Bay Central Tavern
Trendy pub food at Bay Central Tavern
If you’re looking for a trendy pub meal in Hervey Bay, the Bay Central Tavern on Boat Harbour Drive is worth a visit.
My family and I have been keen to check out Hervey Bay’s eating places while visiting the city over the past year and a half. Previously we’d dinned out mainly in Maryborough because that was where I lived until November 2019.
Since then I’ve moved to Eli Waters at Hervey Bay, the other major city that makes up the Fraser Coast, so now we have many more eating places from which to choose.
Joining my two new friends, Jane and Margaret, at the Bay Central Tavern for lunch on Thursday, I loved the Thai Fried Noodles I ordered and the ladies gave me glowing reports of their choices so I knew my family would be keen to try out the tavern.
Saturday night would be somewhat busier than Thursday though.
The staffer who took my booking said that with country-rock band Eight Second Ride performing as part of their Goes Country Tour, management was expecting a full house but she could squeeze us in anyway.
After catching the tavern’s courtesy bus there, we found our booking had mistakenly been made for Sunday night. To the staff’s credit, they soon found a table for us in the bistro rather than on the deck where we were meant to be seated.
The error was a blessing in disguise. It was much quieter in the bistro than sitting near Rocky the mechanical bull as wannabe rodeo riders tested their inner cowboys!
While one person at our table ordered a 200-gram Graziers Eye Fillet with pepper sauce, chips and salad, I ordered Macadamia Barramundi (fresh barramundi with macadamia crust) served with smashed chats, hollandaise sauce and coriander, tomato, avocado and rocket salad. See featured picture.
The eye fillet was quickly devoured with the comment that it was deliciously tender and full of flavour but the pepper sauce could have been hotter.
My Macadamia Barramundi, smashed chats and salad were all delicious and well presented.
The adults each enjoyed a glass of Wirra Wirra Mrs Wigley Rosé and finished our dinner by sharing a Brandy Snap Basket served with fruit salad and whipped cream.
Will we make the tavern our Local?
Are we likely to eat again at Bay Central Tavern? Definitely!
The service was spot on – everyone from the courtesy bus driver to the waitress was pleasant, helpful and welcoming. The only improvement we can suggest is to boost the salad that goes with the Graziers Eye Fillet.
Perhaps we would choose a quieter night to visit but that’s our preference.
It was plain to see a lot of people loved the busy atmosphere, lapping up the live music and entertainment that kept the popular venue pumping throughout the evening.
We’ve also been told the massive outdoor screen is immensely popular on State of Origin nights and when other big sports and entertainment events are playing.
Bay Central Tavern is at Stockland Hervey Bay Shopping Centre,155 Boat Harbour Drive, Pialba QLD 4655, (07) 4124 4111, www.baycentraltavern.com.au
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