Beach HQ Restaurant & Bar Phillip Island — Restaurant in Victoria

We recently visited Beach HQ on Phillip Island and were thoroughly impressed by this charming waterfront restaurant. The stunning views and relaxed atmosphere set the perfect tone for our delightful dining experience.

The menu at Beach HQ is diverse, offering dishes that cater to all tastes, made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Here’s what we indulged in:

🦑 Salt & Pepper Calamari ($22): Absolutely delicious, with the calamari crispy on the outside and tender inside, perfectly complemented by the vibrant Asian slaw and a tangy chili mayo. 🍤 Whole King Prawn Cocktail ($30): The prawns were fresh and succulent, beautifully presented with crispy garlic and trout pearls, making for a luxurious treat. 🥗 Roast Beetroot Salad ($21): Fresh and earthy, this salad was a delight with its mix of roasted beets, crisp mixed leaves, and creamy goat’s cheese, all tied together with a rich balsamic dressing. 🥔 Pan Fried Potato Gnocchi ($23): The gnocchi was heavenly, soft and pillowy, beautifully balanced with the freshness of grilled asparagus and baby spinach, enhanced by the richness of pesto and cheeses. 🐟 Pan Fried Salmon Fillet ($38): This dish was a standout, with the salmon cooked to perfection—flaky and melt-in-your-mouth. The accompanying soba noodle salad added a wonderful texture contrast. 🍖 Bourbon Rub Pork Belly ($41): A flavorsome treat, the pork belly was succulently roasted, its rich flavors complemented by the spiced red wine jus and a side of roasted garlic potatoes and seasonal greens.

The drinks menu was equally impressive, featuring a selection of cocktails, wines, and beers, including their beer, which perfectly complemented our meal.

The service at Beach HQ stood out for its friendliness and attentiveness, ensuring we had everything we needed throughout our visit. Being family-owned, the warm and welcoming atmosphere really shone through, making us feel right at home.

Beach HQ isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a destination. They recently started serving breakfast on weekends from 8:30 AM to 12 PM, making it the perfect spot to start your weekend. If you find yourself in Phillip Island, don’t miss out on this fantastic waterfront dining experience. It’s definitely one of the best spots around for fresh food, great service, and...

Bear with me on this back story... The first restaurant we walked into was booked out, so we called the known steak and seafood house in Cowes to see if we could get a booking. They had space so we can walked up and inside. The cold exterior of the owner matched the chilly interior of the inside.

Upon sitting down, we couldn't believe the price of the food. We've eaten at the best steak houses in Melbourne and this place was at least 20% more expensive than these. We were then told the meal I wanted wasn't available, so I said to my partner; let's leave, I don't have a good feeling about this place. As we left, we heard the male owner barking at the poor waitress that she shouldn't have said the meal I wanted wasn't available, even though it was clearly showing on the iPad as not able to be ordered.

We then walked around Cowes until we found Beach HQ...and oh my gosh are we glad we left the previous venue and came to HQ instead! My partner rated his steak 8/10 and my share platter (calamari/pork belly/chicken tenderloin/haloumi) was just delicious!

Our dinner was topped off with a delightful glass of Purple Hen Pinot Noir, but even more importantly, Shaz and the team were just beautiful. Amazing service and really lovely people at heart.

My intuition was on point, as we looked at reviews of the previous venue when we got back to our Airbnb....I've never seen more consistently terrible reviews.

So long story of our dinner adventure, but the takeaway here...go to Beach HQ and avoid F&O...

What a disappointing way to end our final night on the island. The service was utterly chaotic and disorganised, setting the tone for an underwhelming experience. Plates from entrees were left sitting on the table as staff repeatedly walked past, oblivious, and mains were brought out one at a time. Two of us had almost finished eating before the rest of the dishes even arrived—a complete failure for a family dinner meant to be shared together.

The lack of professionalism was staggering. When the waitress brought out one meal and we asked what it was, her baffling response was to repeat “delicious” three times, offering no actual information. How can staff not even identify the dishes they are serving? The food itself was no better. The paella and seafood spaghetti were bland and lacked any vibrancy, clearly made with frozen seafood instead of fresh—an inexcusable shortcut for a restaurant on an island. The only saving grace was the steak, which was decent, but one good dish cannot redeem such an abysmal experience.

The lackluster service, mediocre food, and disjointed atmosphere made it clear that this establishment has no regard for delivering a quality dining experience. Do yourself a favor: skip this place entirely and enjoy fish and chips on the beach instead. At least you’ll get good value for your money and a...