A Far Cry from the $5 Counter Meal

When I was younger to accompany your beer you got a fatty chop, some fries and something resembling a vegetable for the princely sum of $5. I of course never had the pleasure of ordering this but on the odd beach holiday it did cross my parents' minds to stop for a pub lunch.

These days it seems both the quality and price of pub grub has increased exponentially. A case in point is the Railway Hotel in South Melbourne. It is one of the more reasonable Gastropub destinations. The Butchers Plate which contained the usual selection of sausages and cured meats along with some duck and kangaroo products and a lovely pate for around $15 was a nice starter to share. I struggled to pick the kangaroo and I would have preferred a crusty baguette rather than Turkish bread with my pate but it was pleasant nevertheless.

The selection of terracotta pots are a bargain light meal. Again accompanied with the Turkish bread these little dishes are filled with either a pork and clam braise, chorizo in red wine or a vegetarian chickpea option. The pork and clam and the chorizo went down well at our table, as did the risotto.

It certainly didn't hurt that we were the lucky Trivia winners for the night. There's always a good chance you'll make a return visit when you know your next meal will be on the house.