Easter in Australia is a little different to the rest of the world…
For one thing we have an Easter Bilby rather than a bunny and the four-day weekend falls during Autumn as most parts of the country enjoy some of the best weather of the year - the humidity drops away and clear sunny skies mean camping and exploring are much easier to organise without the Summer heat.
It’s also a great time to gather friends and family together for lunch or dinner at your local restaurant, winery or café. We’ve put together five of our favourites to while away the Easter weekend, enjoying great food and a drop to drink:
Inspired by the blue waters of the Mediterranean and European culinary traditions, Bottarga on Martin Street is Brighton’s Italian dining gem. This Melbourne dining destination fuses taste and tradition in industrial-style surrounds of a wine barrel, an open kitchen and moody lighting, as guests peruse a menu of creative Italian dishes.
Stop in during Easter and sample scallop crudo, native citrus and herbs, yuzu, karasmui and tobiko, moving on to cuttlefish ink and lime spaghetti, Moreton Bay bugs, lobster sauce and bottarga.
For an award-winning seafood buffet experience this Easter, indulge at Citrique on Ferny Avenue in Surfers Paradise, with a glass of Chandon sparkling on arrival and live entertainment.
Visit on Sunday, April 9 for lunch and enjoy a menu showcasing local seafood, including lobster thermidor, baked whole salmon, prime rib beef with peppercorn sauce, crispy pork shoulder with cinnamon apple compote and seafood paella, saffron aioli and fresh herbs.
To finish, indulge with chocolate egg S’mores, speckled egg Rocky Road, caramel egg ice cream, hot cross buns and Easter cake pops, all for just $139 per person.
Paying homage to the past along with breaking a few rules to create exciting bespoke flavours, sweet tooths head to Eat Cannoli on Wood Street in Preston to appease cravings this Easter.
Hand-making everything from scratch and proudly 100% gluten-free and accredited by Coeliac Australia; stop in for a brew and bite like red velvet, crème brûlée or passionfruit cheesecake cannoli, while those with a savoury bent opt for Italian sausage, cheese, peppers and rocket in a panini.
Experience the taste of nature this Easter at Bendigo’s locally-loved Brougham Arms Hotel restaurant on Williamson Street. Just a short walk from the CBD and train station, this trendy dining destination dishes up some of the best pub meals in town as diners chill out in surrounds of stacked stone, recycled timber and copper pendents.
Set the tone for delicious dining with a starter of artisan duck spring rolls and Davidson plum sauce, or pork belly san choy bow and hoisin; followed by pan-baked barramundi in Thai green curry sauce, jasmine rice, fried shallots and fresh herbs.
For an Easter Sunday Middle Eastern lunch to savour, head to Coya Sydney on Pacific Highway in St Leonards. Recently relocated to a stunning new restaurant, Chef Ashraf Saleh dishes up a four-course menu to celebrate the holiday, beginning with lobster shorbet, an Arabian soup.
Move on to sayadieh bil samek – fish pilaf with sweet caramelised onions and toasted pine nuts – and succulent seafood tagine, finishing indulgently with Medjool date pudding.
For more Easter dining destinations, click here.
