Where to Eat and Drink on the Surf Coast

It’s famous for the Great Ocean Road but the Surf Coast offers plenty of delicious reasons to visit, too. Chef Jo Barrett shares her favourites.

She’s earned acclaim for her focus on sustainable dining, having helped drive the closed-loop project “Future Food System” in Melbourne. So it’s no surprise that Victorian chef Jo Barrett ranks fresh, local produce chief among the selling points of the Surf Coast, where she’s now based. “There are a lot of dedicated growers here – everyone’s growing vegetables, there are beef producers, lamb producers,” says Barrett, who opened casual diner Little Picket at Lorne Bowls Club six months ago. “We have a lot of our local community dropping in herbs and lemons. I don’t think we have purchased a lemon since we moved in!” she says, laughing. “I’m getting to cook with incredible produce.” When she’s not busy reinventing her own menu (on a sometimes weekly basis), this is where Barrett goes to eat.

For organic produce: Torquay Farmers Market

“Stop at the Saturday morning market (1 Merrijig Drive, Torquay) and check out Kinsfolk Farm. They’re local, organic growers and we get a lot of produce from them, mostly vegetables. The market really does highlight this region because it only features growers and producers from around here. Every week, Kinsfolk sends a list of what they’re picking and it changes according to the weather. I think that’s the future of food – relying on small and localised systems.”

For a sandwich and coffee: The Riverbank Cafe

“I always get a toastie and coffee from this café in Lorne (6 Mountjoy Parade); they serve beautiful scones, too. I get the Henny: a poached chicken toastie with mayo, spring onion, seeded mustard and avocado. It’s a small, tuckedaway place and you can sit out under the grapevines.”

For the small bites: Ipsos

“This Greek restaurant in Lorne is really popular. I go for an afternoon Aperol and a selection of beautiful dips (taramasalata and skordalia are on the menu). It’s been around forever, serving lunch and dinner, and there’s an extensive wine list, with some well-known Australian winemakers on there.”

For the wine: The Store

“There’s not much in Deans Marsh but there is The Store and it’s become a place to hang out. They do a great job of highlighting local winemakers and brewers. We have a few local winemakers on our wine list but The Store sells them retail as well – like the Heroes label. So you can go and purchase them if you’re not going to the cellar doors. You can also buy produce, artisan pottery and have some local beers. It’s really cool and quirky.”

For the cocktails: Last One Inn

“As you come into Anglesea, stop off at Last One Inn, a bar and bistro. I go here for a cocktail, always a Margarita. They have a beautiful view of the bridge over the river and to the beach, and the food’s really modern with a South American vibe – dishes such as empañadas, chorizo, tapas and churros.”

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