Crowe's Wine - GUNDAROO

The establishment is no longer called Matt Crow's Wine Bar or the Gundaroo Colonial Inn. It has a new leaseholder, name, and menu. It would be advisable to upda... read more The establishment is no longer called Matt Crow's Wine Bar or the Gundaroo Colonial Inn. It has a new leaseholder, name, and menu. It would be advisable to update this information accordingly.

I had lunch at Gundaroo Pub today, and it lived up to its reputation! The food was delicious, and the staff were extremely friendly. Yum! read more I had lunch at Gundaroo Pub today, and it lived up to its reputation! The food was delicious, and the staff were extremely friendly. Yum!

After months of anticipation, we finally had the chance to visit the reopened Gundaroo Pub, and it was definitely worth the wait. I particularly enjoyed the Jol... read more After months of anticipation, we finally had the chance to visit the reopened Gundaroo Pub, and it was definitely worth the wait. I particularly enjoyed the Jolly Miller cider on tap—it's a locally produced, beautifully dry semi-still beverage that has become my favorite. The menu features standard pub fare, which is tasty and reasonably priced. I do miss the unique culinary creations that Bella brought to the kitchen during her time there. However, overall, this pub stands out as a fantastic alternative to the typical chain pubs in Canberra. I highly recommend checking it out, especially on a warm spring or summer evening!

Terrible food after 2 hours of waiting! read more Terrible food after 2 hours of waiting!

Next, I did another search and found Crowes, which looked decent. I hadn’t heard of it before, so I checked out the reviews. There were none. I looked at the we... read more Next, I did another search and found Crowes, which looked decent. I hadn’t heard of it before, so I checked out the reviews. There were none. I looked at the website, and the seafood bowl caught my eye, while my friend was interested in the pork short ribs. They both sounded delicious, so I gave them a call. Sure enough, they had a table for two available. Awesome! We hit the road, enjoying a pleasant drive, and arrived in Gundaroo. We parked outside the police station, which made me a little uneasy, as it's not exactly my favorite place to park. Crossing the road, we approached a building that looked modest from the outside. However, we were nicely surprised when we stepped inside; it had that perfect country pub atmosphere. Upon receiving some rather worn-out menus, I noticed that none of the dishes listed on the website were available. I exchanged a concerned glance with my friend, and the staff soon confirmed, "No, sir, that’s from the previous owners; we don’t serve those options." Looking over the menu, I began to feel like I was at a rundown tavern for a cheap meal, but the prices didn’t quite match that expectation. The seafood and pork belly both sounded great, but unfortunately, the waitress informed us they were out of both. The chicken burger with standard toppings and garlic aioli with chips looked like our best option, so I asked the waitress how they prepare the chicken. Unfortunately, I got a blank look. I probed a bit, asking whether they used a grill or steam convection, and she finally stammered out that they probably just used a grill. That made me worry it would be dry and overcooked, so I decided to play it safe and order the schnitzel instead, especially since the waitress promised that their schnitzels are fantastic with creamy garlic prawns. I ordered it with chips and salad and a generous serving of the prawn sauce. By this time, my friend had finally settled on the beef nachos — a staple dish for anyone who might be drinking tonight. We also requested some garlic bread to start. After about 15 minutes of enjoyable conversation, the garlic bread arrived, and it exceeded expectations for such a simple dish. In fact, it was pretty good. Just as I was getting excited for my big country-style schnitzel feast, the waitress approached our table, and I thought, "Oh my gosh, I'm so ready for this!" But then, I was hit with disappointment when the waitress apologized, saying they were out of cream for the prawns. I attempted to stay calm in my mind, but visibly I must have looked shocked. What I received instead looked like a curled-up, dark brown lump — was it even chicken? I recognized a few half-decent prawns and some unusually thick, dry chunks of bacon with what appeared to be some kind of sauce. But seriously, what happened to the chicken? Why didn’t she tell me sooner so I could change my order? The nachos hadn’t arrived yet either, but I decided to at least dig into the strange plate in front of me. It reminded me of a pair of shoes I once owned, but this dish was more like wearing a stiff work boot — it definitely needed some sauce. I asked for Diane sauce, and they gave me the thumbs up. I figured it probably wasn’t actual Diane sauce, but who knows. The beef nachos showed up just a minute later — sans beef, which was odd since they called it beef nachos. My friend was understandably disappointed. In summary, I could have driven just 3 kilometers to a different tavern and had a similar meal for about $25 instead of $50, and it would have been delicious, as it always is there. (That shoutout is for you, Jenny.) I give Crowes a score of 2 out of 10 for finally getting the fire going. I won’t be coming back! We still plan to try Grazing in a couple of weeks, so keep an eye out for my review. And for anyone north of here considering a trip 35 kilometers for food, head south instead and give Jenny’s pub a try. It’s cheaper and always offers a great meal!