the more sedate Southern Fried, topped with southern fried chicken, peri peri, fully plated at $32 was chosen. Twas good.
Sheeted home more than anything else is the role a pub plays in its community, especially in rural/regional Australia. The devastation that this community experienced with the recent cyclonic weather reinforced the importance of your beloved local.
And here in Mirboo North, the pub is a beacon where everyone gathers to relive and retell tales of how they coped, and how they all banded together to help each other out. Recently, the Men’s Shed, Drouin chapter put on free lunch here for those doing it tough.
An expression I have used before is never more apt: The Mirboo North is a solid pub citizen.
SCORE: 13