Healesville Hotel Front Bar

Pubs must think outside the bar to survive these days. One option is to light up like a pokies machine. Another is to go gourmet, as the HH has done successfully in its dining room over the past decade. The front bar, with its pressed-metal ceiling and open fire, fits snugly between the hotel's fine diner and its cafe corner. Chef Ben Arnold provides some crafty turns (spiced chickpea kofta pot with three cheeses and roast tomato sauce) and traditional fare (beef burger with feta and caramelised onion). Specials such as pot-roasted lamb shoulder with spuds and lemon-dill sauce help the Healesville stand out, as do local tap beers and wines by the glass.