Pub of the Week: Morning Star Hotel, Williamstown
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Morning Star Hotel
3 Electra St, Williamstown
Phone: 9397 0039
Website: www.morningstarhotel.com.au
SCORE: 16/20
FEBRUARY 4
VENUE: Genuine old world pub that has had a chequered trading path for the past five years or so. The old pub is split into two; the public bar is small and inviting: a perfect local hangout. The dining room is more modern, long and rectangular with the kitchen exposed at rear.
The beautiful beer garden has a stack of room at the rear for your children to run around while the front (closer to the street) has a mix of high back chairs and tables to recount stories over a cold one.
Established bar means no running to and from garden (can get a little windy there).
Table service is on hand which is an absolute plus. Both food and drink menus offer real pub difference and the pricing/quality quotient is bang on. Genuine camaraderie between all elements of the business.
Tap beer is excellent. Glassware retains inside lace. Clean taste. Carlton D ($7/pot) is supported by Stomping Ground, Moon Dog, Bodriggy. Happy hour, Fridays, 4-6pm offers pots at $4; pints at $8.
Wine per glass $13-14. Troppo Grenache ($13) and Rieslingfreak ($14) highlight a different and compact list.
HIGHLIGHTS:
-BBQ pork ribs with shrimp hot sauce, peanuts and lime, $22. One long rack, perfect meat falls from the bone, great, real heat. Recommend a share.
-Baked halloumi, eggplant kasundi, lime ($18). Three fat soldiers of the cheese arrive warm with just a hint of give in them, the eggplant, with its mustard relish is cold. Together they work a treat. Another
fine share.
Something different to eat: Guinness and treacle bread with salted cultured butter, $10. Arrives in a cake tin. Multi-purpose for mopping up or eating alone. Generous portion but you want another one!
Surcharges: 15 per cent on public holidays only. None other, e.g. cards/weekends listed (Feb 25).
Also: Pokies: No; Tab: No; Foxtel: Yes.
Summary: Brilliant start to the year. New operators with pub experience (Orrong) are setting the bar high, not only in the western suburbs, but across Melbourne.
Innovative pub menu, good wine choices, table service. Recommended highly.