Keen pricing, quality food, a good selection of wine and beer, and an emphasis on steak. It’s a winning and surprisingly simple formula, and one that The Station Hotel (59 Napier St, Footscray) has perfected. Mains range from $18 right up to $40, meaning there’s something for all budgets.
I tried the 300g Gippsland grass fed Black Angus sirloin ($28), served rare. It arrived more like medium rare, but that was forgiven as it was an excellent, flavoursome piece of meat, and was served with enormous mounds of chips and a green salad – both of which was excellent.
The dishes ordered by my companions were just as generous, and just as good, judging from the comments. A Farro risotto with local wild mushrooms, porcini and borlotti beans was pub sized, but from all reports, restaurant quality. The grilled Kurobuta pork cutlet with roasted spiced chorizo and kiffler potatoes also looked great.
Desserts are good, but not great. We shared a pavlova and chocolate mousse, the latter being a little heavy on the kirsh for my liking.