The Esplanade Hotel Bistro

Unfortunately, while it bears the name of the famous pub in Melbourne’s St Kilda, you won’t find any rip roaring live acts playing here on a Saturday night (though who knows, you just might). Basically this is one of the quite (or in some cases, especially on a hot day not so quiet) beachside pubs. I’ve been here a couple of times, once with a group of friends for dinner, and more recently to check it out again, and sit out on the esplanade with a cold beer while enjoying the pleasant day (as well as watching all the beach goers go about their business). The pub is a okay pub, and being located next to the beach makes it pretty convenient, though I’d only come here if I happened to be down in Brighton.

If at the Esplanade, Drop in and try Espy“s sports bar! Every day 4−6pm that have $ 5 pizzas and wow, they are fantastic for the price. Pair with a $ 3.50 pint of Carlton dry or glass of red wine and you have a great and cheap meal out!

I must confess I had a three star review pre-​written in my head when I walked into the bistro. It’s a strange mix, this place, with million dollar sea views (ask for a table by the window if you book ahead) and a slightly daggy interior set up complete with ye olde carvery and salad bar. I’d say they are definitely targeting a demographic a generation or so older than me. It’s pretty good value — meals include the salad bar, or you can order it as a meal for $ 9.90. We all enjoyed the food here. My mum gave the thumbs up to both the hot veg and the cold salad selection. My dad went for the graziers beef pie on the seniors menu (just $ 13.90) and my brother and I had the vegetable fritters ($ 18.90). The fritters were superb — potato, pumpkin and chickpea — generously portioned, flavoursome and very filling. Imperial pints of Superdry for $ 7 washed it all down nicely. By 1pm the place was filling up, but the less than trendy carpet serves the useful function of soaking up the noise and the background music was inoffensive soft rock. Your older rellies will love being treated to a meal here, and you just might find yourself enjoying it too!

My experiences at the Espy have been different each time. The first time I came here on a Sunday lunch, and the service was friendly and I didn’t feel rushed or uncomfortable. However, last night I swear their motto was get people (and their money) in and out with some sort of time record. Literally as soon as our entrée’s left our mouths the mains were on the table, which is a tad nit-​picky of me because I would have hated a long wait for mains.
The tables at the Espy are set with napkins, a fork and one knife each. This isn’t a problem until you order entrees/​bread to start. For example, you order bruschetta, it comes out in a flash and before you know it the waitress has dashed away faster than Usain Bolt and you realise you have no side plates. Many an awkward moment followed, where we took turns eating over the plate the entrée came on. Then the knife we used for entrees was left (deliberately) on our plate, covered in balsamic and other tomato-​y scents. When the waitress saw the empty plate she grabbed it without uttering a single word and took the dirty knife off the plate and onto my napkin.
It’s not that I didn’t want to keep using that particular knife, but I wasn’t even given an option. There was zero communication, not even how did you find this meal? talk about not wanting to be working on a Monday night!
ANYWAY, after that my steak was cooked really well and there was enough gravy and chips to fill me up. Although I do wished I’d asked for my gravy on the side because it was all throughout my salad.
A-​OK.

The Esplanade hotel is located at brighton right on the beach front, overlooking the beach. Have been here a few time’s for drinks. Great place to relax for a few drinks after a day on the beach. As a large outside area with many tables and sheltered. Can get busy at times.
The hotel as a good range of food and are at responsible prices. The meals are great and the service is good too…

The Espy has got a top notch location on the Esplanade overlooking the gorgeous Brighton Beach and Jetty.
The pub sits right on the corner and the outdoor seating is right on the Esplanade with some wind protection form blustery weather. The setting has a great beachy vibe and the bistro is laid back and relaxed.
The hotel has some great specials and a decent range of pub food for not too much money. The bar also stocks a decent range of wine, beer and ciders, although their lack of Australian made and owned ciders is a touch disappointing. Food can take its time coming out, but what you’re served is pretty good. Staff are fairly brisk, but with a popular pub, this is to be expected.
I don’t particularly like that while you’re eating in the dining area you can hear the Pokies tick over and sound their alarms, but finding pubs without pokies is practically impossible these days.
A nice place for lunch on a hot day, make sure to eat outside!

Cue Powderfinger’s summertime classic: *Suuuuuuun-​sets over the beeeeeeeaaaach-​es, from now on… la la lala… la la lala…*
THAT’s what I think every time I come to the Espy (as it’s affectionately known), and lucky for you I’m just thinking it and not singing it. Birds tend to fall out of their trees when I sing.
But enough about my lack of vocal skillz, let’s talk views. Sitting outside here during a lovely summers day, you’re right across from lovely Brighton beach, with the jetty, palm trees and sunbathers in sight. Sit outside at as the sun goes down, and you’ll be waxing poetical about the stunning colours as your bask in the glow of the fading light. Naww.
The food here has improved over the last year or so and man, can they now make a tasty, tasty burger. Their salads are also the bomb, if you’re that way inclined, and I did experience just a touch of food envy as some delicious pizzas sailed past my table.
Now as I’m really outdoorsy (that’s a total lie, but I do love wining and dining alfresco, so that counts, right?) I can’t comment on the indoor bistro, but the fact you can roll from your beach towel to a glass o’ vino in under 30 seconds is really aaaall you need to know.

