Well, this was quite a pleasant surprise, particularly since I did happen to have some time to kill…read moreup in Croydon. Well, visiting the local brewery was definitely going to be on the cards, especially since I discovered that it was just a short trip from the railway station. Well, that short trip certainly turned out to be for the best because I have to say that this brewery was awesome. Not only did they happen to have some great staff, but the beers were great. In fact, they went beyond great. Yep, this is definitely a place I would recommend checking out.

Great ambiance with easy parking. Great staff, delicious food and top notch beers. Highly recommend…read morepopping on down with your crew. Gorgeous open fire too

Seamus McPeake's Irish Pub is the local pub for the residents of Knox and surrounds. Hidden away in…read morea corner of Knox City Shopping Centre's Knox Ozone, it is a small venue which has the energy more commonly found in venues of the inner city. Among locals it is called "The Irish". A traditional irish pub in every sense it sports dark wooden furniture and a few booths at the back - perfect for a catch-up with mates. There are little nooks and crannies in every corner with all kinds of seating from bar stools, to benches to seats that double as small tables. Service is quick, but not quick enough when it comes to keeping the place clean - it is pretty grimy and the chances that someone will spill a drink on you are pretty high so I would caution against wearing your best clothes. Dress code is smart casual - just keep it simple. Entry is only $5 and drinks are relatively cheap too which is always a good thing. The place is busiest on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights and because of its size is packed full pretty quickly. There is an outdoor smokers area, which is tiny but it doesn't seem to deter patrons from crushing against each other in order to secure themselves some room out there. The dance floor is tiny but again, when there is a will there is a way and there are a lot of very willing dancers here. Patrons range in age from the very young to the very old although there tends to be more males than females.

Your review helps others learn about great local businesses.I was wandering around Know City one…read moreSaturday afternoon (which I have to admit is a really, really long way out of my way) on a little bit on an expore when I came across this pub right next to the Village Cinemas. My first though was 'excellent location'. Any pub that is next to a cinema is a good pub as far as I'm concerned, especially since one can grab a beer while waiting for the film to start. As an Irish pub it isn't all that bad, similarly with the fact that it is a shopping centre pub (most shopping centre pubs I've encountered are pretty dull). It had a lively atmosphere and friendly staff, and an outdoor area out the front (mostly for smokers). I quite liked the place, to it is a bit too far for me to travel just for a drink.

This is actually a rather charming tavern, located up in the Mount Dandenong Ranges. In a way it's…read morelocation makes it rather charming, but more than that, the building also is quite lovely as well. Basically it is an English style pub, but it has more charm, and more character, than a lot of others that I visit, namely because they don't go out of their way to make themselves appear to be an English tavern. Like, they have some rather nice beers on tap, and the staff are rather friendly as well. Yeah, this is actually a rather lovely place to be honest.

Really friendly staff and ENORMOUS portions, as I learned from ordering a parma (what else would a…read moreforeigner order in an Australian pub? :-) ). Prices are standard and it doesn't play loud obnoxious music.

Yeah, this pub really didn't impress me all that much. Then again, it is a railway pub, sort on,…read moreprobably more like a bar that happens to be located in a shopping strip. It isn't particularly big, and the beer selection isn't particularly great either. Mind you, when I was here it was actually pretty crowded, though I did find a seat. However, yeah, I wasn't really impressed with it.

Food servings are large. Be prepared to eat when ordering…read moreup your favorites. I had the parmigiana which was not deep fried, vegetables and mashed potato. Sometimes a simple hearty meal hits the spot!

Decent quality food, good value. nice ambience. not really kid friendly.read more

Family friendly with great selection of food and fast service. Worth your time. Will be back. Good…read morevegetarian options. The plate size was generous. Happy and friendly staff. Upstairs is food and outdoor dining; while downstairs has a pool table and I think music so more club/pub. Ample car parking but can get full so get there early - it's popular for a reason.

This is my local. Nestled in the heart of The Basin, The Oak Tree Tavern is a good old 'English…read moreStyle" pub with an Aussie twist. Wine barrels serve as tables, darts are the game of choice, and on tap you'll notice the staples are Guinness, Kilkenny, and Bulmer's Cider. Nicknamed "Merlotte's" by friends after noticing the resemblance to the bar in the series "True Blood", the vibe here is that of a local community drinking and more often than not, dancing together. With live music 3 nights a week, including Karaoke nights on Fridays, you can expect your share of local talent to come out and shine, more often than not incorporating the whole pub into a sing-along as they wail away. The live music tends to be of the blues persuasion, the area known for its talented Blues musicians hiding in the nearby hills. The menu is standard pub fare, with hearty meals of chicken, steak or vegie options, plus desserts and pub favourites that wont break the bank and keeps plenty of coin in your pocket for drinks. With local laws enforcing last drinks served at 11pm sharp, it has become a local custom to order a table full of drinks at five minutes to eleven, and then happily sip away until the owner has seen enough of you.

