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The Windsor Castle Hotel
Ph: (03) 9521 1867; 89 Albert St cnr Upton St, WINDSOR 3181
Modern Australian, $$ -
Open thurs-fri noon-3pm: mon-thurs 6-9.30pm; fri 6-10pm; sat-sun 1-10pm; Licensed; No cards
Mietta's Review
The Windsor Castle has long had a reputation for good bistro food and great counter meals, all served in a comfortable, slightly old-fashioned, situation. In February 05 Kurt Sampson, one of Greg Malouf's better known protoges, has taken over the kitchen. The counter meals will stay but the dining room food will take on some of the Middle Eastern flavours that Kurt uses. This should be one to watch in 05, particularly at these prices.
Other published opinions
The Age (melbourne) Magazine May 05 Gastro Pubs John Lethlean "The lights are low, the furniture's funky and the reality is retro, baby. This is a pseud-free zone. Which makes chef Kurt Sampson's simple approach to pub food perfect."
The Age Cheap Eats 2005 "WITH its red walls, semi-circular booths and theatrical mood lighting, this dining room is equally attractive to first-date couples, quietly chatting blokes and the odd rowdy group."
Age Matt Preston 11/5/04 "The unseasonal evening heat also means the old-style wallpapered parlours that surround the bar with open fires and sink-into seating hold less attraction than usual, even with their saucy paintings of nude ladies. Instead, everyone is out in the beer garden just lit by tealights and the strange backlit technicolour feature wall."
The Age Cheap Eats 2004,Somewhere we highly recommend,Good Bar,'Chocolate velour seating,dim lighting and an open fire give this the 'first date' seal of approval.'
The Foodies'Guide 2004,Allan Campion & Michelle Curtis,'Danny Chapman is the master behind the stoves here.His food is retro-ish and we love it.Sample the snacky food and bar nibbles or go the whole hog with pizzas,curries and grills with a twist.But leave room for dessert:perhaps the spotted dick or jam roly-poly will be on the specials board.'
The Age, A2, 29/11/03, Melinda Houston,'make your way to one of the south side's best beer gardens'
The Age, Sunday Life, 21/12/03, Dani Valent,'Daggy old classics are reworked with a fine-dining ethos here.According to new chef Peter Mcleod, that means you chicken parmigiana has 'the crap bashed out of it' on site and is topped with proper napoli sauce. There's also spelt pasta cracked out by hand and soft-shell crab.'
The Age, Epicure, Under $10, 2/7/02, David Sutherland, 'the food is seriously good'
Liquid, Bar Culture & Beyond, Winter Edition 2003,'comfy barstools which are perfect for a long afternoon...the casual vibe allows you to order what you feel like'
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The Windsor Castle has long had a reputation for good bistro food and great counter meals, all served in a comfortable situation.