Pubs may be for the over 18s, but that doesn’t mean they’re not indulging our inner child on the games from. At the Wayside Inn there’s the obligatory pub pool table, but in addition to the basics, there’s also kitsch-y games like the ‘Wayside toss’ – toss a ring around a beer bottle to win a prize. And if you like to kick back with boardgames, there’scheckers boards built into the high rise tables.
This is a polished, modern pub. The dining room has recently undergone a cosmetic redesign with shiny wooden floorboards, wholesome flower bouquets and black and white photo framed wall hangings of Melbourne icons like football great Ted E.J Whitten and a pic of Flinders street Station in its infancy. Given its industrial location on a corner of City road in South Melbourne, the lunchtime audience is a white collar crowd, but on evenings and weekends are more family friendly – the decor is formal enough to bring the in-laws in for a Saturday lunch, but relaxed enough to hang around for that extra cheeky Hawthorn pale ale on tap.
Food wise, there’s nothing outrageously complex but quality produce makes it a good feed. You could start with some crispy coriander chicken wings and follow it with slow cooked lamb shank, a prehistoric looking limb, basking in a rich tomato and red wine sauce with fluffy mashed potato. Match it with the Wild Duck Creek shiraz malbec from Heathcote that isn’t available at your mate Dan’s but is pouring by the glass at Wayside. Their concise but reasonably priced wine list includes a dozen options by the glass hovering around the $10 mark.
If your stomach isn’t up for any heavy lifting,order the white, fleshy whole snapper, pan fried and roasted. It arrives with soft boiled chat potatoes and steamed kale and Brussels sprouts. Given the dish’s 5 star health rating, the velvety burnt butter sauce is necessary to give the veggies a luxe lift.
For nicer than average dining in an industrial location on a corner of City road in South Melbourne, drop in on the Wayside Inn.
