“Old venue -new owners - new menu - the view still the best around.”

Kalimna Pub/Bistro  - Lakes Entrance  1 Hotel Rd, Lakes Entrance, VIC, 3909  (03) 5155 1202                                 

The Kalimna Hotel is an historic hotel, refurbished and just west of Lakes Entrance on the Kalimna's cliffs overlooking one of the finest ocean and lake view's Gippsland has to offer.

Ample parking outside with no through traffic, and full access (ramp at one end) to inside where you will find a large bistro area adjacent to the pub, and between the two a “lounge” style bar area ideal for pre-dinner drinks or for a  relaxing chat after your meal.

Ample parking

The meals can be enjoyed in all three areas. The main bistro, able to accommodate large groups, the veranda section which is down a small step and extends the full length of the building providing stunning views over the lakes system especially at sunset, and is my choice to enjoy a meal, and the “lounge” style area which is smaller and at one end has “cubicle style” seating (max 6).  Outdoor seating is also available. Adequate wash room facilities are shared with the pub along the back of the building but no specific all access facility.It is great to see this iconic venue reopened as a pub and bistro and I sincerely hope that the new operators make a go of it.

View from the road

The menu is simple, a good range of what I would call comfort pub food. Steak sangers, parmas, pies, (beef bacon and cheese today), fish n chips, Caesar salad with or without the chook, beef burgers, all served with beer battered chips and salad. Then for the vegan and GF amoung us a veggie wrap and a salt n pepper squid with salad, a little Italian twist of good old “spag bol” (too messy for me I had a white shirt on!) and carbonara finished the mains. Sides are $6 each and a variety of sauces an extra $2. With the majority of the mains at $15 its good value too. A $10 Kids menu with all the yummy stuff kids love and included is a dessert to keep them happy. Good pub grub, simple, tasty, variety and value.

View from your table

Inside lounge/bar

This location is well known for its views, add to that the (lunch) menu here, (I will go back for an evening meal just to check), and you have a recipe for a good business. We were greeted and assisted to a table of our choice, good start, provided with icy cold water and menus in seconds, still good. We were left alone until our party was complete and then orders takeen at the bar. Food was served to the table in good time by attentive staff. 

Beef Bacon and Cheese Pie

Filled with meat n gravy

I had the beef bacon and cheese pie, good flaky (puff) pastry; well- cooked encasing a pie full of chunky tender beef with a hint of cheese and bacon flavour adding a slight but tasty salty twist to the meat. The gravy, yes every pie has to have gravy was thick and made a very pleasant partner to the chunks of beef. It was served with crispy beer battered chips and a very well dressed salad. The salad on all dishes was a really good mix of colours, corn carrot cucumber (I gave that away- yuk) lettuce tomato and leaves.

Half Size Chicken Parma

A chicken parma was a half serve and was huge, it looked moist and tender and none was left, so must have been good, it was enjoyed by a parma expert. The steak sanger again a good serve, steak was as you would expect in a sanger and served on a huge slice of Turkish bread which I always find hard to cut, as did its owner. Nothing wrong with the bread just hard to cut, perhaps a sharp/steak knife would help. I reckon these knives should be provided for all dishes with Turkish or sourdough, which seems all the go these days. So there you have it three good sized well-cooked lunch meals giving good value and in good surroundings.

Open Steak Sandwich

Great way to spend a lunchtime overlooking the Gippsland Lakes and enjoying good simple value food. Staff thanked us on our departure, it’s only a little thing but it is good practise, and really does make a difference.  Tables vacated were cleaned in seconds and we were asked at least twice if everything was alright during our meal, another good service concept. To the new owners, keep this up and you have a gold mine on your hands. Go on try The Kalimna Hotel with its new faces, and I am told the seafood sauce is to die for….next time !