The Blue Gum Hotel

The Pacific Highway from Pymble is pub-free, so Waitara's Blue Gum Hotel is a welcome sight. Wetting the whistle is one thing, but the Bluey caters for carnivorous desires, too. The enormous dining area features that stalwart of the '80s, the cook-yer-own-steak indoor barbie. (The bistro will also do it for you, which is a fine option when dealing with Riverina/Murray-Darling and Kerwee cuts.) There's a good selection of burgers and pizzas, but the pork belly with cider-braised cabbage and beetroot ravioli with walnut cream are above-par bites that please pub-grubbers and fine-diners alike. Great for groups.