Hamer’s Bar & Grill. Really... Vegemite Caramel Sauce?

 We actually had plans to dine at ‘Bushman’s Bar and Café’ but they had a sign displayed at the entrance of their door that it is booked out. So we strolled through town and found ‘Hamer’s Bar & Grill’, (bistro dining) no reservations required, a simple walk in (we were there about 6pm), attended to straight away, the dining area was spacious, we were walked to our table and left with a menu to look through.

 

They offer ‘table service’ and the ambience of the place is welcoming and friendly. The menu covers your favourite options to choose from (steak, seafood, chicken or pasta and specials). My wife would have ordered steak, but it was stated on the menu, if you want ‘well-done steaks’ it could take more than 40 minutes to cook. We decided to go with our favourites… schnitzel. 

The waitstaff returned and took our order, ‘Mina’ was ever so friendly, happy and patient to answer any of our queries. Mina also told us that if we want any drinks, to order at the bar but we have the freedom to pay for our drinks at the bar or let the bar person know our table number and pay for the full amount when we have finished with our meals – what an excellent idea. 

We ordered ‘Chicken Schnitzel’ @ $25 (topped with gravy, with chips and salad) and ‘Chicken Parmigiana’ @ $27 (topped with ham, Napoli sauce and cheese with chips and salad). The schnitzel was of generous portion, tender, juicy and delicious, the chips were your café sized chips, cooked to the crisp ‘perfection’ and the salad was fresh with delicious tangy dressing. 

I tasted both schnitzel – parmigiana topping was delicious but the gravy on the other was different in taste (it was okay for me) and thick in texture. I much preferred the parmigiana schnitzel. I finished my meal with my ‘Cascade Pale Ale 15oz’ @ $8.50 and ‘Storm Bay 15oz’ @ $9.50 – both on tap, the beers were icy cold and refreshing. By the time we have finished our meals, the place was getting rather busy – so be sure to go there in the early hours of dinner or make reservations to be safe – they also offer takeaway. 

Although we were full, there was a dessert that we had to try ‘Chocolate and Macadamia Brownie’ @ $12.50, we were quite intrigued with their ‘Vegemite Caramel Sauce’. I ordered one to share amongst us and ‘Vanilla Cheesecake’ @ $12.50 (topped with marinated strawberries). 

The brownie was drizzled with the sauce and topped with a piece of chocolate sprinkled with crushed macadamia nuts and something else that I could not define in the taste – my wife suggested that it tastes like myrtle, as she had tried myrtle chocolates before – but that’s just a guess. We tasted the contents of the brownie dessert individually. 

The brownie was not dense, more like a chocolate cake, you definitely could taste the Vegemite in the caramel sauce, and that chocolate piece on its own, was not so nice – it’s that ‘something’ added to that chocolate we could not define and no, we didn’t ask. But eating all ingredients together actually worked, the caramel sauce with Vegemite was not evident but it worked like your ‘salted caramel’ dressing - interesting combination. 

The cheesecake was nice and creamy and the strawberries were delicious. Then we lined up at the counter, quoted our table number and paid for our meals and drinks. We walked out on a full stomach and with laughter - that brownie was a unique experience for us all. 

Open seven days, lunch from 11.30am and dinner from 5.30pm. I highly recommend this place, mid-range meal prices but the meal portions are generous and friendly, welcoming staff.

Bald Critic Rating