Review of Surf Hotel restaurant

Updated October 12, 2026,first published June 22, 2026

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Jo Barrett has done it again. After her bowls-club restaurant triumph, Little Picket, and ethical home meals business Wildpie, the 2023 Good Food Guide Chef of the Year is back cooking with former Oakridge colleague Aaron Brodie at a venue with community at its core.

An old coastal motel is now a gorgeous pub with rooms and views. Mid-century modishness matches a retro Surf Wax cocktail of tequila and Malibu. Dim sims set off your nostalgia sensors, despite their more sustainable wild boar filling. Perfectly crisp schnitzel is made with wild venison, another eco-friendly choice.

Barrett is just as creative with vegetables, stuffing rainbow chard with green olives and ricotta, pushing each ingredient to its full potential. Everyone is welcome, the food is cooked with heart, and underpinning it all is an inspired environmental responsibility. What a spot.

Good to know: The hotel includes 16 rooms and suites plus a penthouse that sleeps eight.

Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant can’t pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.

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A refreshing take on casual coastal dining.

Proving fresh ideas and top produce can beat sea views.

A radical restaurant model backed by truly memorable dishes.