The Bridge Bar & Restaurant

Ph: 5443 7811; 49 Bridge St, bendigo 3550 www.thebridgebendigo.com.au

Modern Australian, $$
Open Tue-Sun 11am-late; Licensed, BYO sun only no; AE MC V EFT
Chef Travis Rodwell (5-12-08) Owner Paul Moran (5-12-08)

Mietta's Review
This is Bendigo's entrant in the modern fine food stakes. Chef/owner Nicholas Anthony loves lots of extreme and different flavours, on the same plate and mostly they work. It is certainly a major departure for this staid Victorian city. The premises are a renovated old pub which are quite smart without being pretentious. Prices for food and wine are very reasonable by city standards and the wine knowledge is good.

Other published opinions

Age Good Food Guide 2009 Score: 14.5/20 "Think along the lines of some of Melbourne's most enduring gastropubs and you have a good template for the approach at Bendigo's The Bridge. Winter brings fine examples of hearty staples, whether it be local rabbit and hare ravioli on French-style lentils, or a Cohuna pork mixed grill: roasted loin, house-made sausage and trotter on bacon-enhanced potato"

Gourmet Traveller 2009 Australian Restaurant Guide "The front bar of this renovated pub has a casual bistro menu but you want the quieter dining room, with its mural of Bendigo buildings. Like the wine list, the menu leans towards regional produce"

Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 14/20 "After spending three years building the Bridge into Bendigo's best restaurant, husbandandwife team Nick and Sonia Anthony sold the business in mid-2007"

Gourmet Traveller 2008 Australian Restaurant Guide "Chef/owners Sonia and Nick Anthony have struck gold with this high-spec contemporary restaurant tucked behind one of Bendigo's historic watering holes, The Bridge"

The Age Good Food Guide 2006 score 14/20 "Formerly a derelict pub, the Bridge has been given afresh-faced makeover by owner-chefs Nick and Sonia Anthony, who hope their flamboyant, contemporary food will mark Bendigo on the gastronomic map."

Herald Sun Dining Out Stephen Downes 20/9/05 Score 14/20 "Lunch specials are bargains at the Bridge. Add $8 or $9 to main-course prices on the printed list. The wine list is good, representative of grape varieties and well-priced. Five whites and the same number of reds are sold by the glass. The Bridge also sells the excellent Henry of Harcourt cider."

Age Epicure Leanne Tolra 12/10/04 score 15/20 "today it's a slick, modem establishment, again named The Bridge, being given the "restaurant" treatment by ex-Carringbush, ex-Wine Room and Bendigo-boy-returned-home Nick Anthony."