Girls Weekends Away Blog

Girls a little slice of Italy has landed at the Mornington Peninsula. This vibrant little eatery is everything Italian, from the vibe and feel to the waiters that all have Italian accents; not surprising as some are Italian hospitality students. The experience is about eating fresh Italian food with most of the produce coming from Italy. Tomatoes from San Marzano, Buffalo Mozzarella from Campania and other delicacies showcased for sale in the adjoining Deli, including Italian truffle oil; Yum! 

We enjoyed an Antipasto for 2 at about $25 and it was delicious and then shared a thin crust Pizza (Tiger Prawns) at about $22; all washed down with a glass of Italian wine. The service was casual but attentive, the restaurant was busy and yet we were well looked after. The important thing to remember about the menu is that it is limited to predominantly Pizza, Panini, Piadina (flat breads), cheeses and cured meats. It is not a place to go for lots of choice and a big 3 course meal. But hey if you have travelled to Italy, that is what it is all about, simple fresh food. And girls as we know, too many choices just delay the ordering process and gets in the way of girly chats..
This has been decribed as a ‘‘concept store’’  by tony Nicolini (the owner) in an interview by Nina Rousseau of the Age and it delivers. Finally remember to check out the Deli before you leave as there are some sumptuous treats to be had. Why not grab some pickies to nibble on later while sipping some Italian wine and sharing time with friends.

We have passed by this cafe many times while driving along the foreshore or walking to the pier. From the outside the restaurant looks a little run down and that is why we were reluctant to take the gamble and try a meal. But in fairness to our faithful Blog followers we ventured in to taste the fair. Well can I say the inside of the establishment looks like they started to renovate and ran out of money. The windows from the inside are just as dirty as they are from the outside, they appear to have started painting but forgot to fill the holes in the ceilings and the floor is covered in paint splatter. We sat down, looked at the menu and thought we may have made a mistake in coming here, just based on the environment. Well we were right!  We ordered risotto, as we  thought pizza is hard to destroy and if you are going out to eat, why not try something that a chef can create. This was a big mistake, the food was terrible, bland, tasteless and undercooked. I could have made better from a packet mix. My risotto had avocado, mushroom and sun dried tomato in what was supposed to be a cream sauce. Instead I got dry rice, no spice and no flavour. My friends was made in a tomato sauce, a little more moist as I am sure the jar of leggos was used to spice that dish up. The only saving grace for my friends dish was that it had prawns and they ended up being the only thing that was eaten. So we left 90% of the food told the waitress that the risotto was the worst we have had all year at any restaurant we have been to and were abruptly advised that “they have no complaints” and the chef (think  that is an exaggeration) advised us that “this is the way it is to be prepared”. Well girls if that is the way the food is to be prepared I suggest you do yourselves a favour, take an extra 5 minute walk and go to Lazy Joes down the road.   They also advised that they don’t get any complaints about their food, well I think they are living in a bubble, go to http://www.whereismycoffee.com.au/cafe_guide/vic/cafe/jetty’s_cafe-4478/details/ and see what others have to say about this establishment, and it isn’t good. So when you see the Rosebud Jetty cafe… Keep walking or driving or just run away.

Girls while driving down Point Nepean road in Rosebud you could be forgiven for missing this little gem. Nestled in a small group of shops “The Capel” is easily missed from the road as it has a very unassuming facade, that disguises a modern, warm friendly establishment. The Capel Restaurant Bar offers contemporary Australian cuisine, a fully licensed bar & mouth-watering pizzas, hand-made the traditional Italian way for dine in or take away. We were well cared for by Paul Breanne who was very engaging and  suggested we try one of the specials; a three way trio of Fish, prawns and Calamari…YUM. But this got even better as the meal came with a side of fries and a garden salad. Can I say, we were well and truly full, especially as we washed it all down with a bottle of Sav Blanc. But at night, once a month the Capel springs to life with live 70′s music, something to get those toes tapping. The next event is Saturday the 11th of September.

You can find the Capel at 1625 to 1629 Point Nepean Road, Rosebud West. Remember you can easily drive past it, so keep a look out, you will definitely not be disappointed.

