As the Day of Dad approaches…

With Cam O’Keefe.

Left your run a little late this Father’s Day? Here’s a couple of options that should save the day.

The first is a no-brainer, as who’s Dad doesn’t love lunch at the pub? Always a Geelong West favourite, The Telegraph Hotel, has close to some of the best pub food in town.

Don’t take our word for it though: last year they collected 3AW’s award for ‘Pub of the Year’ which is no mean feat given the competition is judged state-wide, among a string of fancy inner city Melbourne venues.

The Telegraph always do their best to fit larger groups in, but probably be prepared to take whatever timeslot they tell you as the place can pack out quick.

Down the road, along Pako there’s another (sometimes forgotten) pub starting to do great things again with their menu.

Did you know The Petrel Hotel is the oldest pub in the entire Geelong region? It might seem hard to believe, but it’s actually the oldest continually licenced venue in our region: meaning there were once older places, but they have since closed their doors.

The food here has stepped up about 10 levels in the past year with the arrival of new Melbournian owners.

These new operators have a knack of transforming run-down old pubs into destination food-hotels, exactly how they’ve done with the Marquis of Lorne in Fitzroy. Think pub classics like schnitzels and steaks, but executed well beyond your basic pub expectations.

Moving east of Pako, The Black Sheep in the CBD is offering a feed-me feast for Dad which will feature much of their European/Austrian flavoured menu.

You read right, that’s Austrian (not a typo for Australian), think slow-cooked pork hock, forest mushroom risotto, Austrian-style beef goulash, and cherry gin duck leg.

Yum! Housed next to their dining room is also the venue’s Chamber of Gin bar and tasting space, which champions five of the best local gin distilleries and showcases the best products of each to purchase in the form of a cocktail, tasting flight, or take-away.

No doubt a great excuse to spoil Dad with some gin-love! The place is open for Father’s Day dinner too, so you don’t have to stress if you miss out on a lunch booking.

Perhaps Dad might appreciate a humble Sunday roast instead? The Elephant & Castle plan to bring out all the English-style trimmings this Father’s Day, so expect Yorkshire puddings, proper house-made gravy, and roasted winter veg accompanied by a pint or two of Kilkenny (naturally).

Or if a meal at home is more Dad’s go, grab some of the best-smoked meats going round from Wildfire Craft BBQ, found along Watsons Road in Newcomb. These guys smoke whole Peking ducks, sticky lamb ribs, beef brisket snags, garlic butter chickens, pulled pork and more.

As a Father’s Day special (available only that weekend) they have a ‘Big Daddy Platter’ deal that feeds five people and should be more than enough to impress Dad.

There is the possibility of booking a table at the venue if you’d prefer, but the place seats only 14 patrons (with table bookings strictly lasting just a single hour), so might be best to pre-order and collect so Dad doesn’t have to rush.

*NB: this place is notorious for selling out fast, so get those orders in now – particularly with a deal like this!

Another good smoky option is Geelong Smoked Brisket in Highton, that specializes in (you guessed it) beef brisket. The point of difference here is that they use only wood to do their smoking (whereas many people rely on gas, pellets, or charcoal) meaning that the smoke flavor has a real cut and depth to it. The meat is smoked low and slow for 16 hours, delivering quite a tender and moist bit of cow.

Whatever you do this Father’s Day, don’t go for the socks and jocks option when it comes to gifts, please! Depending on what your Dad is partial to, Bottles & Barrels has every base covered from craft beer to niche spirits, to a great selection of imported and domestic wine producers. Their attached coffee shop serves Seven Seeds Coffee, ideal for you to sip through while browsing the shelves… or take Dad there for a coffee and let him choose his own gift!