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 Eat your heart out Dame Edna! Moonee Ponds wasn’t like this in your day.
On the banks of a river most people have never heard of and even fewer can spell, the Boathouse, set in a family-friendly park is becoming a popular riverside place to drop in for a late breakfast, take visitors out for a meal, or host an office party.
We were lucky enough to lunch here recently, seated on the deck outside overlooking the river. That day the water was quiet, but on March 25th it will be busy with rowers and boats as The Boathouse’s Tea Party at the Henley Regatta is in full swing. I am told there will be marquees along the grassed banks and a carnival air will prevail, fuelled by tea-time foods and drinks to keep the spirit of the event alive.
The day we visited, though, diners were intent on chef Gary Mehigan’s food and soaking up the relaxed atmosphere. Mehigan is familiar to many as the ‘Bad’ chef on Channel 7s Good Chef, Bad Chef. It’s all a catchy programming ruse, we discovered, as there is nothing bad about the food at Boathouse.
Our shared starters – it’s definitely that sort of place – were a plate of crumb-topped of scallops on the half shell, a tapas plate and Pizza number 8, which turned out to be a divine combination of taleggio, potato and rosemary.
We followed these by a Vietnamese chicken salad and a risotto, both chosen from the specials list written in white on a window, and felt very satisfied indeed with life.
After all what more could you want? A relaxed hour or so for lunch on a riverside, good company, fine wines and food to match?
The Dame should be so lucky!
Follow this link for gallery of images of The Boathouse
The Boathouse, Maribyrnong Park, 7 The Boulevard, Moonee Ponds, Victoria, 3038. Phone 03 9375 2456.
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