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Albury, Wagga Wagga and Griffith are home to fabulous restaurants, quirky cafes and excellent wineries that showcase the great produce of the rich Riverina. Words: Sue Wallace
THIS PAGE: Hume Dam Lookout. Image: Visit Albury Wodonga.
WHETHER YOU’RE planning a restaurant and winery hop or just passing through, these three vibrant destinations have much to offer on the culinary scene – plus a big side serving of warm hospitality. Innovative chefs, passionate producers and acclaimed winemakers are showcasing their serious culinary credentials, and you won’t be disappointed by what's on offer.
AMAZING ALBURY Cosmopolitan Albury hugs the Murray River opposite its twin city, Wodonga, and has a buoyant dining scene that showcases the area’s great produce. Yardbird restaurant opened last year in a renovated industrial building – once a mechanic’s workshop – boasting a 13-metre bar and an eclectic feel. Head chef Simon Arkless stars here, enticing diners
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to try European-themed cuisine and fabulous wines. “Our menu is all about fantastic produce, great wine and bold flavours from Spain, France and Italy, and the season’s best local produce,” says Simon, whose kitchen features a specially imported Spanish Mibrasa oven. “We love bold flavours without fuss or fanfare, and the intense heat of the imported oven does just that.” Favourites include charcoal-grilled Wagyu hanger steak with watercress and fresh horseradish with a salad of roast Jerusalem artichoke, local blood orange, goat curd and hazelnuts. Charcuterie, tortilla, croquettas and Padrón peppers star in tapas offerings, and the drinks menu has more than 200 wines plus craft beers on tap as well as traditional cocktails highlighting local distilleries. The Murray River Sea Monster with spiced rum and bitters has a following.
Love Italian? Head to East Albury’s new Italian restaurant, Mamma Mia Italian Kitchen, where owners Serena McGuffie and Italian-born Alessandro Destri serve traditional pizza and pasta dishes inspired by family recipes. The former corner shop features a Cinque Terra theme and an environmentally friendly pizza oven imported from Italy. Also new on the scene is gastro pub The Lincoln, in revamped premises on the Lincoln Causeway between Albury and Wodonga. It offers casual family dining and grab-and-go options. Popular favourites include the Level One Wine Bar in Dean Street, with a menu focused on local produce and 300 wines to tempt you, while nearby Aida restaurant offers traditional Mediterranean cuisine and a fun atmosphere. Spanish cuisine is at the heart of Saludos near the garden end