Pub Of The Week: The Settlement Hotel, Cranbourne
The Settlement Hotel
South Gippsland Hwy, Cranbourne
Phone: 5996 3300
Press PLAY to listen to Tony’s full review!
The Settlement in Cranbourne is a sprawling, cavernous pub covering a stack of territory and fairly typical of outer suburban establishments, whilst providing very comfortable accommodation in neat, modern terraces.
Describing itself as an “Australian Boutique Hotel”, (given its size, a surprising descriptor), there is an impressive entrance from the carpark, and the old world “Victorian” look strikes a nice pose.
Inside, high ceiling, leather lounges and timber panels are in abundance. Two main areas – Front bar which doubles as dining, with the second modern bistro, (Finnigan’s Family Bistro with extended menu) is split level, light and airy.
Like many pubs of its ilk, you will find steak and parma nights, happy hours (3pm-5pm), trivia night. The Settlement’s featured parma now is the Humpty Dumpty, comprising scrambled eggs, bacon, mushroom and hollandaise.
Be my guest.
Pokies: Yes
Tab: No. (which is a surprise)
The food menu is standard pub fare, with a nice spoil along the way. E.g, 12 Oysters for $30, chicken wings coated in orange; spicy glazed and sesame seeds served with a side of chili lime ($16).
The pricing is around the mean for similar dishes in similar surroundings. Other entrees include Asian pork belly bites ($15) char siu sauce topped with spring onion, grilled halloumi topped with Spanish salsa ($14).
Mains follow a popular and extensive line, and in 2024, a full plated panko crumbed chicken schnitty @ $25 is fair buying. Burgers start at $25, pastas at $25, up to linguini seafood @ $32, and steaks (350g porterhouse @ $38.90). All servings are generously portioned.
Solid pub grub, no more no less. Familiar beer on taps, ($6.9 a pot, Carlton Draught), popular, small wine list. More fair play to the Settlement for their attitude to pricing on wines with choice under the $10pg/$40/bottle, e.g Grant Burge merlot ($9 per glass/$36 per bottle).
Any other big pubs paying attention to this???
Highlights. The aforementioned entrees were very good value.
Oysters, in a retail setting like this are rarely under $4 piece; $2.50 here. Fresh, plump, tasty.
Pork belly bites had the right mix: meaty, crispy fatty. (Sounds like an album from The Who).
Good staff, safe offer. My observation is that it just needs a smaller, intimate bar for locals to create some atmosphere. All’s good here, just too big for mine.
SCORE: 13.3