The Tasting Room at Mayura Station, Pipers of Penola among the Limestone Coast’s best restaurants
When it comes to food, the Limestone Coast is spoiled for choice. We’ve picked out 12 of the region’s best eateries from Robe to Mount Gambier, the Coonawarra and beyond.
Mount Gambier
Don't miss out on the headlines from Mount Gambier. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Taking advantage of the plethora of local produce, the Limestone Coast is home to a rich food scene with wines to match.
From winery restaurants to funky cafes, there’s a meal to impressive any foodie from Robe and Mount Gambier to the Coonawarra and beyond.
We’ve narrowed it down to the top 12 restaurants in the region so scroll down to see the list.
If your favourite isn’t featured, leave a comment telling us your pick and why they’re one of the best in the Limestone Coast.
THE TASTING ROOM AT MAYURA STATION, MILLICENT
The ultimate paddock-to-plate experience, The Tasting Room is located on the 3000ha Mayura Station where more than 7500 head of full-blood Wagyu cattle roam.
With a touch of theatre and education, head chef Mark Wright leads the way through a four-course menu including dessert or a cheese platter with wagyu as the hero plus an all local wine list.
Think strips of raw sirloin with a nine-plus marble score doused in steaming dashi broth, lesser known cuts such as gently roasted tri-tip (a small triangular muscle taken from the sirloin area) presented on skewers, or the grilled T-bone main (dry aged for 60 days).
Must try: The chef’s table, an experience close enough to hear the sizzle of steak and feel the grill’s heat.
PIPERS OF PENOLA, PENOLA
Head chef Simon Bowen and his wife Erika transformed an early-1900s Methodist church into a quaint restaurant on a quiet Penola side street.
Pipers of Penola offers a small but beautiful a la carte menu of creative, comforting dishes with a focus on regional produce with a few French and delicate Asian twists.
Like the entrees, the mains menu is limited to five options but the attention to detail is exquisite and there are plenty of choices on the impressive regional and European wine and fortified list.
Must try: Plump seared scallops resting on confit leek with black bean vinaigrette
FODDER, COONAWARRA
Good things come in small packages and this little rural restaurant-meets-cellar door is one of them.
Charming in its simplicity, the family-run restaurant is also home to Ottelia Wines. It is a place for owners John and Melissa Innes, their daughter Matilda and head chef Paul Stone to share their wine and their love of the region and hospitality with visitors.
Try Fodder’s Signature plump dumplings packed with duck and shiitake and wood-fired sourdough pizza to hearty mains such as pork belly with tamarind caramel, kohlrabi and beetroot slaw and pasta offerings spanning Jerusalem artichoke agnolotti to ricotta gnocchi with sage and burnt butter sauce.
Must try: The four-course chef’s menu
THE BARN STEAKHOUSE, MOUNT GAMBIER
Surrounded by farmland, the Cleeves family breeds Hereford cattle and has been serving aged steak at The Barn Steakhouse since 1988.
The meat is grilled over mallee coals and the grill fire burns consistently for 364 days of the year. It’s no wonder then that prime aged grass-fed porterhouse is so tender but the kitchen also has a fine reputation for seafood.
Self-confessed “cork dork” and cellar master Kent Comley has curated a wine list of more than 750 drops that showcases the Limestone Coast.
Must try: The one-kilogram New York sirloin – a thick cut of mammoth proportions.
COMMODORE ON THE PARK, MOUNT GAMBIER
Named best restaurant in a South Australian hotel in the Restaurant & Catering’s 2020 Awards of Excellence, Commodore on the Park is known for its warm country hospitality.
It has established a reputation for modern a la carte menu showcasing a great selection of Limestone Coast produce, Coonawarra wine plus a brand new cocktail menu.
Test out the local produce with the Beachport trout with lemon, garlic and chilli butter or the Mayura Platinum Series wagyu rump with smoked roma, rocket and pecorino salad.
Must try: Robe Dairy Camembert with beetroot tartare, and herb oil, next time you dine with us.
PRESTO EATERY, MOUNT GAMBIER
Known for its healthy take on casual eats this funky cafe is set behind a heritage shopfront in the centre of the city.
