It’s inevitable you’ll stop at picturesque Port Fairy when exploring the Great Ocean Road region. From the outside, the historic fishing town is postcard-pretty at every corner. From the inside, it’s a buzz with boutiques, hotels, cafes and restaurants. Venture beyond the doors of the Heritage-listed Oak and Anchor Hotel and you’ll find the intimately inviting Sidro Bar & Restaurant.
For best friends Jemmah and Ally, It hasn’t been the easiest road since opening in 2020. In an all too familiar story for the hospitality industry, Covid had other plans. But four years later, this cosy 26-seat restaurant has become a welcoming, warm, buzzing, and renowned place on Port Fairy’s must-visit list. Don’t let the size fool you, Sidro is big on creating experiences via its cosy velvet couch corners and an outside courtyard that is perfect for soaking up those long sunny afternoons with a bespoke Ballarat gin cocktail in hand.
The kitchen is led by Head Chef Matt Murphy alongside Chef Ryan Sessions & Chef Levi Sycopoulis, who are as close friends as they are colleagues and have a bunch of impressive accolades between them. Their passion, expertise and experience shine through their unpretentious menu, much like the atmosphere it’s served in. Sidro serves good, hearty classic dishes using only the best local produce. Both in and outside the kitchen, the team never take for granted the community around them, so it was important they give back to them by supporting their own small businesses too. It was the community that helped them get through those early COVID days, and it’s the community that keeps Sidro alive through word of mouth and by supplying unbelievably high-quality ingredients and products.
There’s a touch of Mediterranean influence within the menu, starting with small bites like Mt Zero Olives and Grilled Halloumi with pickled beetroot, honey & hazelnut, then ending with larger dishes like the Confit Duck (pictured) that’s served simply with pomegranate, walnut, pear and herb salad or the Lamb Shoulder with hommus. The vibe and food is elegantly understated and subtly modern, a nice surprise and effortless contrast to the grand proportions and history of the Oak and Anchor Hotel built circa 1857.
It’s the type of venue you could pop in for a coffee or settle in for an afternoon, starting in the courtyard where live music plays in the warmer months, before moving into the dining room and enjoying a glass of Crawford River Pinot over a shared slow-cooked Beef Brisket with chimmi churri and pickled onion.
Whether you’re stopping by for a casual drink or planning a special evening out, discover the friendly hospitality and charm of Sidro for yourself. Reserve your table here.
