dine out
Winter warmth in view The down-to-earth country atmosphere of the Kilcunda Ocean View Hotel makes you feel immediately welcome. Owners Kate and Mark Volard have breathed new life into the hotel, providing a great smorgasbord of musical entertainment and top-notch pub fare. Tonight we’re here to check out the Killy’s revamped bistro and new menu. The bistro room really captures the charm of the old hotel building and the Kilcunda mural covering the back wall provides plenty of entertainment over dinner. As striking as the artwork is, there’s no denying that the milliondollar view from our table steals the limelight. With a full moon on the rise over the ocean and a sky fading from mauve through to inky black, it really is a spectacular setting. Once you drag your eyes away from the view, you’ll see a simple yet delicious selection of meals on the menu. The friendly wait-staff are more than happy to make recommendations and provide details on the meals. I’ve
got my husband and one hungry teenager on hand to help sample the menu, so we decide to start by sharing an entrée of the house specialty – Lemon Pepper Calamari. The calamari arrives in the blink of an eye. Our waitress wasn’t kidding when she described it as a generous serve. The pyramid of calamari perched atop a bed of salad greens is so tender you’d swear it was just plucked from the ocean. There isn’t a hint of chewiness in the beautiful strips coated in a light peppery batter. This is a superb meal – simple flavours and beautifully fresh, with extra points for the lovely tartare sauce. After the success of the calamari, we decide to opt for more house specialties for our main meals. Again, the service is >
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