A little town with a big (and unexpected) foodie surprise
They say never judge a book by its cover, which rings true when describing the small coastal town of Aireys Inlet on the Great Ocean Road. What it may ‘lack’ in size it makes up for in hidden foodie gems that are big on atmosphere and even bigger on flavour.
Found inside the Sunnymead Hotel, it’s only fitting that Santara Restaurant serves up warm and bright cuisine. The brainchild of UK-born Adam Cooke, who works alongside Head Chef, Nepalese-born Prajwal Singh Rayamajhi, Santara is a mix of Indian and Nepalese influences with subtle English nods as a homage to the Executive Chef himself; “I couldn’t help myself!”
There’s a beautiful yin-and-yang-type vibe between Adam and Praj in the kitchen, with each chef learning from the other. Adam’s passion for food and technique goes hand in hand with Praj’s ability to bring delicate and authentic spice profiles intuitively to the front of a dish from scratch. Made up of small, medium and large dishes to share, the menu caters to most food preferences and allergies, a reflection of Santara’s ethos that “food is for everyone and to be shared with loved ones.”
A dish can only be as good as the produce it’s made from, so it was important from the get-go that Santara honoured the rich surroundings by using local food and drink suppliers from Geelong, Anglesea and Timboon. It’s also a beautiful nod to the community, which keeps Santara alive and allows it to thrive.
The art of creating an impressive fusion menu comes down to how influences are subtly married in each dish. Adam’s hearty, warm and more-ish Lamb Shank Vindaloo is a testament to that, alongside crowd-favourite Chicken Ruby, a playful take on curry using cockney rhyming slang and sweet Sticky Ginger Pudding dessert. The kitchen has also become a family affair as Praj’s wife is in charge of the famous Pork Momos, a Nepalese steamed dumpling, which never turn out as good if anyone else does them!
Some people hate surprises, but this little unexpected gem on the Great Ocean Road is filled with so much character, warmth, big comforting dishes, inventive cocktails and refreshing drinks that it’s hard not to love.