The Espy as it’s known to locals is a pub for everyone. After a countery (pub meal)? There’s a buffet restaurant. Wet your whistle? There’s bar and bottle-​o (drive-​thru bottle shop). Keen on cakes and cookies? There’s a café. Smoker? There’s an area for that. Got a dog? There’s an area for that with water. Just want to enjoy the view of the beach? There’s an area for that, and that area is protected by Perspex which deflects the wind, but you’ll need sunscreen. Do you have kids? They’re catered for too with a play area and once a week there’s face painting. Intend on farewelling a mate? There’s an area for that too. Although catering to so many different interests and types of people, in all areas the Espy is warm and friendly thanks to its staff and the people who tend to frequent it. It’s a place for old and new mates, a year round embodiment of «Australia Day».

In the interest of balance I’d like to add that I actually had a surprisingly good experience at The Espy bistro just last week. It may have helped that we were seated in front of the windows with gorgeous views of Brighton jetty and the sea. Also, once the sun started to set the waiter raised the see-​through blinds to give us an even better view of the water and atmosphere. I thought the salad and veg bar that comes with every main meal was fresh, kept at the right temperature (rather than everything lukewarm), and a decent selection. I went the pub grub and ordered a schnitzel, but it was an Angus beef one which meant it was tender and cooked medium (as opposed to being a grey, tough thing inside). Also, they serve Janz by the glass which is a very nice bubbly. In a nutshell — seaside dining!

Hmmm I’m not sure how I feel about this place. I use to come here often because my grandparents would invite us out to dinner here regularly, but after a few times I was just over it. The menu isn’t anything exciting and the food is satisfactory. I also took a friend here once thinking he’d like it, but he wasn’t that impressed either. As the others have said the location and view of The Esplanade Hotel is great but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

Two sides to this place:
One is a nice setting overlooking the beach and a gorgeous Brighton jetty, equipped with some decent food– just think wedges and salt and pepper squid. The outdoor seating area is also perfect for relaxing whilst watching the waves. Indoor and outdoor options are available.
The other side is the dated pokies area with a tea and coffee «district». With multi coloured carpet and moron fabric coated chairs (perhaps they were dark blue), this is best for the balls club. Having said this, and to be honest, I think these two sides sort of work well.
This contrast brings you the best of both worlds, and at times when I walk from Glenelg to Brighton dressed like an exercise freak, I prefer the «balls club» for a refreshing drink, rather than the main bistro where people tend to dress nice.
Overall the Esplanade is my first point of calling upon arrival at Brighton Beach. Maybe check it out!

The Esplanade Hotel at Brighton is affectionately known to all asThe Espy. It’s a good spot for drink, a coffee or a meal.
You can enjoy a cooked brekky at the Espy for reasonable prices and the café is open for all day dining between 8 in the morning and 9 at night. What I like about this place is that I’ve always managed to get a table. There’s plenty of outside tables with good of shade and if its too hot or too windy, just head inside and grab one of the tables in front of the large windows so you can still enjoy a view of the beach.
The Espy is a kid and family friendly pub. Along with games and a kids playroom, the pub hires out their DS games for the older kids at $ 3 per hour. Want more? Take the kids for a meal in the Bistro on Tuesday and Wednesday nights and when you buy an adult meal, kids eat free.
When it comes to entertainment for the grown ups, there are meal deals to save you a dollar or two and live music on Friday nights and Sunday arvos.
It’s a great pub in a great spot and you can enjoy the views of the beach both summer and winter.

I want to state right from the get-​go that this review is ONLY about the Bistro section of the Esplanade Hotel. I’ve had 2 rather unpleasant visits to the place. One was a 2 years ago and I was determined to never go again… then I was invited to a family member’s birthday lunch there about 2 months ago.
Let me think for a minute, I want to say this as constructively as possible. They have a great children’s play area, the salad bar always looked fresh and you didn’t have a waitress hanging over your shoulder ready to take the plate from you before you had even finished your last mouth full. That being said, both times I ate here, I was disappointed with my meal and just had the salad bar.
I’m trying really hard not to involve my first experience from a couple of years ago into this review and because of that I can’t tell you what the state of the toilets were in as I avoided them at all costs this time. The food was bland and boring. The meat from the roast was fatty, sinewy and not appealing at all. A friend had a schnitzel and he wasn’t even impressed with that. If the ‘basics’ are going to be on the menu, it would be great if they were done well.
The Salad bar is the safest bet in my view.