Royal Mail Hotel

Ph: 5577 2241; Glenelg Hwy, DUNKELD 3294 www.royalmail.com.au

Royal Mail Hotel, $$$
Open 7 days 7-10am 11am-3pm 6-9pm, Closed Xmas Day; Licensed; AE MC V EFT
Chef Dan Hunter (5-12-08) Owner Dunkeld Pastoral Co (5-12-08)

Mietta's Review
In an absolutely beautiful location with terrific views of the Grampians, this renovated hotel is serving a modern mixed menu to its many fans. The wine list is very serious indeed, with the extensive selection separated by state, and in the French section, region. There is also accommodation available, and in 2001 a Conference Centre, to hold 150 people, was added. Excellent wine list.

Other published opinions

Age Good Food Guide 2009 Score: 16.5/20, Two Hats "16.5/20 9 12 Country Restaurant of the Year Dunkeld is a long way to drive, even if the food at journey's end startles with its flavours, textures and creativity. Then again, it's closer than Spain, where chef Dan Hunter acquired his skill with contemporary Euro gastronomy"

Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2009 "Now home to Dan Hunter, ex-Spain's Mugaritz, the Royal Mail has become a hot dining destination"

Gourmet Traveller 2009 Australian Restaurant Guide Score: ** "It takes just one bite of Dan Hunter's calamari - micro-scored and garlicky, with ginger and squid ink rice 'cake' and a dehydrated squid ink 'wafer' - to appreciate the remarkable substance to his radical style"

Herald Sun Bob Hart, 28-06-08 "Melbourne QC, businessman and lover of the finer things Allan Myers cared deeply: he invested money and dreams, a mountain of each, in the town in which, as a son of the locar butcher, he had grown up. ... He then installed one of the most accomplished young chefs Australia has produced - Dan Hunter, originally from Bairnsdale, who had just spent two years at Mugaritz in Spain, one of the world's best restaurants - to shape food operations and mastermind the hotel's signature restaurant."

The Age John Lethlean, 20-5-2008 Score: 17/20 "To look at, the Royal Mail's restaurant is modest. Clean, orderly, comfortable but modest. It's part of a hotel retreat at the foot of Mount Sturgeon. As such, it's a beautiful place to sit and contemplate an Australian landscape. But there are plans for a new dining wing, part of the quest of reclusive squillionaire Allan Myers, QC, to create something unique at Dunkeld. The wine collection is nationally famous. And last year, young Australian chef Dan Hunter joined with a brief to carry on the work he'd done as head chef of Mugaritz, Andoni Aduriz's San Sebastian restaurant that this year ranked an astonishing fourth in Restaurant magazine's Euro-centric Top-50."

Herald Sun Dining Out, Stphen Downes, 20-11-07 Score: 14/20 "The Royal Mail's wine list A is one of Victoria's best. It has a brilliant and long choice, comprehensive grape selection and an excellent range of prices. And though food and wine are good to very much better, servings are small and prices are high. The ambience is as interesting as a Connex timetable and the pace of meals can be very slow."

Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 14/20 "A word of advice: it may be wise to organise accommodation in one of the Royal Mail's bluestone cottages before you arrive. Then you can allow time to properly enjoy this renowned restaurant with its epic wine list, ambitious and intelligent menu and impressive food"

Gourmet Traveller 2008 Australian Restaurant Guide "The term 'country pub' doesn't cut it when describing Dunkeld's main watering hole with its incredible Grampians backdrop"

The Age Good Food Guide 2006 score 13/20 "The Royal Mail caters for all needs, be it formal, white-linen service, relaxed bistro meals, or a humble picnic hamper. Hewn in local sandstone and backdropped by impressive Mount Sturgeon, the hotel complex is striking, but the airport-hangar-sized main dining area lacks ambience"

Gourmet Traveller 2006 restaurant guide "Mount Sturgeon, southern sentinel ofthe Grampians, looms broodingly behind this strikingly designed hotel and country resort, an inspired creation of Dunkeld-born barrister, pastoralist and vigneron Allan Myers, OC. It's a place where local graziers might shout their shearers a beer in the public bar and bistro at one end, then join a throng of visitors in the classy dining room"

The Age Good Food Guide 2005 score 15/20 One Hat "A sweeping sandstone arc houses a stylish dining room with gobsmacking views of the southern Grampians. Jo Fraser's cooking is confident and clever"

Gourmet Traveller 2005 Restaurant Guide "The stunning design ofthis contemporary resort, in landscaped gardens on the site of an old staging post, is almost as impressive as the brooding presence of Mt Sturgeon looming behind."

The Foodies' Guide 2004,Allan Campion & Michele Curtis,'It could be the combination of the fantastic views of Mount Sturgeon,the modern,slick dining room and the great regional food and wines.'

The Age Good Food Guide Awards 2004 1 hat, score 15/20,excellent wine list,breakfasts,bar,wide selection of vegetarian dishes,accommadation available

Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide Australia 2004, Good vegetarian options,'is a contemporary leirsure resort, conference centre and restaurant.Cleverly seperated from the public bar and bistro, the spacious dining room is a showcase for western district produce and regional wines...gastronomic highlights.'

Herald Sun, citystyle, Dining Out, Stephen Downes, 1/7/03, Score 12/20

The Age, Sunday Life, Eat streets, 21/4/02

Herald Sun 25/7/2000

The Age Epicure 18/7/2000 Claude Forell

The Age, DOMAIN, 29.1.00