After a walk on St Kilda beach on Sunday morning, Janeca and I looking for a nice brunch, and came across The Vineyard. It’s been around for ages, somewhat of an institution, but it’s been a number of years since I’ve visited. Their menu consists modern Australian pub fare, pasta, salads, seafood, steaks and of course burgers!

We ordered the crispy soda soft shell crab with avocado salsa and lime mayo. The photo shows how big the crabs were, quite a generous portion. They were coated with a soda powder batter, which was refreshing and light. The salsa was super fresh, with the citrus providing a nice counterbalance to the fried crab.

Chorizo and calamari dish was up next. Good portion size, with a rocket and tomato salad mixed throughout.

Looking to decide between a cranberry juice or pineapple juice or quench my thirst, the waitress suggested: “Why not both”! The combo juice was a big vitamin C boost.

The staff were all in a happy mood, must be a nice place to work out. We enjoyed the vibe. It’s also next to the O’Donnell Gardens, which is a small park that often hosts community festivals. Great food, friendly staff & nice views make the Vineyard a must visit.