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 as the celebration occurs in school holidays, a lot of families take the opportunity to head outdoors for an adventure.
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 six of our favourites to while away the Easter weekend, enjoying great food and a drop to drink…
Tantalise taste buds at locally-loved dining destination, Whitney’s Restaurant & Bar on Forest Road in Orange. Nestled in The Remington hotel, this expansive venue exudes an elegant vibe of plush purple velvet chairs to relax in with a cocktail of choice; while the dining area features bright yellow, aqua and lime green chairs, moody lighting and splashes of greenery.
Stop by Whitney’s this Easter for seafood specials like this blue eye cod…photo credit: Brenton Cox.
Stop in this holiday weekend for Chef Tyrone Hunt’s seafood and fish specials, available for lunch and dinner on Good Friday and Easter Saturday; while breakfast is available all weekend.
Unique gems, stones and crystals along with gift lines from local artists and around the world keep diners returning to The Gift Shed & Café on Anzac Parade in Finch Hatton. This rustic café welcomes guests into warm and inviting surrounds to peruse an all-day breakfast menu, while checking out shelves filled with children’s musical toys and books, chimes, dream catchers and much more.
There’s British fish and chips along with seafood platters on the menu for Good Friday – think original fish and chips, with mushy peas, vinegar and tartar sauce, as well as gluten and dairy-free batter and crumbs.
Experience elegant dining in a relaxed atmosphere when you feast at Hunters Quarter restaurant, located in the Pooles Rock Vineyard on De Beyers Road in Pokolbin. Offering stunning views across the Hunter Valley, Hunters serves captivating dishes on a private terrace among the vineyards while aweing guests with a sophisticated interior design and steeply sloping ceilings.
Enjoy Easter dining overlooking the vines at Hunters Quarter in Pokolbin.
On Easter Saturday and Sunday enjoy a three-course à la carte menu designed by internationally renowned Executive Chef Brian Duncan for either lunch or dinner, along with a glass of estate wine.
Bringing harmony, unity and binding people together through food is the aim of Komeyui Japanese Restaurant on Ferrars Street in South Melbourne. Hailing from a fishing village in Hokkaido, Executive Chef and owner Motomu Kumano (Kuma) brought with him his discipline and perfection for authentic, handmade Japanese cuisine.
Receive a welcome drink at Komeyui Restaurant this Easter before succulent seafood offerings.
Book in for the new omakase menu from Komeyui’s website this Easter and receive a welcome drink on arrival, before delving into seafood delights such as yuzu-cured scallops with Nashi pearl.
For an exceptional dining experience on the Mornington Peninsula head to Ten Minutes by Tractor – Restaurant on Mornington-Flinders Road. This elegant vineyard restaurant projects a sleek yet relaxed ambience, with a moody colour palette, white-clothed tables, wooden panels and statement pendents setting the scene for a memorable meal.
Five and eight-course Easter dining options await at Ten Minutes by Tractor – Restaurant.
Open for lunch and dinner on Easter Saturday and Sunday, along with lunch on Easter Monday, expect to try dishes like dry-aged duck, braised cabbage and spiced local cherries.
In Chirnside Park at the foothills of the Yarra Valley, the family-run Platinum Cafe and Restaurant offers an all-round taste of local hospitality. Attentive staff welcome guests into a modern dining room, stylishly fitted out with dark wooden furnishings, golden-hued lighting and floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking a landscaped lake.
Celebrate with friends and family this Easter over dinner on Good Friday, along with lunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday and lunch on Easter Monday.
For more Easter dining destinations near you, click here.
