Masons of Bendigo

As people have flocked to live in regional Victoria, it stands to reason there is also a growth of good dining spots going to continue to pop up in these major regional towns. Masons of Bendigo was a good long step ahead. Sonia and Nick Anthony set up shop back in 2012 in the heart of Queen Street in the Bendigo CBD. Almost a decade on, they are still going strong, despite lockdowns and the challenges of COVID.

The food at Masons is always stunning to look at and is not short on flavour either. Now that lockdown is over, the team at Mason's is open and looking to see old faces and make new friends. Although they've been trading for nine years, the business model flipped during covid to ensure its survival. The team have always wanted to ensure guests receive the best experience possible and to them this was so much more important to deliver on over the past year and a half.

They went from a churn them out a la carte to offering a Chefs Selected five-course menu which champions seasonal Central Victorian produce. They are better able to support producers through the set menu model and manage both costs and wastage. The food, however is always exquisitely presented and deserves every accolade offered.

Re-opening for dine-in Tuesday 26th October, they're offering a five course, seasonal set menu for $88 per person (let them know your dietaries when booking) while lunch noon on Friday and Saturday will be a lighter style $55 pp roaming style set menu. The dinner menu changes weekly due to seasons and availability so there is plenty of flexibility for frequent diners.

Opening menu looks like:

McIvor Farm Foods pork hock, green mango, lime leaf, peanuts, crispy chilli caramel, sisho

Fried quail, panisse, pickled radicchio, roasted hazelnuts, green apple, duck egg mayo, watercress

Chicken ballotine, jamon, asparagus, fennel, Sandors potato gnocchi, Sonia’s broad beans, quail egg, sherry jus gras

Paradise Park oyster blade, pickled tongue, buttered turnip, thyme gremolata, black kale, mustard sauce

Dark chocolate, sunrise lime and cream cheese mousse, Flavour Flavours raspberry sorbet, chocolate croquant

There is a very good reason to head to Bendigo, if just to enjoy Nick and Sonia's fine hospitality, a good glass of local plonk and some fantastic locally grown produce.

Masons of Bendigo is at 25 Queen St, Bendigo

Open for lunch Friday and Saturday from noon.

Open for dinner from 6pm Tuesday - Saturday