The Oak Tree is a cosy little place with an 'up it's own backside' vibe. I think a pub like this…read moreought to be warm and inviting and perhaps to locals who go there all the time it is. It's just that in three visits here I've never felt a level of value as a customer more than at mediocre level. It's a shame because this is precisely the kind of venue I like. I've eaten there two out of three times and it's decent pub grub, it even has an option to cook your own steak. This is what I wish I had done considering my medium rare steak, which took half an hour to come out and was medium well. I was watching a show and didn't want to get up throughout the performance. Plus I'm pregnant and I was so, so hungry, hence I didn't say anything until afterwards. Maybe I should have. There are other things I could complain about but can't be bothered. Go. It's a nice place but don't expect too much.

Folks. The time honoured cliché of: "You don't know what you're missing" truly applies here. Sure,…read moreit's not a fancy place, the decor utilitarian, the facility a little old and it simply doesn't stand out in its somewhat subdued hue along the busy Dorset Road. However here's my story; It's a Saturday night and we've just returned from a meal at the RSL (we've been to this place maybe half a dozen times before) and guess what? We were the only ones there. OMG. Most other times it's been between busy and flat out. But tonight we're the only ones there and I can't believe it given how the chef does such a great job, the beer price is better than most pubs and restaurants, and the food; seriously, you won't find better (for the price) anywhere in Melbourne. For example, we are relatively small eaters, hence we often opt for what is simply "2 steaks with chips and either veg or salad" - for the princely sum of $26! What you get is well and truly enough for two people (not so for monster eaters who believe a 1kg parma is standard fare!). The steaks have got to be a good 300 grams. Are cooked to our liking (as requested), there's lovely chips, great veggies and a sauce of your choosing. Simply ask for two plates and voila, you now have a quality meal for just $13 each! And it's good! Come on folks, get down there from 6.00pm Tuesday through to Saturday nights. Brilliant! P.S. This review is from the heart and I have no specific allegiance to the facility in question.

Yeah, this pub wasn't too bad, and I do have to admit that it is somewhat better than some of the…read moreother Zagames pubs that I have visited. I guess the fact that they had a nice beer on tap did change my opinion about the place. They also have a courtyard in the middle of the pub, but that is basically for the smokers, so I probably wouldn't consider it to be anything like a beer garden as such. Still, this is basically just a fairly tacky pub with pokie machines, a sports bar, and a rather large bistro. Yeah, it really isn't something that stands out, but as I suggested, it is better than some of the other ones I've been too.

Boronia's mega bistro/bar/gambling house is a large complex on the corner of 2 main roads, and…read moreoffers a place where you can drink, eat and play the pokies until the wee hours. If you're after a meal for a large group, Zagames has the space and staff to ensure everyone is happy, with an up market and open take on traditional bistro dining. The menu changes often, serving pub staples and specialty items alike, and taking one look around the room will tell you that this is the place where locals like to take the kids and still eat a decent meal. To the side of the bistro area is a kid's room, where you can let them play while you have a drink after tea in peace, or if it's your scene, head into the pokies to throw your money down the drain. Zagames in Boronia is open until 4am every night, showing the locals love for late night gambling and drinking. You can get food in the bar area, with pub grub like chips and toasted sandwiches served late into the night.

Still terrible service. Staff are more interested in cleaning up than serving. And its 9.05pm on…read moreSaturday night

Yeah, this pub was a little better than the one just down the road, but only by a small margin…read more Sure, I have given it one more point than the one down the road, but then the base from which I was coming from that wasn't really a hard feat to achieve. They did have a nice beer garden, and some rather friendly staff as well. However, the place itself really didn't do much for me, particularly with the range of beers available, and the prices that they were charging. There really wasn't all that much of a choice, and in the end it is probably a good thing that I don't actually live in Ringwood.

With another Fish and Chip shop over the road, and a charcoal chicken outlet within throwing…read moredistance, The Gully Fish & Chips are the best Fish & Chips in the area. In fact, my neighbour drives past 3 chip shops to get his order from these guys every time. I've spoken before about what makes a good Fish & Chip shop. The art of making great chips and fantastic potato cakes seems lost on most stores, who do one or the other, or neither of the two. The Gully Fish & Chips consistently cooks fresh, crunchy on the outside, soft and potatoey on the inside chips and cakes, and the service is fantastic. Time spent waiting for your order is usually spent chatting with the owners, who are happy to yak away as they cook. Last time I was there we discussed the art if good chippery, and the cook smiled and said it was a mix of good oil, good potato, and a certain heat that did the trick. Although these steps may be simple, it's a simple fact that these chips are good.

Have been eating fish n chips here for years. Gotta love a local business you can rely on to get…read moreit right every time.