Pub of the Week: Tony Leonard reviews the Tallarook Hotel

Tallarook Hotel

15 Main Road, Tallarook.
5792 1743
www.tallarookhotel.com.au

When? September 24, 2022.

VENUE

Quaint double storey pub, mountain range in the background, VLine rail station over the road, the Tallarook Hotel, just off the highway before reaching Seymour is a delightful old world pub presenting a very neat and compact pub offer under new owners who win you from the get go.

The pub looks gorgeous from the outside with its cream façade and second storey balcony with its wrought iron balcony as underneath there are two parklets to enjoy a meal and watch the passing parade. It is popular with bike riders (motor and pedal) who revel in the hills and valleys from here over to Yea/Flowerdale.

Inside the busy front bar is old school and more power to the team for supporting local brewers/wine makers  such as Shearasun, Tooboorac, Preece, and then it’s through to an ante room which houses a pool table (No Tab/No Pokies) with both areas wrapped around by a beautiful serving bar which allows a stack of room to gather around and have one or two.

And even with its small local population, Parma night is Thursday which includes a beer/wine in the cost, and the happy hour is Fridays 4-6.

The dining room is fairly standard although I was impressed with the action of the exposed kitchen and the amount of people working the floor.  The team was enthusiastic and cohesive.

There are no individual bells and whistles per se but when it is all added up, the Tallarook Hotel  is a most solid pub citizen.

FOOD/DRINK

The menu isn’t overly extensive with 3 entrees, 6-7 mains (but there are 4 parmas) and one lonely dessert with the very English descriptor of Berry Cobbler and cream (12). More credit for the pub using local provider, Ralph’s Seymour, for the meat.

Crispy Squid, aioli, is a big, hot tasty entrée (16) and a dish easily stuffed up – Onion Rings, sweet chilli (there is a decent kick to it) is crisp and filling. Other than Turkish bread with dips, that’s the entrees and both tried work so well.

Basically six mains, including a smashed beef burger in a Martins Roll (rarely used in Oz) Bacon Jam, Beetroot (26), BBQ Jackfruit, creamy jalapeño slaw (26) or one of the 4 parmas highlighted by;

• Al Pastor. Napoli, Pulled Pork, Pineapple, Cheese.

Be my guest.

Tap Beer is well presented, Carlton D and some locals, and wine is extensively sourced from the region, including a ripper Cab Sav from The Brave Goose at nearby Whiteheads Creek.  $10pg was excellent shopping.

• Entrees: $10-16
• Mains: $26, steak higher
• Desserts: $12

Tried was;

• Porterhouse Steak, 300g, Peppercorn sauce, vegetables. $36. Cooked rare, very nice piece of meat, plenty of vegetables, perfect Sunday main.
• Beer Battered Rock Flathead fillets, chips, $ 26. Big fleshy fillets, fresh salad, plenty of chips, this is the staple that pubs can live or die by and was well delivered here.

SUMMARY 

More power to the new custodians of the Tallarook Hotel who have turned the fortunes of this pub around since taking over 12 months ago. Simple, effective hospitality makes this another – of many – pub to hop in the car and take a drive on a lazy Sunday afternoon, located within 80 minutes of town.

And the pub has established a loyal clientele, drawing on the bigger township of Seymour and through word of mouth from  further fields afar, that see this pretty pub for what it is: good food, good service and very good owner operator who welcomes one and all.

(Note: The pub trades Wed – Sunday).

Finally, love the staff wearing TShirts that make this one of the best rhyming slang places in Australia with the interrogative Things Crook?

Not here.

SCORE: 14.2/20