Winter is basically here (and the heating is up to max) so it seemed like a fitting time to look at some of the local businesses who have adapted during these unsettling times to still provide us delicious, comfort foods for takeaway and delivery that are almost as cozy as staying in bed… almost.
Wah Wah Gee
Funky, fun and fresh. For the past few years, Wah Wah Gee has been one of the best places to go in Geelong enjoy the coastal atmosphere, and a hot spot for friends to enjoy a casual dinner in a stress-free, fun environment! Well, while you can’t enjoy the bayside views and the colourful décor of the restaurant just yet, you can still indulge in their mouth-watering Asian inspired dishes from the comfort of your own home.
Offering a Wah Wah Gee and Wah Bah (the cheeky, loud and boisterous younger sibling) combined takeaway menu, foodies now get to sample the best bits of both menus. Designed to share (cue the housemates), there is something to warm everyone up – from yummy dumplings and the forever loved Bao Buns, to flavoursome poke bowls and hearty curries, and even mini cinnamon donuts (best warmed).
While the takeaway menu is second to none, it’s their FEED ME deal that’s caught our attention. For just $60, Wah Wah Gee cooks you up seven of their most popular dishes, including the Crispy Chicken Bao Buns, Spring Rolls, Korean Fried Cauliflower, Dumplings, Steamed Rice, Roti Bread and Beef Cheek Curry. It’s a thing of beauty and perfect for a meal with your besties, housies, partner or for you to just enjoy by yourself next to the fire – there’s no judgement here! The best bit? There’s even a 10% discount for phone orders applies to FEED MEs! Woohoo!!
Something else the legends at WWG are doing that has been wreaking havoc on our bank accounts is offering up their famous cocktails for all to enjoy at home. So far, there are four creations on the menu. The Cocoloco will be delivering the taste of a tropical holiday at home, the well-loved Tokyo Moon is a lil something to get you outta the blues, the Licor 43 Sour is the perfect mix of sweet and sour, and of course, the Espresso Quarantini is here to help you get that TikTok clout. The cocktails are $15 each and are equivalent to 2 standard drinks so that in itself is a big win. They’re even offering wine and beer takeaway too! If that doesn’t warm you up, we don’t know what will.
Simply view their full takeaway menu online and call 5222 6377, pay over the phone and drive up Cunningham Pier on Geelong’s Waterfront to pick up your order. You could also order through UberEats, Deliveroo or Skip App (excludes FEED ME and cocktails). Takeaway is available from 11.30am – 8.30pm every day.
Burger Plus
Probably in contention for the best burgers in Australia (they’ve already taken out the vote for best burger in Geelong), the team at Burger Plus has got this down to a fine art. Tucked away at the northern end of Mercer St, right under the Belmercer Hotel, Burger Plus have been slinging juicy, stacked creations and satisfying our hunger cravings and undying affection for meat in a bun since 2017. And lucky for us, they’re still open and still delicious.
Serving up the finest ground beef burgers (from your plain and simple to your double beef or chorizo beef creations), chicken schnitzel burgers, pulled-pork burgers, and even juicy vegan and veggie burgers that have you licking your fingers for days, there’s something on the menu to suit every tastebud. It’s hard for us to decide which burger to choose as they’re all pulled off with flawless execution.
If you’re not feeling like a burger (infrequent, but possible), they’ve got you covered with a selection of beef and chicken wraps, chilli-cheese fries, bacon cheese fries, chicken schnitty strips, hard and soft shell tacos, sweet potato fries and even macho fries – complete with Japanese style seasonings and spicy mayo.
For those of you really in for a ‘treat yo-self’ kind of day and don’t mind a cold beverage in the depth of winter, Burger Plus have you covered with their sugar-filled selection of shakes. There are all your usual suspects (chocolate, strawberry, caramel, vanilla), plus a few fun flavours like banana, lime, choc-banana, blue heaven and cherry ripe!
This mouth-watering burger joint is well worth a visit if you’re looking for something top-notch to put in your belly. We’ve been coming back since day dot. Tip: Don’t forget sauce on the side – they’ve got 15 to choose from.
Burger Plus is located at 14A Mercer Street, Geelong. Call 52002816 to place your order, or you can order via UberEats, MenuLog and Deliveroo. They are open Tuesday to Sunday 11am-2pm and 5:30pm-9pm.
Shannon Pizza
Looking to feast on some comfort food during this blustery winter? Odds are you are reaching for a slice of pizza. Whether you like it loaded, crispy, doughy or topped with crazy ingredients, you can get a taste of it – every night (except Tuesday) if you so desire with Shannon Pizza.
‘Tell us more’, we hear your cry.
Family owned since the ’80s, the team have been working hard to get your pizza as good as it can be; maintaining the same style, the same quality and the same friendliness since its beginning – and lucky for us, they’re still operating amongst all this craziness.
With twenty-eight different pizzas to choose from using the freshest of ingredients, their dough is made fresh on site daily, and your pizza can be delivered straight to your doorstep. All you have to do is decide whether you’re after a traditional style like the Aussie, Hawaiian and BBQ, or you want to branch out to the gourmet range with the Gourmet Feta or the Gourmet Chicken pesto. If you’re still not sure what to have, take a leap of faith and warm your insides with their award-winning pizza Silvas Special featuring tomato, cheese, ham, salami, capsicum, onion, chilli, garlic, oregano, tomato sauce then cheese on top.
