Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(103 Gavan St; mains $15-16; 8am-2.30pm Tue-Sun)
This local favourite is a loungey hole-in-the-
wall cafe and bar serving good coffee and decent food. All-day breakfasts, local cheeses
and Asian inflections such as Thai fish cakes round out an eclectic mix.
Pepperleaf
Bushtucker Restaurant
MODERN AUSTRALIAN
$$
( 03-5755 1537; 2a Anderson St; 1/10 tapas dishes $8/70, mains $19-30; noon-2pm & 6pm-late Fri-Tue, break-
fast Sat & Sun)
This place doesn't look fancy but the philosophy and flavours - using 'native'
ingredients such as wattleseed, quandong, wild limes and lemon myrtle - are something of
a taste revelation. Tapas-style plates give you an opportunity to sample the goods. Mains
range from emu or kangaroo fillet to Harrietville rainbow trout, while the indigenous
tapas include crocodile skewers or wallaby.
Blackbird Café & Food Store
CAFE
$$
( 03-5750 1838;
www.blackbirdfood.com.au
; 95 Gavan St; mains $8-23; 8am-late)
Newspapers spread
across couches and coffee tables, while locals mingle with tourists in this light-filled
corner cafe that captures the essence of laid-back, food-loving Bright.
Simone's Restaurant
ITALIAN
$$$
( 03-5755 2266;
www.simonesbright.com.au
;
98 Gavan St; mains $37-40, vegetarian/non-vegetarian tasting menu
$85/95; from 6.30pm Tue-Sat)
For 20 years owner-chef Patrizia Simone has been serving out-
standing Italian food, with a focus on local ingredients and seasonal produce, in the rustic
dining room of this heritage-listed house. This is one of regional Victoria's great restaur-
ants and well worth the splurge. Bookings are essential.
Bright Brewery
( 03-5755 1301;
www.brightbrewery.com.au
; 121 Gavan St; noon-10pm; )
This small boutique
brewery produces a quality range of beers (sample five for $10) and beer-friendly food
such as pizza, kranskys and nachos. There's a guided tour and tasting on Friday at 3pm
($18), live blues on Sunday, or you can learn to be a brewer for a day ($360) - see the
website for course dates.
BREWERY
