Merne at Lighthouse
Golden Plate Awards in 2021
- HIGHLY COMMENDED Best Contemporary Dining
- HIGHLY COMMENDED Best Menu of Local Produce
- STATE FINALIST Best Customer Service
- STATE FINALIST Most Outstanding FOH Person – Caleb Fleet – Merne at Lighthouse
- Category: Restaurant Contemporary Dining
- Cuisine: Contemporary Australian (Gluten-free and Vegetarian available)
- Trading Days and Hours
Thursdays: 12.00 Noon to 5.00 pm (Lunch)
Fridays and Saturdays: 12.00 noon to 9.00 pm (Lunch and Dinner)
Sundays and Mondays 12.00 noon to 5.00 pm (Lunch)
Tuesdays and Wednesdays: CLOSED - Head Chef: Josh Smith
- FOH Manager: Caleb Fleet
- Bookings essential
- Cards accepted: Visa and Mastercard
- $$
- Off-street parking
- Covid-safe Measures in operation
What the Judges said in 2021
Merne located at the very centre of the Bellarine Peninsula shines as a lighthouse of the region’s culinary scene. While in easy reach of residential areas this elegant restaurant feels as if it is a million miles removed thanks to its surrounding olive groves and vineyards. Dining at Merne means enjoying seasonal produce, award-winning wines and local beers that the Bellarine is renowned for. Dining here features a “shared seasonal grazing” model offering a choice of two degustation menus of two and four courses, of five or six delicious and textural ingredients per dish, artfully prepared and plated by a kitchen brigade headed up by Award-winning chef Josh Smith. And two courses doesn’t mean two dishes – you’ll receive eight generous plates to share! And the drinks list at Merne is a tour de force of Australian wines, beers and spirits, with a solid leaning to local greats such as Oakdene Wines and Bellarine Distillery Whiskies. With around 20 wines by the glass and well over a hundred by the bottle to choose from, its comforting to know that sommelier and co-owner Caleb Fleet, can guide you to the perfect drop to suit the foods and your tastes.
The standards are high at Merne, but the rewards for lovers of great hospitality are even higher,
Special strengths
Golden Plate State Winner 2017 and 2018. Delightful setting and ambience. Exceptional FOH team. Very high standards but relaxed dining experience. One of the most extensive lists of quality drinks around. Amazing value for money.
