Greatopia is what Aussies call the whole Great Ocean Road region, stretching from Torquay to the South Australian border.
You’ve probably heard of the Great Ocean Road…you may have even visited parts of it before. But when you venture a little further, you’ll discover nature, food, wine and adventure – you’ll soon realise why locals call it their utopia.
Continuing on our delicious drive around Australia of 2023 Readers’ Choice award-winning restaurants, we have five destination-worthy Great Ocean Road locations that will satisfy any hunger growl:
Readers’ Choice 2023 – Café:
No trip to Portland is complete without a coffee stop and bite to eat at Margaret & Agnes café on Bentinck Street. Soak up all the Great Ocean Road has to offer alfresco while sipping a brew of choice, or dine indoors where blond wood table settings, trailing greenery and cabinets overflowing with all manner of temptations await.
Early risers devour dishes such as the Avo-ing a Smashing Day – smashed avocado, poached egg and beetroot hummus on sourdough toast – or Cluckin’ Waffles, with fried chicken, maple bacon and syrup.
Readers’ Choice 2023 – Modern Australian:
Soak up a rustic vibe at Mod Oz venue Salt Café and Restaurant on Liebig Street in Warrnambool. Exposed brick, blond wood, wine barrels and an eclectic mix of artwork make this casually chic eatery the place to be seen; on balmy days, take to the laneway or alfresco dining out front and while away time with a drink of choice.
Chicken parfait and onion jam tempt to start your Great Ocean Road culinary journey, followed by Humpty Doo barramundi, daikon, fennel, pangratatto and bercy sauce, best enjoyed with a glass of SA Sauvignon Blanc.
Readers’ Choice 2023 – Burger:
When stopping in Warrnambool, there is no excuse for not chowing down on an iconic burger from Kermond’s Hamburgers on Lava Street – once you do, you’ll always come back. Delivering delicious fast food to locals since 1949, everything is done by hand at Kermond’s, from cutting the onions, bacon and lettuce to measuring the meat and washing the vine-grown tomatoes.
Wrap your hands around a hamburger with the lot – meat patty, onions, egg, bacon, tomato and tomato sauce, on a fresh bun - or a Great Steak Roll, with fillet steak, fried onions, egg, bacon and a serve of fries.
Readers’ Choice 2023 – Grill:
Follow the locals along Great Ocean Road to find well-loved eatery Morgans Bar & Grill in Anglesea. Housed in a weatherboard building, join the buzz of conversation at this energetic venue where an inviting alfresco space with umbrellas, bench tables and stools awaits, softened by the gentle sway of potted palms.
Carnivores slice a knife into perfectly cooked T-bone steak, with chips, garden salad and red wine jus, or chow down on the Big Bad Barry burger – crumbed barramundi, lettuce, tomato, red onion and tartar.
Readers’ Choice 2023 – Thai:
Those craving a Thai fix in Torquay head down Pearl Street to find HugSiam Thai. A full glass frontage provides an abundance of natural light to this bright and breezy dining destination, where wooden floors, traditional artwork and accents encourage lingering over your meal with a glass of wine.
Dive straight in with deep-fried chicken and sweet chilli sauce to start, or Thai fish cakes, then delve into red duck curry, with lychee, pineapple and sides of steamed rice and roti; a stir-fried combination of chicken, beef, pork, lemongrass, herbs and vegetables is sure to hit the mark.