With people being told to stay inside and restaurants being ordered to close, Shannon Pizza is doing its part to make feeding families a little easier during this challenging time with two extra specials. On Mondays, pizza lovers can take advantage of ‘Happy Hour’ where you can grab a large pizza for just $15 between 6pm and 7pm. All you have to do is mention those two little words and you’ve saved yourself a pretty penny. They’ve also introduced the ‘Isolation Pack’. For just 25 bucks, you can get a family size pizza and 1.25 litre drink. Win, win.
They’ve also got their regular weekday deals available over the weekend now, including the ‘hangover’ (also our personal favourite) which gets you one large pizza, a 1.25 litre drink and a small garlic pizza.
The team are offering no-contact delivery, so you can enjoy your pizza guilt-free. All you need to do is call up with your order, make a payment over the phone and request no contact. The delivery driver will then leave your order in a safe place, knock and then will return to the car.
Shannon Pizza is located at 146 Shannon St, Geelong West and is open 5-9pm every day except Tuesdays. Visit www.shannonpizza.com.au or call 5229 6169
Driftwood Café
While that coastal breeze has gotten that little bit icier and the winter chill is well on its way, this change of season also marks an exciting change of menu for many of our much-loved and adored cafés, including Driftwood Café.
Set on the Terrace in Ocean Grove, this local favourite has won awards for both its impressive design and it’s even more impressive food that will fill your belly and warm your heart. Boasting a bright, cheerful, busy and friendly atmosphere, they have earned a solid reputation on the coast for using fresh local produce, including organic whenever possible, for their breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
For breaky, favourites include Eggs Benedict, pulled pork hash, the Croque Monsieur toastie and the berry smoothie bowl, while the arancini, Salt’n’Pepper Calamari Salad and the Driftwood Burger are our picks for lunch. If you’re looking for dinner, they’ve got you sorted with an array of gnocchi, pastas, and burgers.
Consistently delicious, it’s their new winter items that have our name allllll over it. Their creamy, organic porridge is back for breakfast, hearty soups are here for a while and they’re now offering slow cooked Lamb Shanks with creamy mash, Coq au Vin with Potato Gratin, Osso Bucco and Parmesan Mash and Lamb and Chicken and Vegan Curry. These winter dishes are guaranteed to warm you from the inside out.
They’re also offering a number of take-home ready-made meals, available both fresh and frozen, for when you just know you need a bit of extra help during the week! Think curries like Lamb Rogan Josh, Butter Chicken and Vegan Chickpea Curry, or flavoursome pasta sauces like meatballs, chorizo and spiced roasted capsicum, traditional Bolognese or even pulled Pork with chipotle, mushrooms, tomato and spinach. Just add rice or pasta, pour yourself a glass of red and put those feet up.
Whether you’re a local and you’re one of the few who hasn’t been there or you’re on your way down to the Ocean Grove, make sure you meander towards Driftwood.
Driftwood Café is located at 64D The Terrace, Ocean Grove. They are offering breakfast from 8am-12pm (pick up only), lunch from 11:30-2:30pm, and dinner 5:30pm-8pm. Lunch and Dinner is available for pickup and delivery. Call 5255 1832 or order online here.
Driftwood Café will be opening for dine-in from June 1. Limited seats available.
The Great Ocean Road Brewhouse
Situated on the Great Ocean Road in Apollo Bay where the hills meet the ocean, the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse is a craft beer haven for locals and tourists alike, with over 100 craft beers on offer.
While punters can’t warm themselves by the fire or enjoy the beer garden with ocean views just yet, the Brewhouse has responded to the Covid-19 threat by adding pre-cooked takeaway options to their repertoire. This means we can still support one of our favourite watering holes during these unsettling times, and enjoy a damn fine meal while we’re at it.
The pre-cooked takeaway meals can be picked up from Tastes of the Region, the tasting room located behind the Brewhouse. The meals are perfect for those on a budget and unable to cook. Think Beef Stir Fry, Frittata, Lasagna and even Chicken Kiev. They are also selling fresh local produce, including fruit and vegetables, pasta, meats, eggs, and much more. Basically, they’ve got everything the community needs to stay healthy while supporting local.
The loyal customers can still keep up with their weekly hot, cheesy parma on Tuesday’s from the brewhouse, and wood fired pizzas, salads, toasties and coffee from the Distillery. The Apollo Bay Distillery even has a Drive-Thru for people to pick up their orders so you don’t even have to get out of the car!
But that’s not the only thing… the team strongly believe that during these difficult times it’s so important to support each other. That’s why at the Queenscliff Distillery, they are producing a local hand sanitiser, ‘the Spirited Handrub’, which is also sold by the name ‘Clean Skin Sanitiser’ at the Apollo Bay Distillery, following the unprecedented demand for it during the pandemic which in turn caused shortages across the healthcare system and beyond.
If what you really miss is heading to the brewhouse and indulging in their delicious lineup of handcrafted beers from sister company Prickly Moses, then we’ve got just the thing to help ease the pain until the brewhouse can reopen their doors – and that’s a sale. A big clearance sale rather, with massive discounts. You’ll find all the regular beers, including the pale ale, stout and organic pilsner, alongside their Forbidden Fruit Ciders and ChainSAW ale. You can shop the sale here.
Tastes of the Region is open Sunday to Thursday from 11am-7pm, and Friday to Saturday from 11am-8pm. Call the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse on 5237 6240 for all your beverage or providore needs and pick up at 29/35 Great Ocean Rd, Apollo Bay.
As for the Apollo Bay Distillery, it’s open Wed-Sun from 12pm – 8pm for lunch and dinner. Call 5237 7165 to pre-order and pick up from their drive-thru at 23-27 Great Ocean Rd, Apollo Bay
It’s never been more important to support local and independent. Look after each other, prioritise our health and health system and enjoy some good food!
