First And Last Hotel

By Darren Stones

It’s been cheekily said over the years that the best thing to come out of Melbourne is Sydney Road (Hume Highway).

For those heading out of Melbourne and feeling parched and hungry, the First And Last Hotel is the last pub you’ll pass before entering the M31 Hume Highway.

First impressions are the place looks runs down, but don’t be fooled – it’s decorated in a theme resembling the days of the Wild West – yee ha! You won’t find any gunslingers here though, as the boys in blue are handily stationed across the way.

The interior of the bistro is rustic. Timber floor boards, timber tables, timber chairs – it’s all got that chunky look to it. Nice. How many pubs can you eat at and sit under a pitched corrugated roof? Yeah, you can here and the paint’s even peeling off the roll barge.

After you’ve been seated by one of the friendly staff, you can sit there gazing at the passing traffic on Sydney Road. What other free entertainment did you expect to see outside the windows?

The tucker. It’s good wholesome grub that’s reasonably priced.

I ordered the Brew Fish and Chips with vegetables. Lovely fish fillets in a crispy beer batter, and boy was it fresh and hot! The chips were chunky and there were plenty of them on the plate waiting to be devoured. The vegies were a mixture of pumpkin, sliced carrot, red pepper and zucchini. No complaints here let me tell you. A top deal for $18.00. Oh, and the tartare sauce was yummy, too.

The better half indulged a chicken in pyjamas – oops, I mean she ordered the Chicken Parmigiana. That arrived with steaming hot chunky chips and a generous side salad. Looked good to me, and was given the double thumbs-up by the good lady. Only $19.00 and good value – the piece of chicken was man-size.

Beer and soft drink? A cold Carlton Draught is $3.50 a pot, and a pot of Coke is $3.10. The two pots of ice water cost nix.

There’s a children’s play area at one end of the bistro for those energetic youngsters who don’t eat their tucker when their parents have already paid for it.

The First And Last Hotel has a Sports Bar with TAB facility, plenty of pokie machines, and most importantly a relaxed atmosphere. It’s a good local pub that beckons a return visit. Recommended.

1141 Sydney Road, North Coburg, Victoria, Australia 3058
Phone: 03 9354 1791

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