The Barn at Kalimna West - a pleasing oasis from the rush of life

The Barn:     Princes Highway Kalimna West. (in R.E.A.L. Garden Centre)  

Breakfast:  Wednesday to Sunday 8am onwards:  Lunch: Wednesday to Sunday 12 noon til 2pm Bookings and Enquiries   0438 018 625

“A pleasing oasis away from the rush of life”

Highway Entry

The Barn Cafe

Location:  Recently added and within the “REAL” Garden Centre, The Barn is a purpose built barn like structure housing both inside protected outside and open air seating, and overlooking the undulating open paddocks next door. Tranquil, quiet, comfortable and easy access for all, through the garden centre. No stairs, no steps, a gravel car park and then either paved or concrete pathways provide great accessibility. Seating is comfortable and varied in style although I will admit after almost a three hour coffee which turned into lunch, it was a little hard to get moving again. Orders/ service are from the inside counter and meals/drinks served to your table.  All accessible washrooms are located towards the rear of the covered open air area which were clean and well equipped.

Entry from Garden Centre

Plenty to augment your garden - and work off lunch

Menu:  Café style food including most of the usual favourites, and a kids menu to keep them happy too.  A range of homemade pies and sausage rolls served takeaway or eat in with chips and salad, and a homemade sauce. Might have to try that one next time.  Chips, wedges, baked potato with the trimmings, veggie burgers (for the vegan/gf ones amoung us) and then of course the real meaty ones, with a choice of meat styles. A little more interesting perhaps ,spinach and fetta meatloaf, Caesar salad, fettuccine, or a grazing platter perhaps.  Old favourites of local battered fish n chips, then toasted focaccias or sandwiches made to order. That’s about the strength of it, a well- rounded (and I will be too if I work my way through it all), and varied menu suitable to the style of the Café.

Baked Spud no cream

Caesar Salad "with"

Experience:   My initial visits was postponed just before Easter, and so in an effort to escape the hum drum chaos on Easter Saturday we “chanced our arm” and took a trip to The Barn for a coffee/lunch. It was a pleasant spot away from the town and a quiet oasis on one of the busiest weekends of the year.  A table under the covered veranda well placed out of the SW wind.  Chilled water came to the table and staff were pleasant advising us that orders were taken at the counter.  I went for a baked potato with garlic butter, bacon, cheese, coleslaw and sour cream.  Enjoyed every piece of it, well cooked with a soft-skinned Thorpedale spud with lashings of sour cream, covering the other ingredients which were well balanced and plentiful. My other half also had a spud but without the cream, it arrived with extras of slaw and I reckon a bit extra garlic butter, another clean plate. 

Wagyu Burger with the Lot 

Baked Spud with all the trimmings

Our friends enjoyed their meals, a huge Caesar salad, which will be my next choice, and staff were good enough to ask if the infamous anchovies were wanted or not. Good move.  Reminds me of Teenage Ninja Turtles “ NO Anchovies!!... I digress. The beefburger arrived at the table and the chips were immediately reduced in number buy cheeky fingers of others wanting a sample they looked so good. I heard no complaints!! The burger, Wagyu beef and filled, yes I mean filled with the lot, I am pleased to say including beetroot!!  Best eat this one with a knife and fork otherwise it could get very messy.  Not a word was heard from its owner, a sign that all was well with his burger.  Food then was good quality fresh and reasonable value, service was fine, meals arriving together, tables cleared in good time, and asked if another round of coffees was wanted….of course!

Open seating area by entry

Covered veranda

Open seating with view

Summary:  An enjoyable, relaxing, quiet oasis, just out of Lakes Entrance and within a garden centre. This is a very popular and successful concept of combining businesses in UK and should catch on here.  I think the combination of business goes well together and should grow off one another, sorry about the pun!  Enjoyable lunch overlooking the open and undulating paddocks in comfortable surroundings. I note an extra charge is made on public holidays and this is noted on the menu so at least it is up front.  The Barn could cater for groups but booking s would be essential.  Ideal for a bit of quiet time, but if you have green fingers or thumbs or a garden crazy partner hide the plastic!!