Who doesn’t love a cheeky meal deal to get you through the week?
Whether you’re trying to stick to your New Year’s budget resolutions to save money, you’re attempting to buy a house or you’re just trying to avoid reaching for the mi goreng before payday, eating out can be both expensive and impractical. Lucky for you, Geelong is rich with restaurants boasting some seriously killer deals that won’t break the bank.
Here are a couple of our favourite eateries doing the sweetest deals around town.
The Geelong Hotel – Burger Night
One of our favourites things in this world is getting your hands wrapped around a burger, making a mess and finishing the last piece with sticky fingers and a full stomach. Is there anything better? No, no there’s not, especially when you can get them for cheap!
Going down every Thursday night, The Geelong Hotel are running burger nights with burgers from just $10, as well as $5 beers and $6 basics – plus DJs all night. You get to custom build your perfect burger and they don’t trust that they don’t skimp on the ingredients.
Bookings can be made via the website.
El Santo – $4 Tacos
Offering fresh modern Mexican flavours, El Santo is one of our favourite spots to go for a hearty dose of tacos, nachos and burrito goodness. Perfectly blending the city lifestyle of Geelong with the fragrant flavours of Mexico, the décor itself is enough to get us dining there, with Mexican mosaic-tiled walls, festoon lighting, a tequila-filled bar and neon signs, it’s every bit of a fiesta you would want – especially when it’s a cheap fiesta!
Running every Tuesday, El Santo has just brought back their famed ‘Taco Tuesdays’ with $4 tacos, $4 beers and $4 shots. Oh baby.
While the tacos on offer under the deal will change, you can expect flavours like pumpkin, grilled zucchini and charred corn, chicken tinga, beef and peanuts, crumbed market fish, or pork carnitas. Team it with a $4 beer and a side of fries and you’re in for a very happy Tuesday.
Booking can be made via the website. You’ll find them at 115 Ryrie Street from 5pm.
Wah Bah – Five dumplings for $5
Perched out on a Cunningham Pier, Wah Bah is a favourite of ours when it comes to indulging in the bayside views, colourful décor and their mouth-watering Asian inspired bites.
If you’re a fan of simple and scrumptious dumplings (surely one of man’s greatest inventions ever), the team at Wah Bah have you sorted EVERY THURSDAY with five dumplings for $5. That’s quite the saving when a plate of five usually costs you around $15. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as dipping these little pockets of amazingness into sauce and then stuffing your face!
Kicking off at 5pm, this is a deal you can make the most of every single Thursday. It’s just too good to miss.
If you’re not really a dumpling fan but love a cheeky meal deal and the location on the Pier, the Bah also do Wah Wednesdays, offering $3 buns from 12pm until late. How’s that for a hump day treat?! Choose from any of the buns, mix and match, pair it with a cocktail, sit on the deck and you’ll be happy as Larry!
Wah Bah is located at Cunningham Pier, 10 Western Beach Road, Geelong and is open 12pm till late. Book your table at wahwahgee.com.au/dine-at-wah-bah
Prefer beers? Here’s a handful of Geelong’s best Happy Hours, because we’re keen for a bevvy.
The Deck – Unlimited Wings for $19
As the saying goes, there ain’t no thang like a chicken wing and who are we to argue with that?
For all your deep-fried, all-you-can-eat wing buffet cravings, The Deck in Geelong should be the go-to. Here the signature feed is their bottomless wings and coke. For $19,
The signature feed is, of course, their bottomless wings and sides. For just $19, you can score all the wings you can handle plus cola-cola to wash them all down. Warning: side effects may include eating yourself into a food coma.
All that’s left for you to do now is round up a crew, and book a table asap.
The Deck is located at 2 Gheringhap Street. You can tuck in from 5pm. Call 5229-5504 to book your seat or shoot them a message on Facebook.
Okami – All-you-can-eat for $34.80
Sometimes, all you need to do is tuck into as much sushi as humanly possible and Okami is the cheapest place to do it.
