The Grace Darling Hotel

It was a Father’s Day without the Fathers. Nick’s Dad, Wayne was in Darwin on business and my Dad, Jon in Noosa soaking up some rays and doing some fishing.  

We decided that a good Sunday pub meal was in order but, perhaps something a little more special than your usual pub grub.  Off we went in search of The Grace Darling Hotel on Smith St in Collingwood for a lazy afternoon of food, beer and wine.  A recent refurbishment to this fantastic old building has made this pub warm and welcoming with fun, passionate staff and a friendly local vibe.  

The menu managed to steer clear of being too ‘gastro pub’ by keeping the pub classics such as chicken parmagiana and steak and chips and putting a modern spin on the dishes, this along with using quality produce lent to a much more rewarding feed.  You can also expect to find some great fresh seafood options on the menu.

Nick and I chose to sit at the bar and enjoy a few aperitifs and some freshly shucked oysters with lemon and tabasco before ordering our mains.  Nick ordered the rump steak with rocket, seeded mustard and chunky chips and I ordered the Chicken Parma.  The steak came beautifully cooked and tender, with the bartender Brian’s promise that it was the ‘best pub steak’ he’d had at a pub proving true.  There was a beautiful dollop of French seeded mustard with a side salad of walnuts and blue vein cheese.

Having heard a few rave reviews on the parmagiana I couldn’t really go past it and the meal did not disappoint.  The juicy chicken breast came served, baked in a terracotta baking dish resting on top of roasted tomatoes with parma ham and seasoned bread crumbs sprinkled on top rather than crumbed and deep fried, which for a girl makes you feel a lot better about what you are eating, especially if you have been a little greedy guts all weekend!

Despite it being a busy father’s day the service was brilliant and the feel of the pub really reminded us of our home away from home, The Regent Kensal Green our previous local in London. We had one of the most entertaining and satisfying meals in a long time listening to the banter at the bar especially when, much to our amusement, some cashed up bogan ordered two McCallums, whiskies with coke and ice at $80 a pop of which the bar tender beggared belief and almost refused to serve.  The cash won out in the end....

The Grace Darling Hotel

114 Smith St, Collingwood

BYO – No

Bookings – Recommended if you want to eat in the restaurant section

Phone: (03) 9416 0055