Murphys — Restaurant in Victoria

I recently had the chance to try the Outback Parma at Murphy's, and I have to say, while it tasted good and was well-cooked, there was a distinct feeling of disappointment lurking underneath the surface. As a seasoned Parmi reviewer, it was hard to ignore the obvious resemblance to the famous Outback Parma from The Little River pub. It felt like a cheap attempt to snag a bit of that signature charm, and I wasn’t impressed.

Now, let’s talk about the price. At $32, I expected something a bit more generous. Instead, what I got felt more like a snack than a full meal—definitely not what I would call a great value for money. I’m being generous with a 5/10 rating, and honestly, that's me being kind. As pictured it came with Onion Rings, chips and salad

On a brighter note, the atmosphere at Murphy's had its ups and downs. The place was bustling with mostly couples in their 30s and 40s, giving it a lively vibe. However, I did have to navigate around some particularly loud local patrons who seemed to think they owned the place. A couple of gentle nudges to get by could be a sign that it might thrive on a busy Saturday night, but those boisterous moments certainly took away from the overall experience.

In summary, while Murphy's has potential and a nice setting, they really need to step up their game with their Outback Parma if they want to compete with the best. It makes you appreciate the...

This was actually the first time I stayed in a hotel/hostel inside a pub (Though I guess it is very common in Australia...since so many bars here called "Hotel XX"?). It is indeed an interesting experience.||||You have to go to the pub counter to "check-in." However, I think the pub and the hostel have separate management, so the bartenders tend not to know a lot about the hotel/hostel upstairs (The bartender who helped me checking in could not even find the key to my room, at first). I had my own private room and it is very basic inside. Aside from my bed and a chair, there is no other furniture. There is no air-con in my room (but an electric fan). However, the sleep quality is generally fine since it was breezy in the evening.||||The bathrooms are shared and they are quite small. The living room is homey and a good place to socialize.||||I stayed there only on weekdays, so I am not sure if the pub get very popular and influence the sleeping quality of the guests who stay upstairs. However, there was a small concert one night with a band coming all the way from Ireland. I was glad that, as a guest upstairs, I was allowed to get in for the concert without paying the AU$10 entry fees. ||||One issue is that Irish Murphy is actually quite far away from the beach and center of Geelong. I think it is about 30 minutes' walk to the waterfront. However, it...

This was actually the first time I stayed in a hotel/hostel inside a pub (Though I guess it is very common in Australia...since so many bars here called "Hotel XX"?). It is indeed an interesting experience.||||You have to go to the pub counter to "check-in." However, I think the pub and the hostel have separate management, so the bartenders tend not to know a lot about the hotel/hostel upstairs (The bartender who helped me checking in could not even find the key to my room, at first). I had my own private room and it is very basic inside. Aside from my bed and a chair, there is no other furniture. There is no air-con in my room (but an electric fan). However, the sleep quality is generally fine since it was breezy in the evening.||||The bathrooms are shared and they are quite small. The living room is homey and a good place to socialize.||||I stayed there only on weekdays, so I am not sure if the pub get very popular and influence the sleeping quality of the guests who stay upstairs. However, there was a small concert one night with a band coming all the way from Ireland. I was glad that, as a guest upstairs, I was allowed to get in for the concert without paying the AU$10 entry fees. ||||One issue is that Irish Murphy is actually quite far away from the beach and center of Geelong. I think it is about 30 minutes' walk to the waterfront. However, it...