Sitting pretty on Pakington Street, this famed restaurant is a big deal in Geelong, plating up over 30 different Japanese dishes at a price that is too good to be true. That’s right, all-you-can-eat is the hero here and it will only set you back at easy $34.80 per person – and that’s the entree, main and dessert. Chow down on plates full of lightly seared beef carpaccio, edamame, crunchy Karaage chicken, veggie spring rolls, prawn gyoza, fried rice, teriyaki steak, udon noodle soup and even green tea ice cream.
You’ll get two-hours to sample as much as you physically can while every dish is freshly made by your order — so make the most of it.
Okami is located at 214 Pakington Street. Book by calling 03 4207 0373.
The Barking Dog – $3 pizzas and $15 parmis
Located on trendy Pakington Street, The Barking Dog has long been one of Geelong’s favourite drinking and dining haunts, especially with their cheeky specials. The latest to grace the region is their mouth-watering $3 pizzas. Yes $3.
Available from 2pm every day, these babies are made daily with fresh dough and come in four delicious flavours: carbonara, margarita, mushroom and Mexican. They also do $15 parmis on Wednesday’s if that’s more your style.
It doesn’t get much cheaper than that.
The Barking Dog is located at 126 Pakington Street and booking can be made online.
The Hop Inn – $26 ribs and 1kg wings for $16
You might already know The Hop Inn as one of the go-to places for a knock-off drink for those out Mount Duneed/Armstrong Creek way, but this local business also serves up some mean meal deals.
You can get $26 ribs on Thursdays, where you’ll be treated to a delicious serve of smoked beef short ribs or pork spare ribs with pickle, coleslaw, a side of hot chips, and of course a drink!
Our absolute favourite deal from the Hop Inn family though is their Wing It Wednesdays where you can get one kilogram of hot, crispy wings slathered in your choice of Buffalo, Highway to HELL or Teriyaki sauce for only $16. You’ll have to get your hands dirty too — all wings come with ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce, as well as celery sticks to balance it all out. We’ll be honest, we get this meal weekly…
The Hop Inn is located at 611-621 Surf Coast Hwy, Mount Duneed. Book your table via the website.
Warralily Cockatoo – Pizza and Pinot night
One of our favourite neighbourhood cafe and pizza bars to grace the region, Warralily Cockatoo are running a pretty groovy deal on Wednesdays to get you through that hump day slump. For just $20, the team are slinging their decent-sized Margheritas, complete with San Marzano tomato, Fior di Latte and basil, with a glass of pinot or pot of beer every week from 4pm to late.
You can book by calling 03 5264 1992 or via the website.
Sir Charles Darling Hotel – $21 steak night
Often overlooked by people looking for places to eat in Geelong, the Sir Charles Darling Hotel Geelong is truly a hidden gem! A family-owned pub, this no-frills venue is just about good company, relaxed atmosphere and delicious food at an affordable price.
While we’re all about indulging in an exxy piece of steak from one of the region’s steakhouses, the Sir Charles Darling does a pretty tidy steak night every Monday and Tuesday night. Available from 5:30pm until 8:30pm, you can treat yourself to a 300g porterhouse steak cooked to your liking with chips, salad and your choice of a housemade sauce – whether that be creamy mushroom, creamy pepper, garlic butter, garlic cream or just good old gravy – all for just $21.
With 300g steaks usually found at more than double the price, this is certainly a winning deal for a weeknight.
Sir Charles Darling is located at 38 Bellerine Street. Book a table by calling 03 5222 1697.
The Sporting Globe – Seven Day Lineup
Located at the top end of Geelong’s inner CBD, The Sporting Globe Bar & Grill is Australia’s most loved sports bar and grill synonymous with great food in a casual bar environment and sporting entertainment. They’re also synonymous with ripper deals seven days a week.