Taking diners from coffee through to cocktails, locals Josslyn Lee and Lucy Von Stanke serve up a creative yet relatable menu of ever changing salads, brunch and lunch temptations.
Highlights of the highly Instagramable fare include slow braised lamb shoulder with hummus, spiced eggplant, Robe Dairy labneh and pomegranate and a truffle cheeseburger served with french fries and optional pickles.
Must try: Nori taco with sticky soy, panko prawn, miso mayo, rice, fermented Japanese slaw, avocado and green onion salad.
BELLWETHER, COONAWARRA
Seated around an old wool sorting table located in an shearing shed built in 1868 and now transformed into a boutique winery, Bellwether offers the Coonawarra’s most intimate dining experience.
Limited to 10 guests the six course degustation menu allows guests to dine with their own personal chef and the winemaker Sue Bell.
Every dinner is a unique menu of local, seasonal produce with wines selected by the winemaker to match the chef’s creations and the experience is only available on the first Saturday of every month.
Must try: The six course degustation menu with matching Bellwether wines.
UPSTAIRS, COONAWARRA
One of the original winery restaurants in the famous Coonawarra wine region, Upstairs is located at Hollick Estates.
The modern Australia restaurant features floor to ceiling windows offering uninterrupted views over the vineyard and beyond.
Let the chef make the hard decisions and take you on a culinary journey through Coonawarra enhanced by a selection of Hollick Estates wines with feed me option.
Must try: Degustation dinner. The current menu includes saffron linguine with prawn, fennel and crab, roasted quail with smoked celeriac puree, mushroom duxelles, toasted hazelnuts and jus, eye fillet with cauliflower puree, golden shallots, potato galette and jus and creme brulee with rhubarb and apple.
THE BAY PIZZARIA & CAFE, PORT MACDONNELL
It’s not hard to understand why The Bay Pizzaria & Cafe is a local favourite.
The waterfront pizzeria serves up hand crafted pizza and tapas, cocktails and beer on tap all paired with Port MacDonnell seaside views and live music every Sunday during the summer.
With traditional flavour combinations, celebrations of seafood including the current special featuring prawns, scallops and abalone through to more daring creations like anchovies stuffed crusts.
Must try: The Bay supreme is easily the bestseller.
LIMESTONE COAST PANTRY, MOUNT GAMBIER
What started as a passion for making jam has quickly morphed into Limestone Coast Pantry.
Set in Mount Gambier’s historic Woollen Mills the cafe showcases seasonal local produce from regional food bowl with an emphasis on food traceability.
The mother and son duo create approachable food inspired by recipes handed down by their mothers and grandmothers living up to its tagline ‘real food made with love’.
Must try: Anything accompanied by their boutique sauces, relishes and preserves, also available to take home to fill your own pantry.
BLACK SWAN, ROBE
As one of the newest additions to Robe’s thriving food and drink scene, The Black Swan only opened its doors last year.
The after dusk destination has quickly earned itself a reputation for it’s relaxed atmosphere and simple yet delicious, ever changing tapas menu.
While the share style fare highlights locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, as does the cocktail, wine and beer list with an emphasis on putting the spotlight on Australian brews, wines and spirits.
Must try: Everything. You never know if it will be on the menu again.
www.adventurousspoon.com/black-swan-bar-wine-tapas
THYME @ THE LAKES, MOUNT GAMBIER
One of Mount Gambier’s newest and most exciting dining experience, Thyme @ The Lakes is operated by Nick and Kylee Katris.
Showcases local produce the an innovative a la carte menu features modern, internationally inspired cuisine.
Entrees like honeyed kataifi and avocado prawns and mains like truffled mushroom and duck gnocchi are served at one of the highest points of Mount Gambier offering unprecedented views across the city.
Must try: A Taste of the Ocean with soft shell crab, prawn, scallop, calamari, smoked salmon, seaweed and edible sand.
Join the conversation
Revealed: South Australia’s dumbest crimes of 2024
Recording how to smuggle meth videos, sharing a photo of a $140k luxury ride and a stay-at-home-mum’s wild night off are just some of SA’s dumbest crimes of the year.
Read more
South-East sinners: Criminals who shocked court in 2024
Brutal murders, vile sex crimes, mass drug trafficking, violent assaults and more … here some of the worst South-East offenders in court this year.
Read more