Menu - Wayside Inn

Once a neighbourhood gem, a change of hands seems to have affected both food read more Once a neighbourhood gem, a change of hands seems to have affected both food

We are long term admirers and attendees of both the Station Hotel (Footscray) and the Wayside Inn (Port Melbourne). However, our latest visits to both the Stati... read more We are long term admirers and attendees of both the Station Hotel (Footscray) and the Wayside Inn (Port Melbourne). However, our latest visits to both the Station Hotel and the Wayside Inn have been less than impressive. On Thursday night we attended the Wayside Inn and were happy to go to the dining room to move away from the crowd and the karaoke style singer. As the first diners in the dining room we had to go looking for someone to serve us. Not a good start.Our order consisted of the Cauliflower croquettes (shared between us, these were OK) special Rotisserie Chicken served with a Morrocan inspired coleslaw and harissa ($42) and a Chicken Parmigiana ($24 - my husbands favourite when he wants something hearty and filling). To say that the food was disappointing is an understatement. The Rotisserie chicken was bland and uninspiring and if it were not for the Harissa paste served as a dollop on the plate I think I may have died of boredom. The side salad of Morrocan 'inspired' coleslaw was nothing but shredded red cabbage and coriander, with no dressing and no care. In fact the cabbage was bitter and this was totally not what I was hoping for or expecting. When I think of a Moroccan coleslaw I imagine cabbage, carrot, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, rosewater, raisins, grated orange rind, cumin etc. but none of this was vaguely present. For a $42 pub meal, this dish should have been fantastic, but failed on all counts. I would suggest the chefs may need to do some research on Morocco and the typical foods that make up the flavours of this country so that they are more in tune with customer expectations. Bland chopped red cabbage and coriander just doesn't cut it.As for the parmigiana, this passed at a reasonable level but the rocket served on the side was old and wilting and the salad yet again was undressed, bland and uninspiring. Of both dishes the chips were probably the best things on the plate. Hubby reports the parmigiana was OK too.Despite these dishes being of a large size, the rest of the experience is let down by offering up a large plate of food that is not enjoyable. In fact sizes are so large, they are inedible unless you want to eat a whole days food equivalent in one sitting.Final remarks on service..... Main plates were brought out without the entrees being cleared. Poor considering we were the only ones in the dining room.Good points.... the hotel has a nice interior and a good vibe/ambience. May be better for snacks and after work drinks but we won't be going back and paying heightened prices for below average food when there is so much on offer in Melbourne.