Pub Of The Week: Tony Leonard reviews the Farmers Arms Hotel, Creswick

Farmers Arms Hotel

31 Albert Street, Creswick.
5345 2221

When? June 9, 2023.
www.farmersarmscreswick.com

VENUE

Snappy, old world brick pub in the main drag of Creswick, the Farmers Arms (TFA) has been much acclaimed as superior pub dining in regional/central Victoria over the journey.

Passing as a first cousin in look, style and feel to the wonderful Avoca Hotel, TFA is spread out over  a bit of territory with a welcoming brick front bar (pool table to the side), a big dining room (maybe 100) with its own bar, old prints dotting the walls, and well spaced, well padded dark vinyl chairs.

Either the bar or dining room provides excellent options to wine and dine.

To the rear, the beer garden, spilt level, is clearly a labour of love with much hard work getting to its gorgeous state now, and certainly a beacon on warmer days. TFA has a convenient drive through at the front.

The pub does generous mid week bar specials, with Wednesdays for the Parmas, Porterhouse for $20 on Thursdays and $4 pots on Friday nights.

TFA is not without its challenges as far as staffing goes, (front door is seeking to hire immediately), but while the wait staff may be inexperienced, they do a ripping job to make you feel as comfortable as possible with full table service.

The food is good pub grub, nicely presented, the wine list represents local, the overall package appeals.

The Farmers Arms, Creswick, is a reliable, serviceable pub.

FOOD/DRINK

Small menu for entrees, mains, but there is a frustrating  number of discrepancies to that published on the website, and what appears at the pub.  (Note for all pubs: while a few items change, too often lately what remains is out of date as far as prices and availability overall).

To be fair there are neat touches at TFA e..g, Southern Fried Chicken, Smoky BBQ sauce, pickles as a starter, ($15),  main of say Chilli Caramel Pork Ribs, Broccolini, rice @35, with a Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee to finish for $14.

The taps are led by a wonderful pot of Carlton D (5.5), supported by 1851 Golden Ale, Ballarat, Hawkers Pils, Hargreaves Pale. Plenty of choice by bottle or glass with the region represented by Sutton Grange Syrah, Harcourt Valley and Passing Clouds. Good choices and reasonable prices, given these are smaller producers.

The average prices are;

• Entrees – $15
• Mains – $29 (steaks higher)
• Dessert – $14

Tried was…

• Pumpkin and feta arancini. Saffron aioli, rocket. 4/$14. Superior to stock standard versions of arancini,  and this combination is raised by the addition of Cumin. Crunchy, hot, perfect start.
• Barramundi, Nicoise Salad, Saffron Aioli. $34.  This is how a Fish of the Day should come to the table. Thick, white fleshy fillet, crisp skin, well seasoned, Nicoise (minus tuna) arrives with olives, beans, egg, potato, aioli gives another lift, this was a very fair price for a good quality main,
• Eye fillet, 220g, mash, pancetta, baby carrots., RWJ. $44. This was overly generous as the cut resembled something closer to 300g. All vegetables were excellent, the meat cooked rare as requested. Good cooking all round.

SUMMARY

If you head to Dr. Google and type in “Farmers Arms, Creswick”, you are greeted by “ Farmers Arms, Voted Victoria’s Best Pub. (By whom and when is unclear from its website). To be fair, however, it is easy to see from the get go why this pub would be well regarded.

That said a few issues crept in. Not sure why this is happening, but recently the entrees are barely (if at all) finished when mains arrive. Sunday lunch is to be enjoyed and not rushed, (Something obvious to the kitchen I would have thought).

Also, there was a breakdown at the bar with the tap beer and none was served after 1pm. Line issue? Ran out? No one could fix? Pity, as the one and only pot was very well served, and the young waitstaff was most apologetic. Doubly so, the public bar was humming.

Like the Pigs and Whistles, there are quite a few Farmers Arms around Victoria. The one at Creswick (Neil, the W, is pronounced!) is a good, honest country pub.

SCORE: 14.3/20