Pub of the Week: Rosstown Hotel, Carnegie
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Rosstown Hotel
Where: 1084 Dandenong Rd, Carnegie
Phone: 9571 1033
Internet: www.rosstown.com.au
SCORE: 14.5/20
FEBRUARY 7
VENUE: In such a densely populated suburb in the south east, The Rosstown Hotel, Carnegie, covers a massive area, many areas, and includes a drive thru bottle shop.
There is a newness to every touchpoint of this pub, from the front bar (small/welcoming), to the large and comfortable bistro, sports bar, function rooms, underground cellar. (And truth is, I’m probably missing some further parts).
Long standing family in hospitality, the baton has passed to Matt Nikarkis, and clearly lessons learned from famous parents are in evidence. The place hums along, with veteran and loyal staff ensuring smooth running. This is a good looking venue, all parts working.
Gaming and sports are part of the fabric of the Rosstown, but the focus is on providing better level food and drink. And they succeed in their pursuits.
MENU: All bases covered here with choice aplenty from the sharing/pasta/classics. It is an encyclopedic listing of pub grub favorites, e.g, 10 entrees, 16 mains, three steaks. A seniors menu taking 10 items from the mains list offers real value. See below**
Average Prices:
Entrees/starters: $16
Mains: $32**
Desserts: $16
Surcharges: 15 per cent public holidays
Beer: Carlton, $7/pot
Wine: $12.5pg
Roast: $32/21
**The Rosstown offers a seniors menu, which is not age dependent. Simply it is a small late, suitably reduced in price. Free tip: Order from here: the size of standard mains are huge.
The wine list is solid, well known brands, offered in three sizes, 150/250/750ml. e.g, De Bortoli, D’Arenberg, West Cape Howe. The latter’s Chardonnay at $12.5pg provided excellent shopping.
Tab: Yes
Pokies: Yes
Jack Ginnivan Steak Index (JGSI): This week; Rosstown. 300g porterhouse, chips, salad, sauce, $46.
HIGHLIGHT/S:
Seniors main: Roast pork, $21. Excellent dish, plenty of roast veg, (pumpkin, broccoli, peas, duck fat potatoes) (The full main would be too substantial). Right size, moist meat, very good.
Something Different to Eat: Not so different, but one of the weekly lunch specials – Monday to Friday, is the full whack burger, chips, pot of beer, $25. Again a fine bargain.
Summary: To service an area as gargantuan as this, a ton of training has to be provided to ensure its smooth running. Clearly it has, with the wonderful sight of a designated front of house across all points, backed
up by attentive workers.
But given the family’s long standing skin in the pub game, this comes as no surprise.
Backed up by a fine pub menu, fair prices across the board, and a real can-do/help attitude, the Rosstown is the equal of any pub of this size and style in Melbourne.