Is it a Cafe or a Restaurant, in fact it is both. The Pier restaurant and bar is a cute cafe by day and a restaurant by night. It is nestled in the shopping strip of Rye, opposite the Rye Pier and has a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. The staff are attentive and engaging, And how many times girls have you selected a wine, only to find that it has run out and then get upsold. Well yes the wine we ordered had run out but the staff at The pier gave us a higher quality wine, apologised and then gave it to us at the same price. So thanks Kylie, you were fantastic. We decided to have the antipasto, (costs about $22) and it was delicious, I should note that between 3 and 5 on a Sunday they have Tapas and happy hour. The food is very well presented and our antipasto was perfect for two. They also have live music at night and on the 7th of August there is a Beatles cover band ($55 for a 3 course meal and a band) now that is a bargain!  Have a look at their website and the menu at http://theryepier.com.au/

Rose GPO is the old post office at Rosebud, it has evolved into a funky restaurant and bar. On a warm day you can sit outside and watch the world go by or on these chilly winter days you can warm up in front of the open fire.
Rose GPO offers some great food, from breakfast right through to dinner, all reasonably priced.  On the weekends the nighttime comes alive with live music.  One of our favourites is Robbie and Lorrie from “ something to talk about the band.” These two guys have a deep range of covers from relaxing dinner music to get off your arse and dance! It’s up to you just ask them, they are very accommodating and have a great sense of humour and wonderful vocals. On one of the nights we were at the GPO, they did a rendition of Hallelujah as well as Parla Piu Piano, both were  outstanding, it gave me goose pimples. Robbie and Lorrie are also available for private functions and are Friday night regulars at Rose GPO.
To book them go to www.somethingtotalkabouttheband.com.au

Rose GPO also have special nights with other music, on August 13^th  where they are hosting a Cat Stevens Cover band featuring Josh Roydhouse and Paul Dillon and for $60 you will have a 3 course meal and listen to some fantastic music. So girls next time you are down the Peninsula drop in and see Sam and his friendly staff and remember to use your GWA discount card. Go on line and get the card its..FREE!!!

There are a group of shops on Nepean highway in  Blairgowrie that are renown along the Peninsula for its eateries and entertainment. This has become a draw card for locals and tourists (in the know) and especially comes to life around twilight. Nestled along this strip is a great gourmet eatery, PIZZA D’oh. We were pleasantly surprised at not only the quality of the food, (using as much fresh local produce as possible) but at the pleasant and friendly nature of the staff. Andrew Grinter is your host and he often has  targeted functions including wine tastings, so watch the web site. We ordered the Gourmet Pizzas and they were thin crust and delicious. All washed down with a bottle of Red..heaven!  The menu also has a range of delectable specials and taste treats ranging from shell scallops to five Mushroom risotto. Meals are well priced and service was attentive (even though we attended on a very busy night) We do suggest you book so that you are not disappointed.

Over our weekend researching the Mornington Peninsula, we stumbled across a quaint little cafe Bar – One One Five. We chose to sit outside and enjoy the Summer heat and people watch. We ordered the seafood risotto (for 2) and a bottle of NZ Sav blanc. The risotto is served paella style and arrived in a small pan on a plate. The food was fantastic and full of seafood, it also had a hint of Chili, just enough to stimulate the palate and not enough to make the experience uncomfortable. The prices were reasonable and we will definitely go back again. We would have loved to have e-mailed the restaurant to advise them of the review but we just could not locate an e-mail address. One One Five Cafe Bar is located at 115 Main Street
MORNINGTON ph (03) 5975-1714

The Continental  Hotel Sorrento is a great place to spend a cold winters day. When we arrived we were greeted by the cutest darling Chris, who showed us to our table. We loved his bubbly personality and the fact that you immediately felt welcome. We sat near the open fire and ordered a Swan Bay Pinot Noir, delicious. We had calamari (cooked to perfection) and antipasto to share. Girls, the hotel has a warm rustic feel about it and our waitress Ashleigh was also a delight and very attentive. While you are there take  the time to look at the pieces of art that adorne the walls, (they are for sale). We also were informed that there is a night club upstairs that really goes off! The hotel in summer would be great for people watching, so I guess we will just have to come back in summer and see. Located at 1-21 Ocean beach road Sorrento it is definitely worth a visit.

A vibrant tourist destination amidst the winery and vineyards. On a sunny day sit outside with friends under umbrellas and enjoy the scenery and share a plate of  food from La Baracca Trattoria (The Pizzas are a must). When we were there we were lucky, it was a mild day and we shared wine and antipasto with friends and of course some wood fired pizza. On a good day it does get quite busy so be prepared to wait. If you are lucky enough to get a table outside on a sunny day, you will be rewarded with a great outdoor environment. T’Gallant is open daily for lunch and is a great way to spend a day with your friends. By the way on weekends they often have live music that just adds to the entire experience and atmosphere.

Girls, we know you like an occassional beer. So for all those of you who do, why not try the Red Hill Brewery, a beer oasis in a sea of wineries..Taste the range of award winning boutique beers made on the premises. Set in a rustic bush setting here you can watch the hops grow and the brewers in action. Or sit back with friends and enjoy a quiet ale and some delicious beer friendly meals.

Open 11-5 Thursday through to Sunday

88 Shoreham Rd. Red Hill South