The Perch at Lavers Hill — Restaurant in Barwon South West

Just returned from a GOR road trip in Australia, and I finally have a moment to share my thoughts on the one and only restaurant I feel compelled to review: The Perch.

Don’t get me wrong—there are plenty of wonderful places to eat along the way. But The Perch truly stands out. We tried their pasta for dinner and enjoyed it so much that we actually adjusted our travel plans, delaying our departure the next day just to wait for their 11am opening for lunch—so we could experience it again.

We ordered the grilled chicken and another pasta dish—and I can honestly say we were blown away. The grilled chicken was unlike anything I’ve tasted before—rich, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. It delivered a moment of pure culinary delight—one of those rare “omph” experiences that stays with you long after the last bite. Honestly, the flavors were so incredible that I had to check I wasn’t dreaming. Our taste buds were utterly convinced we’d stumbled upon something magical. It was the first time that particular combination of taste and texture made such a lasting impression.

And the pasta? Equally exceptional. Each bite offered something unique, with layers of flavor that made it truly memorable. My wife loved it so much she couldn’t stop praising the dish and how distinctive the sauce tasted—something we’ve never encountered anywhere else.

Chef, thank you for the incredible meal. Your passion and skills shine through in every dish. I believe that The Perch is the best restaurant along the Great Ocean Road.

If you're visiting the region, please make it a point to stop by and dine here. The price is worth to pay for. You won’t regret it. Keep up the amazing work, chef—your food is unforgettable. I’m...

My partner and I ate here after getting stuck in the area overnight due to bad weather. This was the ONLY food place open for dinner other than the local motel across the road, the food menu is very limited (compared to the 3-4 pages of drinks available) and in my opinion overpriced for what you are getting.

My partner got the venison ravioli for $38 and there was only 3 pieces of ravioli as well as 3 slivers of carrots and sauce. The salad was nice but the dressing was extremely salty and the tomatoes a bit mushy. My corn fritters were nice and covered my gluten free/dairy free requirements, however they were a bit bland and tasted deep fried. The chips were nice but they were super salty, the aioli that comes with the chips (I think it was house-made) was decent but also very salty. We had the in-house bread which was really good but the dips that came with it were unfortunately quite bland. The drinks menu did look very good so if you are looking for a place to enjoy a nice drink and some snacks I feel this would be perfect for you.

I would say that if the meals were all $10 less each than what we paid for them, we would have been happy with the value of what we received. The staff were also very friendly and the restaurant itself had a very nice cosy vibe. Not a cheap eat but definitely worth stopping by if you...

We found this beautiful spot for lunch today the food was amazing. We came on a weekday to this popular spot in the Otway’s without a booking and were lucky enough to get in so I would definitely book next time. The service was very friendly and attentive the girls were on top of everything and they were able to help us make great choices from the seasonal menu. We decided to share one of the specials for entree. Fresh Queenscliff mussels, tomato, beer and herb sauce fresh baked sourdough, smoked butter $26 Then I choose the Shiitake mushroom risotto, truffle mascarpone, baby spinach, caramelised shallots $24 for main and John had the House made linguine, local seafood, preserved lemon, white wine, thyme, chilli, cherry tomatoes, baby spinach $38. They match their meals with local wines on the menu but we were happy with a couple of cold tap craft beers. Our meals were delicious sooo tasty but unfortunately this time we were to full to try dessert although it looked amazing. Next time. The view onto the Otway Ranges was lovely and the restaurant was rustic and charming with a relaxed comfortable vibe and matching background music. We will definitely be back … recommend...