Matthew Flinders Hotel

This place is more like an entertainment complex than a local pub and it pretty much has everything: a family restaurant, a bowling alley, a night club, pokies, and a sports bar on the lower level with a pretty nice beer garden. Okay, it is not my favourite pub in Melbourne, though it is a great place to bring a family, not just for a meal but for an afternoon adventure, particularly since there is a bowling alley here. The rowdy sports bar and the pokies are also far enough away so that the two crowds don't mix, and the night-club starts up when the restaurant begins to wind down. The prices aren't all that bad either, though I must say that it isn't the cheapest place around. I still like the place, especially the beer garden that is generally fairly quite on a Saturday afternoon. I've been here a couple of times now, however since it is on the other side of the city from where I live it is not the easiest place for me to reach.

had the thai green curry which was quite nice but mainly consisted of large mound of white rice (not that nutritous), small handful of chicken and a side plate full of bokchoy (even if you like it you cant eat a plate full) $24, would prefer lots of vegetables added to curry itself. my kids shared the $25 dozen oysters. cheese and garlic pizza was sizeable $11. meals are pretty expensive for size of them and for pub fare. there is almost nothing on the menu for vegetarians, lots of chicken and red meat dishes. beers are expensive for a pub too $5.50 for a pot). you get nicer meals at cafes for less

We dont use frequent these kind of eateries but was pleasantly surprised. The meals were huge so really great value and presented nicely. We had lamb skewers (an open lamb souvlaki type meal) the lamb was marinated and quite tender 422, thai green curry (chicken not that great) $24 and Asian cashew beef salad $19 (beef tender and lots of salad). I aksed for a strong iced coffee and usually they arent that strong when you get it but this one was definitely strong, the lattes were not very good.

The food quality & price are very average at best, that's the nicest thing I'll say.

don't usually frequent these large family friendly, pub style establishments as they are not really my families "scene" but was pleasantly surprised by the meal we ate - lamb salad which was tenderly marinated and cooked and sizeable. friends at our table had oysters which were fresh and the crumbed calamari rings which did look the usual pub fare. pots of beer were $5 but glasses of soda water were over priced at $4! kids indoor playground was entertaining and the games room for kids included air hockey and a small bowling alley which kids were having a ball with!