Grand Hotel

The grand is quickly turning into my go to pub for a lovely afternoon with friends, while relaxing over a sneaky brew.
I keep coming back to their wonderful courtyard area, sunny intimate (ish) for a lovely afternoon. It can get squishy and loud, particularly if little people are around.
Standard range of drinks and some lovely snacks, happy Sunday sesh!

We were at the dining room, its small and the wait staff seems a bit uptight and not very friendly except for our waiter of the night who reminds me of my dad, making jokes.
The entre was amazing — we had scallop & prawn tortelli, cobia & prawn tartare, swordfish Carpaccio, gnocchi with brown butter & sage, and octopus salad. For mains we had sous vide porterhouse, char grilled scotch fillet and twice cooked duck with semolina gnocchi. I thought the main could be done better, tastier, prettier.

Sunday lunch at The Grand today. Not a big fan of Italian food (which according to their website is what they do) but it came highly recommended so I thought I’d give it a shot.
Lovely old Victorian pub in Burnley Street, Richmond with «one of the best beer gardens in Melbourne» (once again quoting their website) which going by the stained glass windows along the side wall is located next to a church. The bar is quite cozy with little booths along one wall and a fridge full of craft beers. I kicked the afternoon off with a Tooborac Porter which the friendly bar staff recommended.
The friendly service extended to the restaurant where I was quickly seated and presented with the menu and a drinks list. Started with a passionfruit Mohito which wasn’t as sweet as I expected but quite nice, then moved back to dark beer with a 4 Pines stout. Warm crunchy bread arrived soon after accompanied by a little bowl of olive oil and some mixed olives. So far, so good!
For entrée I had the «Tonno in crostata Di pistachio e rnocciola» — seared yellowfin tuna crusted in pistachio and hazelnut served with sautéed peas. There was also a pool of pea purée on the plate which complemented the fish — which was beautifully cooked — really well.
They had a special of mussels in white wine and chilli which sounded good so I ordered that as well. This was served in a sauce somewhat reminiscent of Campbell’s tomato soup which didn’t really work for me as I’m not a big fan of tomato outside of salads. Still, the chilli gave it a lift and the
Port Arlington mussels were fresh and tasty.
There’s nothing cutting edge about The Grand, The food is fairly standard Italian that you could have had at most Italian restaurants in Sydney or Melbourne back in the 80’s, but they do it well and that’s all that matters really.

A decent pub to stop at on the way between Swan St and Bridge Rd. I don’t know why but I’ve alway found the crowd here a bit funny.
They have a couple of craft beers on tap but the food I’ve seen come out over the years have never made me want to eat herein spite of high rating.

This is our favourite local pub. With a «hatted» dining room at the front for fancier celebrations and an excellent lounge bar & beer garden at the rear, it has all bases covered.
The staff are always super friendly, the drinks icy cold & the food delicious. We particularly love the wagyu beef cheeseburger or the chicken parma for a naughty treat! The pizzas & grilled fish are also delicious.
They have great weeknight specials with Monday being Italian night (bread & olives to start, an Italian main & glass of wine or beer) and Wednesday being Duck & Pinot night both being great value for money at only $ 30!
Check it out — it will be your new favourite local soon too!

This fanciful hotel had my delight at first glance. It’s old but maintained well and modernized such that it’s comfortable and decadent at the same time. The lobby is adorned with fresh flower arrangements and they are simply exquisite. A large library in the fouer has most any book you’d like to borrow for a read while there. It’s close to the convention center and the casino where all the shops are as well as a block from the train station which will take you anywhere in the area. I took the train everyday then a bus to surf coast while my husband was at a convention in the city. The Grand hotel was ideal for our cross purposes in Melbourne. If you like a bit of local wildlife at night the up bar across the street is much fun. Great music.

One of my most loved places to eat in Richmond. You can always rely on The Grand for quality food and consistent service with a smile. An award rests on its mantle for Australia’s best pub dining room, voted by 3AW.
This place is worth a visit for any occasion. Its stunning re-​modeled Victorian architecture makes it one to remember. Enjoy Italian cuisine and select form an extensive list of boutique wines to complement. Personal service at The Grand will ensure your return! You will not be disappointed.