Pub Of The Week: Tony Leonard reviews the Crown Hotel, Buninyong

The Crown Hotel

508 Warrenheip Street, Buninyong.
5341 3402

When? February 17, 2023.
www.crownhotelbuninyong.com.au

VENUE 

Beautiful, stately, cathedral looking double storey pub on top of Warrenheip St., the historical Crown  is  the oldest inland pub in Victoria with the longest continuous lease  in Regional Vic.

It is so pretty with the soft painted heritage light brown colours, its brickwork superb, high internal old world ceilings in  bar and bistro, and gorgeous patio overlooking the main st and the hilly picturesque surrounds. A most delightful beer garden sits below.

Some 120kms west from Melbourne, 20 minutes from Ballarat, it  is worth the drive. The buzz on  a recent Sunday confirms popularity while the efforts to offer a better level of food and drink are obvious when the menu is first examined.

Simply it drips heritage Ballarat. Staff is ready to please in this owner/operator pub, whose previous stop some 15 years ago in Wangaratta and the steady and learned hand ensures that nothing is too much trouble.

Pub favourites aplenty with nice touches, very good tap beer (including their own Buninyong Bitter), an expansive wine list is the sum of the parts 5 days (no Monday/Tuesday) per week.

No TAB/No pokies.

And you have to love a pub that still proudly acknowledges being in the final 25 for best Parma back in 2016 as a calling card (they still back it up today).

Crown Hotel, Buninyong. Another in a long list of great pubs around 90 minutes from town to spend a few dollars and enjoy the hospitality.

FOOD/DRINK

Two tiered pricing for bar and bistro means there is a saving in the equally neat front bar (menu not as expansive) and full plated delivered in either  area.

While entrees are limited, there is excellent croquettes of prosciutto and cheese (3/16) that are voluminous and gooey. Mains cover all bases; Prime Beef Burger, potato bun, ham, cheese, Napoli (28); King Rib Pork Cutlet, bacon beans, roast potato, apple cider sauce, (36); Housemade Beef Guinness Pie, mash, veg, and full crust. That’s a proper pie! (28).

Always cautious when a pub proclaims a Parma as its go to, but here, it is warranted. Nine specialty toppings, (33/ea), ridiculously generous in size, the Breakfast,  (bacon, egg, mozzarella); Mexican, (salsa, corn chips, Guac, sour cream, jalapeños), or Diane, topped with a steak Diane sauce.

Be my guest.

Good tap beer, well served with glass retaining lace, their own Bitter and a wine list fairly priced completes the picture.

The average meal prices (bistro) are;

• Entrees – $15 (limited)
• Mains – $33
• Desserts – $14

Tried was,

• Arancini, 3/$16. Mozzarella, pumpkin, pine nut (a very popular mix), arrives as 3 mini football shapes, cooked right, with each flavour discernible. Napoli filling (not as noticeable, more dipper), they make for a good start.
• Chili/Garlic Prawn Pasta. $28. Loved it. Spaghetti, stack of prawns with a real kick (in a pub? yes!), dark, spicy/salty soy base added another level to one from the Specials board.
• Barramundi, garlic caper sauce, kipflers, seasonal greens.  $35. . A massive, thick rectangle arrives, (Barra doesn’t miss nowadays), skin crisp, sauce was tasty  (a bit heavy handed), overall a neat lunchtime meal.
• Chicken Parma, Bolognaise, Mozzarella, Chips/Salad. $33. Big Parma, easy share for 2, plenty of C&S,  little overcooked (no issue though), the pub still in form with this dish 6 years on.

SUMMARY 

The Crown goes about the delivery of country hospitality with a generosity that makes the drive worthwhile. You see the pub from a distance and hope that the wonderful outside facade is matched inside.

Two hours later, the Crown has delivered: Decision to come here is validated.

The only tricky part is finding the pub  coming from Melbourne. Not  well signposted, a missed turn on the trek out from the Mini golf course on the highway, has you seemingly going around in circles.

Should I go out via Kryal Castle? Do I follow the road from Dunnstown?.  Go into Ballarat and head out through Bakery Hill?

Lovers of the great Aussies comedy series The Moodys will recall Uncle Terry. We all know an Uncle Terry whose speciality is shortcuts from A-B. I found one the other day who said the only way to go was through Gordon! Hmm.

Make the effort, get there. Crown, Buninyong.

Score: 14.2/20