Nothing screams comfort food more than a Winter’s evening in front of the fire with a slow-cooked meal, hearty soup or pasta dish.
We all kid ourselves we need the extra carbs to ward off Winter chills, but really it is just satisfying to devour food that warms the heart and the soul. Here are five comfort food dining destinations you need to embrace:
What is better on a cold night than a plate full of fettuccine carbonara at Casa Della Pizza & Pasta on Nepean Highway in Frankston? Tantalising aromas waft from this well-loved restaurant as locals and visitors return time and again to appease ravenous hunger onsite or take home a dish for an easy family dinner in front of the TV with a blanket.
Gourmet pizza slices like smoked salmon, Spanish onion, capsicum and cheese on a tomato base are sure to hit the mark, along with a classic Angus burger, with bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, tasty cheese and aioli.
Italian-influenced Mod Oz fare with flair is what you’ll find at 215 Queen’s Restaurant and Bar on Queen Street in the heart of Melbourne city. Expect a unique dining experience at this laid-back bar and restaurant with outdoor seating, a function hall and a warm, inviting vibe of glowing neon signage, a stacked stone bar and moody lighting.
Settle in with a glass of vino and deep-fried chicken wingettes, drumettes and sauce of choice, moving onto house specialties like fettuccine with pesto, chicken, white wine, cream, basil, pecorino Romano and parsley.
Pub classics, California-style burgers and crispy chicken wings are on the comfort food menu at Don Rodney’s at the Townie on King Street in Newtown. A rustic vibe delivers a warm and inviting space to hang out with family and friends over pub grub sure to impress all appetites, while chilling out on a leather Chesterfield couch with a brew.
Start your Winter feast with Szechuan calamari, lime aioli and pickled cucumber before everyone’s fave hand-crumbed chicken schnitzel, fries and salad, or devour big beef nachos with melted mozzarella, guacamole, pico de gallo, jalapeños and sour cream.
There are picnic baskets on the shelves and vibrant murals on the walls at locally loved The Picnic Basket Café on Channel Highway in Taroona. This quaint Hobart diner projects a cosy vibe of polished wood floors, shabby chic tables and colourful cushions, ideal for lingering over a drink and a bite to eat.
Stop in for brunch and satisfy hunger with sweet corn fritters, herb labneh, pomegranate, salad leaves and pickled jalapeños, or potato croquettes, smoked salmon, poached egg and creamy dill sauce.
Look for the glowing blue neon sign on Liebig Street in Warrnambool to find Bojangles Pizza Restaurant. This well-loved Italian local dining destination oozes Tuscan charm, with a terracotta frontage, vibrant wall murals, potted greenery and wooden ceiling beams, along with an à la carte menu showcasing all your favourites from pizza and pasta to salads and divine dolci.
Handmade ravioli with roast duck, sage and cream sauce is sure to offer comfort on a cold night or choose fettuccine with prawns, chorizo, tomato, chilli, onion, smoked paprika, lemon, olive oil and parsley.
