Waddington's At Kergunyah

How do you rate perfection! Waddingtons does not have a equal in my experience. The location in the middle of a beef farming property creates a wonderful ambience. The host is friendly but not over-familiar and the food is to die for. Uses very fresh produce sourced from the farm or surrounding areas. Meals are constructed beautifully. Progressive and innovative bug not faddish. A subtle middle eastern influence. Good local wines without the massive mark ups familiar in metro restaurants. Cannot beat this restaurant.

Picked up the Food and Wine Guide which gave the restaurant a great wrap. We travelled the 78 kms especially for the lunch. Arriving at the farm/restaurant gate we checked the opening hours on the gate sign. Yep, just like the Guide said, open "Thurs - Sundays 12 - 4; Dinner bookings by booking only" - so far so good. As we parked the car, the ?owner approached saying "We're closed". When we said we thought the restaurant was open the answer was a definite, "No, No" and that if we had checked their website we'd have seen it took lunch bookings only. Besides, he added, they couldn't keep open all afternoon on the off-chance of passing trade. Cool, we replied and left. As we were closing the farm gate the owner's ?wife drove up and got out of her car and repeated the same thing, that they took bookings only for lunch as their website stated; all the while oblivious to the fact that the gate sign in front of her contradicted her statement. Puzzled we checked the website and sure enough it stated "Our restaurant is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (12 noon to 4 pm) for bookings only [in italics]. Night dining is also bookings only [in italics], with a minimum of 6 guests if we have no other bookings on that night." It looks to me that their former business model that offered lunch to passing customers wasn't viable but that the website was updated only and not the Guide or gate sign. But it wasn't a wasted 78 km trip as on the way back to bright we lunched at Boynton's Feathertop restaurant which is open for lunch without bookings.

Had my friends wedding at waddingtons over the weekend and it's was nothing short of amazing. The food was outstanding with the canapés right threw to the mains and desserts being local icecream. The gardens are very well kept and the perfect place for a wedding or on a Sunday drive.

Recently had my farewell family dinner there and I cannot speak more highly of the service and food! It's a must visit in the alpine valley! Try the duck!

Thanks for wonderful food with views overlooking the Kergunyah Valley. The gardens were fun for the kids to play and have an adventure in.