I visited Pettavel for a lazy Thursday lunch with a friend. I wasn’t familiar with the restaurant as it is in Geelong but drove down there with enthusiasm Thursday midmorning for a 1.30pm sitting. Naturally, we were late and arrived at ten to two.
The first thing you notice about Pettavel is the view out the window! It is only ten minutes out of Geelong city but feels a world away. The dining room is large but there are not many tables making the place feel romantic and private. Although my friend had mentioned that the lunches are long I couldn’t believe that the compulsory 5 courses took nearly four hours to get through! Luckily I was driving or I would have been on my third bottle of wine by the end. It worked well for us as we had a lot to catch up on but I certainly wouldn’t recommend going there with someone you don’t particularly like or have much to say to as you’ll be staring out the window for hours.
The food was nice. The chef chose the first three courses followed by a main and dessert of our choosing, my meal included; local carrots served cold with middle eastern spices, loin of lamb, beef cheek on a bed of mash potato with a salad and a chocolate mousse and honeycomb dessert. The dessert was amazing. My main was good too but a little too rich overall.
Pettavel’s wines can be bought by the half glass, a great way for drivers to sample a few different wines over the course of the degustation. We drank both red and white varieties, none were overwhelmingly memorable.
The staff were good. Unfortunately I tend to find when you move out of the city restaurants seem to have more trouble employing service professionals and end up with young women who involve themselves in exchanges like this one from the same geographical area two years ago
me ‘What is this?’ (Pointing to a delicious puree of green vegetables.)
Waiter ‘I don’t know.’ (Smiles and proceeds to pour our wine and walk away.)
Me ‘Um, could you ask the chef?
Waiter ‘Yeah sure.’ (Still friendly although I am sure she feels like I am asking far too much of the kitchen to tell me what I am eating.
Waiter ‘He says it’s like um, like, smashed up peas.’
Anyway, this is about Pettavel! Great place, well priced too ($100 for the five courses and a couple of glasses of wine.) Especially considering they book each table out only once each day. Unfortunately I got a speeding fine on the way there I found out later which made the whole event infinitely more expensive.
Pettavel. 7/10
