Point Lonsdale’s best new Italian.
When Lonsdale Links announced an inspired dining experience was to be part of their redevelopment, we got word that we’d be revelling in opulence, and boy have they delivered with Lago, a new Italian restaurant that officially opens today.
The key takeaways
- Lago Restaurant has officially opened
- The menu boasts Italian-inspired cuisine, paired with an impressive Australian and international wine list
- Lago is open for Dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nights
Keep up with the latest new restaurant openings via our website.
Its beauty hits you the moment the doors open and your eyes adjust to the modern architecture and picturesque sunset views across Lake Victoria.
Construction gurus IB Projects and Wood Marsh Architecture has transformed the space perched atop the highest point of the newly designed golf course. Long been a feature point in the Point Lonsdale community, this stunning new venue is the crème de le creme for those looking for a unique and simply charming dining destination.
Within the $10M project, you’ll be met with a stunning feature stone wall, textured walls, dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows, light wooden floors, and a sleek white and grey marble bar, with an abundance of natural light, and monochromatic finishes only adding to the extravagance, all while surrounded by acres of greens.
To match the opulent fit-out, Lago Restaurant enlisted the culinary expertise of Executive Chef Ivan Roianov, who was the head chef at Terindah Estate on the Bellarine, executive chef at Mantra Group in Lorne after earning some serious cooking stripes in Dubai’s biggest hotels, leading kitchens of up to 25 staff.
Having studied all throughout Europe and spending years cooking there, Roianov bringing more than 20 years of experience and a lifetime of passion for food and flavour to Lago.
The focus here is Italian: the palatable menu name-checks most of the cuisine’s classics – from polpetti all the way through to tiramisu, made using only the freshest locally sourced Bellarine Peninsula ingredients.
Ensuring a truly luxe experience, diners are served with complimentary sourdough bread, and there’s a selection of indulgent entrees to choose from for those wanting to go all in. Our eyes are on the Drysdale Goats Cheese coquettes and the Polpetti, which are baked meatballs with red chilli, pecorino and sourdough.
If you’re just here for a classic, well-executed pasta, there’s the pappardelle Bolognese made with slow-cooked beef ragu, tomato and parmesan. Or perhaps spaghetti vongole with clams, garlic, chilli, parsley, and tune bottarga, or our pick, the butternut gnocchi with broccolini pesto, sun-dried tomato, basil and pistachio.
The star of the Lago show, though, is the mains with a wholesome seafood chowder, a creamy polenta gorgonzola, or the Hopkins River beef scotch fillet served with roasted root vegetables, peppercorn jus and spicy butter.
Round your meal out with some duck fat chat potatoes and roasted Brussel sprouts before tossing up between the Lago Tiramisu, caramelised walnut pie or the dark chocolate mousse for dessert. For those that prefer it savoury, there’s even a pretty beautiful selection of cheeses on offer.
For drinks, there’s a sizeable selection of imported and Australian wines, mainly sourced from South Australia, the Bellarine and Italy. There are however wine suggestions made for a number of Lago’s menu items if you’re really wanting to experience the Italian-inspired cuisine as the chef intended.
Grab a glass of red and settle in – Lago is Point Lonsdale’s best new Italian.
Lago Restaurant is open to the public from Thursday 29th of April. Lago is open for Dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and is located at Lonsdale Links – 31 Clubhouse Drive Point Lonsdale
You can book your trip to Italy here.