Coined their ‘7 Day Lineup’, each day offers a new special for the penny pinchers out there, guaranteeing something for every taste and budget. Monday sees half price wings, ribs, pints and house wine; Tuesday offers half Price Steaks all served with beer-battered steak fries and selection of sauce; while Wednesday gets you $14.9 MVP Parmas, $17.9 Loaded Parmas all served with beer-battered steak fries & salad AND $8.9 All Pints and $9.9 Jam Jars.
Moving on to Thursday, all their burgers are just $14.9 with beer battered steak fries while they also offer $9.9 Highball Cocktails and $15.9 Beer Jugs; while Friday to Sunday is all about cheap drinks with $5 Schooners, House Spirits, House Wines from 5pm-7pm on Fridays; $10 Aperol Spritz and Espresso Martini’s and $20 Bud Buckets on Saturday’s and $11.9 Classic Cocktails and $28.9 2L Tap Towers on Sunday’s.
Not bad, not bad at all.
The Sporting Globe is located at 175-177 Ryrie Street. You can book online here.
The Barwon Club – Parmi Night and Tight Ass Tuesdays
An iconic live music venue, the BC is everything you love about a pub. They have long been the go to destination for the traditional pub experience in Geelong since it was first opened in the early ’90s, and they’ve continued to be a favourite with their Parmi Night!
Held on Mondays, you can score a parmi and pot of beer (or wine or soft drink) for just $20.
Served with chips and salad, each golden-crumbed schnitzel is generously smothered, covered and loaded with toppings and sauces. You can choose from a regular schnitty, the traditional (ham, Napoli and cheese), English (Napoli, bacon, mash potato, cheese and gravy), Hawaiian (Napoli, ham, pineapple and cheese), or the Mexican (salsa, jalapenos, corn chips, cheese and sour cream).
Wait, that’s not all. There’s also the meat lovers (Napoli, ham, bacon, salami, sausage, cheese and BBQ sauce), Italian (Bolognese sauce and cheese), and Eggplant (Napoli, roasted capscum, mushrooms and cheese).
They also run a pretty nifty tight ass Tuesday deal which has $5 schooners all night, and 12 wings for $10. Woop woop!
The BC is located at 509 Moorabool Street. Call the pub on 03 5221 4584 to book a table.
Boss Burger – All the deals
For those who love a greasy, meaty, cheese-filled, dripping with delicious-goodness burger, Boss Burger Co. has long been a favourite around town. Known for their customisable burgers (think mac & cheese balls and double bacon), the joint kicks ass with their offerings of chicken and beef burgers, flame grilled ribs, boss dogs, loaded fries, mac ‘n’ cheese balls, jalapeno poppers, shakes, and even mozzarella sticks.
Well on a Monday, you can get any two burgers for $20! It’s an absolute bargain, and even better if you struggle to choose between chicken and beef… because you can just get both! I mean, you could probably share the deal with a mate, but where’s the fun in that?
If you’re a big fan of their Tommy the Chook, good news. You can score it for just $10 on a Tuesday! Complete with crunchy, southern fried chicken, cheese, creamy slaw and siracha mayo, this burger is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Boss Burger has locations in Waurn Ponds, Geelong West, Leopold, Torquay, Ballarat, and Colac. You can order direct from all locations and through Deliveroo at select locations. Visit the website for specific store details.
The Inn Hotel – $18 Pot & Parmi Night
If you get to Thursday night and you haven’t made it out for a faithful parmigiana covered in Napoli sauce, ham, and plenty of cheese parmi, then Thursday is your night thanks to The Inn Hotel!
With their dedicated ‘Parmi Night’, punters can indulge in either a basic chicken schnitzel with gravy, or a classic parmi served with chips and salad for $15 with the option of adding a pot of beer or cider for just $3.
If you’re feeling extra hungry, Thursday’s also see the option of a ‘Parmageddon’ which is double the classic for $22.
Talk about an absolute treat.
The Inn Hotel is located at 58 Corio St, Geelong. You can book your table for parmi night here.
