A short entry this one: country food at its fullest!
The thing with pub food is that it EXISTS! Nothing overly fancy, nothing overly special. Just a decent meal with plenty of food on a platter, served up at a decent price.
Tonight was one of the rare occasions where the crew I work with gathered for an out-of-work function - to celebrate the Engagement of our store manager to his partner (now fiancee) - best wishes to them! So we trooped out together, out into the northern wilderness just beyond the crossroads... welcome to Meringandan.
Now I haven't been to many pubs, but the impressions of this place meet the stereotype: beer-on-tap drinking room on one side of the entrance, 'dining' (or simply 'eating') room on the other side. Chalkboard positioned next to the kitchen entrance proclaimed the menu for the night... and I was surprised by the number of items available!
Long story short: I over-ordered: there was simply THAT MUCH FOOD!
The lamb shanks set me back $22, but you can see that volume speaks for itself. None of this "less is more" - just wholesome country food that fills the belly up! I ordered a side of chips with gravy ($9) as well thinking that the meaty Main wouldn't be enough... "Too bad, City Boy" echoed in my mind the rest of the night as I slowly but surely cleared out most of the meal - there were still a fair bit of chips left over at the end of the night :(
Verdict: 8/10
Don't expect polish or flair, but you get a great flavour with meat-falling-of-the-bone tenderness. And a full belly. And an awakening into Country Food!
