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Restaurant in Heathcote
The Age Good Food Guide 2010
Edited by Janne Apelgren
Emeu Inn
Contemporary
Smack-bang in Heathcote’s wine region, Emeu Inn is a great base from which to explore. You can sleep here, drink here (at the well-stocked wine centre) and eat here. And yes, emu is on offer, perhaps as a shepherd’s pie. Other dishes on the regionally-focused menu could include a rustic and gamey hare terrine with peach paste, or textbook duck à l’orange. Desserts are of a high standard, with fruity crumbles likely to have started in Emeu Inn’s back garden.
Dining out is a special occasion for everyone. That is why Emeu Inn’s fine dining restaurant has a culinary treat to delight your tastebuds. Whether you seek vegetarian, vegan, wheat-free or other special fare, we cater for all dietary requirements with pleasure. Simply take a seat and soak up the welcoming ambiance of casual daytime and intimate evening fine dining. With just a handful of tables, Emeu Inn is the perfect personal place to fine dine with your partner, family and friends.
We are fully licensed and, of course, tantalising Heathcote wines are available to go with our seasonal menu. Or sip a glass of your favourite Australian or New Zealand wine. Our impressive range of Heathcote and regional wines mean you can enjoy a refreshing drop on the spot or take your purchase home with you to enjoy later!
Our award-winning Wine List, one of 350 across Australia, has a selection of Wines by the Glass which changes weekly, so stop by for a glass of something Heathcote or take home a bottle to enjoy later. A full selection of beer, soft drinks and juice are also in ready supply.
Sensational seasonal food
Dining at Emeu Inn is a true surprise. With just a handful of tables, the experience is more than just comfort food. Casual by day, intimate by night, it's the perfect place to dine with your partner, family or friends.
We pride ourselves on using only the best and freshest seasonal food available and with a minimal amount of food miles. That is why our menus boast a range of regional dishes made in our kitchen from fruit, vegetables and herbs grown in our very own garden! Any time is a great time for sensational seasonal food.
View our menus below
Breakfast Menu
Lunch Menu
Dinner Menu
Vegetarian Menu
Dessert Menu
Christmas Menu
Top marks for the chef
Meet the magic hands behind our irresistible cuisine. Internationally travelled and acclaimed chef Fred Thies brings a passion for food and experience in world-wide fare to the Emeu Inn table.
"From a solid European training background and working as a chef everywhere from formal German and South African restaurants to a former pub in a small Victorian town with a special interest in bush-tucker -, Emeu Inn chef and co-owner Fred Thies has travelled far."
- The Age Good Food Guide
The dining room has a country feel. "His (Chef Thies) guests enjoy robust dishes that recall his European origins and others that reflect his interest in native Australian ingredients. Bush tomatoes add piquancy to his spicy fresh tomato soup, while the signature dish of Emu is braised in native pepper leaf sauce."
- The Age Good Food Guide
"Memories are made of dishes such as Mama's Eintopf and Venison Cutlets of organic blueberries and red cabbage braised with apple. His German gooseberry meringue tart is not to be missed."
- Age Good Food Guide
Best to book
Weekends can be extremely busy in Heathcote, and we would hate you to miss out. Bookings are always appreciated. To book a table,
Regional Wine Centre
Emeu Inn houses a regional Wine Centre. We stock wines from some great Heathcote producers as well as other regional producers. And, you can drink it here or take it away. If you are interested in purchasing wine from the region, let us know what you need, and we'll do our best to assist you. We can also ship it to you anywhere in Australia.
Fresh food products
Direct to your table at Emeu Inn or at home, you can enjoy the fruits of our labour. When not creating mouthwatering culinary delights in the Emeu Inn kitchen, Executive Chef Fred Thies turns natures bounty into delicious morsels. Savour the exquisite freshness of all home-made products that we serve in our Bed & Breakfast and Restaurant. Most fruits come from our very own garden or one of our neighbour’s trees (with their happy permission, of course!). And the good news is, you can take this little taste of Emeu Inn home with you. Just ask us about our range of exclusive ‘homemade’ products available for sale. They include:
- Preserves
- Jams
- Pickles
- Sauces
- Dressings
- Mushrooms
Events
Life is always eventful at Emeu Inn, if you wish it to be! We are proud to host a range of events throughout the year and are passionate participants in many local community events too. Check out our Calendar of Events to be part of our next eventful occasion:
2010 Calendar of Events
JUNE
JULY
Heathcote Region Annual Deep Winter Wine Dinner (Saturday, 31 July) – Don’t miss our eleventh annual wine dinner. Meet the producer and winemaker of Stefani Estate Wines . Enjoy a gourmet, multi-course meal matched to their amazing wines of Heathcote and the Yarra Valley. Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Packages available. Wine at special prices. $135 pp all inclusive for the dinner.
Please note: Emeu Inn will be closed from 2 August until late September for a break. We will return in time for the Heathcote Wine & Food Festival. Why not join us there?
OCTOBER
Heathcote Wine & Food Festival (Saturday-Sunday, 2 & 3 October) - Don’t miss this event- filled weekend. Enjoy the local food, wine, art, food & wine seminars and music! Enjoy lunch at the Festival or dinner in our Restaurant. Bookings essential on 5433 2668.
Slow Food Central Victoria Lunch - Celebrating 50 Years in Hospitality (Saturday, 9 October) Join us as Chef Fred Thies celebrates 50 years as a chef. He will cook some of the most popular dishes from over the past five decades matched to Jasper Hill's wines. It will be a walk through memory lane. $185 per person all-inclusive. Numbers are limited, so book early. Booking are being taken by Slow Food Central Victoria. To book, go to www.trybooking.com/4662
If you require accommodation as well, use our "Book B&B Online" button on our home page.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER
Emeu Inn’s Twelfth Birthday (Thursday, 28 October) Celebrate with Fred & Leslye with a Thursday night SPECIAL. $35 for two-courses! The bubbles will be flowing!
Melbourne Cup Weekend (Saturday-Tuesday, 30 October - 2 November) - Escape the madness of the City and enjoy the country air and Heathcote Show Day! Two-night packages available.
DECEMBER
Christmas Functions/Parties catered for. Let us know what you require and we’ll help you celebrate this festive season.
Christmas Lunch (Saturday, 25 December) - Delight in a multi-course gourmet lunch with real plum pudding & Christmas cake. Book early as seats are limited. $135 pp.