Emerge – 3 course lunch for $38
Emerge Steakhouse has made a name for itself in Geelong. Serving up some of the highest quality, locally sourced food in the region and every Sunday you can sample three courses of the very best that Emerge has to offer for just $38.
With a menu that changes weekly, and three options for entrée, main and desert every week there’s truly something for everyone (even vego options!).
Think Ket Baker bread to start, sticky pork belly for an entrée, 14-hour slow-cooked beef short rib for mains and then a sticky date pudding for dessert, how could anybody say no!
Be sure to book for this one and have a suss online for this week’s menu.
Emerge is located at 12 Ryrie St, Geelong.
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Cuciana One12 – 3 courses for $32
If its Italian food you’re craving, look no further than Cuciana One12. For a measly 32 bucks you can score a delicious three course Italian feast. There’s a heap of menu options, giving you the freedom to pick one entrée, amin and desert off their menu, you’ll be spoilt for choice at Cuciana One12.
This deal is a no brainer, the hardest decision you’ll have to make will be between oven roasted pork belly or parmigiana, or if you’ll grab the sticky date or the crème brulee for dessert.
If three courses aren’t your thing, you can score two courses for just $27!
Find Cuciana One12 at 112 High St, Belmont.
Bobby Dre’s – High Tea
Bobby Dre’s has been gracing Geelong with tacos and burgers to die for and they’ve just introduced a high tea option on weekends.
There are two options for the high tea, a burger option, fitted out with regular and sweet potato chips, six mini burgers, coleslaw and churros to finish. Or if you’re feeling more of a Mexican fiesta for your high tea the taco option boasts, nachos, six tacos and churros for two.
The high teas are both $32pp without drinks, $38pp with a beer or a wine or $43pp paired with a cocktail. Vego options are also available for both high teas.
Available 11.30am-5.30pm high tea at Bobby Dre’s is one not to be missed.
They require minimum 24 hours’ notice for high tea bookings so be sure to book.
Find Bobby Dre’s at 359 Pakington St, Newtown
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Shannon Pizza – multiple deals
Looking to feast on some comfort food? 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.
With more than 20 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.
But it’s their meal deals that got them on this list, and they are pretty decent in our opinion.
‘Family fued’ will get you two family-sized pizzas, two 1.25lt drinks and one large garlic pizza, all for $58; the ‘mates rates’ will get you two large pizzas, one 1.25lt drink and one medium garlic pizza for $42; the ‘selfie’ which gets you a medium pizza, 600ml drink and a garlic loaf for an easy $18, and our personal favourite, the ‘hangover’ which gets you one large pizza, a 1.25 litre drink and a small garlic pizza for $26.
Absolute bargains!
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
The Yardz Hotel – $15 meal deals
A Geelong institution, you have to have gone to the Yardz at least once in your life! If you need a good reason, their meal deals are pretty enticing.
Mondays through to Wednesday you can score a two course lunch for $15, while Sundays see $15 parmis all day. And there’s eight different options.
Winner winner.
Find them at 77 Church Street, Geelong.
Fyansford Hotel – $20 parmis and $25 steaks
Located on the outskirts of Geelong in Fyansford, this little gem is worth jumping in the car for.
On Wednesdays, you can indulge in $20 parmis which all come with chips and salad. Available for both lunch and dinner, choose from a list of options including traditional, Mexican parmi, Aussie parmi, Hawaiian parmi, Kiev parmi, chicken schnizel or vegetarian. There’s also the option to upgrade to a jumbo parmi for an extra six bucks if you’re feeling extra peckish.
If steak is more your thing, on Thursdays you can enjoy a 300g Black Angus porterhouse steak cooked to your liking, served with chips, salad and your choice of sauce – all for just $25! Make it a surf and turf with garlic prawns, scallops and calamari for an extra $6.
Book via the website.
We’ll be continuously updating this list so if you know of any rad meal deals that you think people need to know about holla at us here.
