Queen of the West — Restaurant in Geelong West

In the bleak and mist-laden afternoon in Geelong, we, a party of intrepid souls, set forth towards an establishment that bore the curious name of "The Barking Dog," now crowned as the Queen of the West. As we crossed the threshold, a man of visage befitting a Norse warrior, with a beard that could rival the thicket of a forest, and an air about him that whispered of inner-city poet, stood sentinel behind the counter.

With a sweep of his tattooed arm, he gestured towards an array of seating options that spanned from the dignified dining room to a lively bar atmosphere and culminated in a snug corner, where bench seats promised comfort akin to a well-worn Chesterfield.

Our meal commenced with the ritualistic ordering of a schnitzel and parmy, a choice simplified yet seasoned with a menu catering to the collective palate of the masses. The epicurean symphony that followed was orchestrated with a finesse rarely encountered in these modern times. Behold, our meals arrived in unison, a feat executed with the precision of a well-drilled regiment.

The culinary offerings, though not labyrinthine in complexity, bore an aesthetic intrigue that stirred the senses. A fowl (parmy) adorned with a blue cheese embellishment raised eyebrows, not for its flavor, which trod the path of culinary conservatism, but for the visual spectacle that rendered the poultry a resembling the misadventures of a befuddled Smurf.

The fish component of our meal had undergone a transformative ordeal, baptized in the fiery cauldron of the sun. The batter, a marvel akin to a scientific creation, bespoke a fusion of culinary art and laboratory precision. As for the cephalopod, the calamari, it proved to be an oasis of flavour , a testament to the chef's mastery over the deep-fried arts.

My gaze, ever the explorer in the realm of gastronomy, alighted upon the schnitzel procured by my dining comrade. His expression, the unmistakable signs of a transcendental dining experience, an otherworldly journey into the realms of flavour that left him temporarily disconnected from reality.

In summation, the Queen of the West bestowed upon us an evening of gastronomic merriment. The staff, in their role as orchestrators of this culinary concerto, conducted themselves with a grace befitting the street it is located on. A most enjoyable experience, indeed, to be recounted in the pages of our...

Went for dinner to celebrate my weddig anniversary. I ordered the calamari salad. The waitress brought me out a very small plate of squid. I questioned her if this was the main and she went away to the kitchen leaving me to eat the plate she brought out. She returned a while later confessing she had written my order correctly on her notepad (main salad) but had told the kitchen the entre- admitting her mistake. She then proceeded to try an take the plate from me which I had nearly finished. I asked her to leave it and just bring me the salad component so i could atleast have a full meal. A few minutes later she returned informing me that I would have to pay for the entre and the main. I questioned her and she replied as I had finished the entre I had to pay for it and the main, I asked her if she have thrown out the squid if I had let her take the remainder of the meal that I had already started and she replied yes. So rather than try and make amends for their staff error the barking dog would rather punish the customer for their staff's mistakes. Having worked in hospitality for over 10 years I cannot believe that this...

Recently went to the Barking Dog with my friend for my Birthday. After asking for our grubby table to be wiped, our waitress gave the table a very cursory wipe. Returning to us about 10 minutes later, she seemed entirely disinterested, while she took our wine & food order. The drinks were plonked on our table with no care. Our calamari, at $20 a plate, was not at all good and again plonked on our table. I am saddened that there seems to be no genuine care lately from many cafe/restaurant staff. We are the customer, we deserve some care, some interaction with the people who serve our meals. In light of recent cuts to penalty rates, I understand the anger hospitality staff must feel, but this was to be a happy outing, a bit of a celebration if you will and it was very dampened by the disservice we received. Going out for a meal is meant to be a highlight, a change from cooking at home, where ine expects to have good food, good service & fun. I would not return to the Barking Dog, as we received none of these...