Pub Of The Week: Tony Leonard reviews the Lancefield Hotel

Lancefield Hotel

2-4 High Street, Lancefield.
5429 2202

When? April 14, 2023.
www.thelancefieldhotel.com.au

VENUE

Good old style double-storey Victorian brick pub, The Lancefield greets you on the main corner of this beautiful semi rural township some 50 kms from Melbourne.

It is fair to say that this pub has had a chequered run in opening and closing over the journey (like its nearby neighbor the Romsey, still closed) but a couple of locals have taken over around 8 months ago, and without too many changes to the aesthetics, have relaunched  a solid and reliable asset of this small community.

The pub has many rooms, mainly dining. The front bar is made of brick and half height timber, old style small wooden bar and some tables on the perimeter.   Some  sporting photos/memorabilia adorn the walls but are not overdone.

Through to the open kitchen and dining, further down the passage to two rooms (one for functions and dining) and to the rear a neat, large  beer garden.  The focus is unashamedly family friendly.

No TAB/No Pokies. (They have a TV on Racing .com if you have an interest).  Popular beers on tap, right price and very well presented.

Even if this sounds stock standard don’t be fooled: This is a good pub with a good hospitality package.

FOOD/DRINK

Bang on pub grub with a trick or two sums this up.

Entrees are limited in number, Garlic Bread, Bruschetta, but look at the bar snacks to find Korean Spicy Chicken wings and Pumpkin arancini w/basil mayo, all around $15.

Mains run to a familiar line, schnitzel, burger, bangers/mash ($23/24), but some specials have some dash, eg., German Goulash, Potato Dumpling (28), while a fully plated 350g Scotch Fillet, fully plated tops the list at $45.

Rarely dessert is tried but if they have Vanilla Praline ice cream ($10/serve) then don’t hesitate.

Fine Carlton D Sits alongside local hero Holgate, from a choice of 7 or so taps.  Wine is overwhelmingly sourced through the Macedon Ranges/Heathcote, with a bottle of ROCK Cab/Merlot priced generously at 8.5/pg//42/btle.

The average prices are;

• Entrees – $15
• Mains – $26 (steaks higher)
• Dessert – $10

Tried was;

• Chorizo, char grilled bread, pickle. $15. Big bowl of spicy sausage comes with pickle to cool and grilled sourdough (2 large pieces) to mop up the juices. Starting to appear on menus, this makes for a perfect share to have a beer before mains. Nice, easy going way to kick things off.
• Chicken, Bacon, Leek PIe, mash, vegetable. $27.5. Must love a pie that goes that all the way with the enclosed pastry, a mix tasty and plentiful filling, good mash and veg, The Macedon Ranges had a pie/pastry trail throughout April where local businesses offered their best; this pie would compare favourably with its brethren.
• Homemade Beef Lasagna, chips, salad. $24.50. Made by the young apprentice in the kitchen, he should be well pleased from the well cooked pasta sheets, the hot and oozy bechamel, and fine mince and chips to back it up. No problems.

SUMMARY:

This was a no fuss  good generous pub, from the welcome,  to the feel of the venue, to the food and beverage. Nothing was too much trouble and we are here to make sure you have a good time was surely it’s motto.

And interestingly on the Labour day holiday, the staffing was exclusively female (say for one young male apprentice in the kitchen learning his figurative and literal chops, and to be fair was learning at a rapid rate.

The  unexpected  highlight though was how much the staff loved working at the Lancefield. The local owners support the staff and in turn, they sell the wares of this pub. Rare in this day  given corporate ownership, but wonderful to hear from an owner/operator POV.

The rebirth here is around 8 months old and the Lancefield Hotel is heading in the right direction.

SCORE: 13.8/20