Pub Of The Week: Tony Leonard reviews the Pink Hill Hotel, Beaconsfield
Pink Hill Hotel
20 Pink Hill Boulevard, Beaconsfield.
9707 6888
When? April 21, 2023.
www.pinkhillhotel.com.au
VENUE
The Pink Hill Hotel (PHH) is the newest pub in Melbourne, perhaps Victoria, that has been built from the ground up on a green field site, and commenced trading late 2022.
Located in Beaconsfield Some 50 kms from town, it is fabulously set out in a dead end street (for the moment) in an estate slightly removed from the central trading area of this suburb. Because of its elevation, the Pink Hill logo is visible at night from nearby suburbs and the pub aims to be the number one destination in the outer SE suburbs.
It is impossible not to be impressed on entering from the massive areas for sport (as big a screen as you are likely to see in a pub), bistro (with exposed kitchen) seating around 200-250 at any one time and an eager armada of staff ready to help with your needs to make this an excellent experience.
Big lounges, big function centre, kids playground , outdoor terraces and a beer garden, it is a picture often repeated in the outer suburbs, but not nearly as good as as this.
Pokies, Yes: TAB yes.
What sets the PHH apart from more established venues of this size is the quality of food and drink. This is not a join the dots menu: nearly all is done from scratch in the kitchen and the level of activity was very busy on day of the review.
Prices are the median for food and drink in pubs, the choice is extensive, and indeed a pub likely to change preconceived notion about ‘big pubs in the burbs’.
A challenge now is set out to other big operators and it is this: Go to the PHH and compare your venues against this one.
New now, there is little doubt in time that the PHH will be the focus of most pub/function /social activities out in the SE.
FOOD/DRINK
The menu is an honour roll of pub favourites and truth be told, if they don’t have it here, then you are not trying hard enough.
Tapas and sharing plates include Roasted pumpkin hummus, crumbed feta and turkish bread, (10), Pork and Fennel Meatballs, basil, bread, (14), or Garlic and Chilli Prawns (18).
Big roast of the day (28) Chicken Parma , full whack, (28), with a range of Burgers all priced around $25, and served with chips and coleslaw. Steaks commence at $42, and served fully plated (Porterhouse, 300g).
Again another tick in favour of the PHH is a real effort to offer a proper Kids menu, with Parma, Flathead tails and Cheeseburger for $14.
Commercially available brands dominate the taps- Carlton, Vic Bitter, Stone/Wood and are well presented. CD chosen, 6.5/pot. Very good.
Fair pricing in wine, approx 10pg from ST Hallets, Xanadu, GRant Burge, with the never miss SeenHillRiesling the preferred at 9.5pg.
The average meal prices (bistro) are;
- Entrees – $14
- Mains – $27
- Desserts – $10
Tried was…
- Lamb Kofta, Tzatziki, Slaw, Turkish bread. $16. Great skater. 4 Kofta arrive, meaty, with wonderful sharp, warm flavours that give some spice to the lamb. This works absolutely and makes for a great share.
- Flathead tails(main), chips , salad. $28.90. Cooked from scratch at the pub, this is plentiful , 3- 3.5 large tails arriving hot with crisp batter. Sometimes there is an homogeneous look and taste to this pub fav: not here. Very well done.
SUMMARY
The PHH achieves two important criteria in my mind. The first is that this isn’t another big pub in the outer ‘burbs’ just mailing it in as far as food and hospitality goes.
There is an effort to breaking that nexus in thinking that one here is the same as any other of its brethren.
The other is the indirect challenge to others to lift their games to an envied level of inner suburban much loved pubs. To a point this is happening in some of the larger corporates, but in equal measure some are being left behind.
Wherever the next pub is built in the ever expanding Suburbs of Melbourne, the standard set at the Pink Hill, Beaconsfield, is what you will be compared against.
Well done to all concerned at the Pink Hill.
Score: 14.5/20