BYO pot of beer.
With the return of lockdown, a lot of things hurt.
We once again had to say goodbye to brunches with our pals, the Saturday nights out of the house, and watching a movie in an actual cinema, but nothing hurt quite as much as having to give up being able to go to the pub for a cheeky, socially-distanced pot and parmi. I would pay big bucks to enjoy a faithful parmigiana covered in Napoli sauce, ham, and plenty of cheese at one of our local watering holes.
But the good news is that many pub kitchens are still working hard through this second wave, dishing out classic parmis. And while a takeaway parmi just isn’t the same as being at the pub, it’s pretty darn close. Here are some of our picks.
*Disclaimer. I’ve referred to the glorious parmigiana as both parmi and parma throughout this piece depending on the business. But we all know it’s parmi.
The Barwon Club
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 while the cheeky COVID-19 has messed with their usual day to day operations, they’ve found a way to keeps the chef’s cooking and the good vibes flowing.
Pivoting to takeaway, the Barwon Club Hotel are slinging their famous chicken parmis from 5pm Wednesday to Saturdays. Served with chips and salad, this golden-crumbed schnitzel is generously smothered, covered and loaded with ham, Napoli sauce and cheese.
If chicken isn’t your thing, they’ve also got a pretty delicious looking Eggplant Parmigiana. Made up of crumbed eggplant, Napoli sauce, roasted capsicum strips, mushroom and topped with cheese, this one actually sounds pretty tasty. There’s even an option for vegan cheese!
Pick up only, enter via Moorabool Street door. Phone 03 5221 4584 to order.
The Hop Inn
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 takeaway meals – including their massive parmigianas.
Available Tuesday to Sunday from 4pm, The ‘Hop Chicken Parmi’ is a favourite, complete with panko crumbed chicken breast with housemade pomodoro sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto, chips and a garden salad, all for just $24.
If you can wait until tight-arse Tuesday that’s when The Hop Inn run their parmi nights, offering six different types for $19.50 with chips and a garden salad. You can choose from tradition, Hawaiian, The Hop Inn Parmi (with prosciutto), Buffalo parmi made with their wing sauce, meatlover’s parmi, and a three cheese parmi!
Just shut up and take my money.
Order online at www.thehopinnmtduneed.com.au
The Sporting Globe
Ah the Sporto!
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. While we can’t dine in and watch the footy, we can get their good old parmas to-go.
There’s a few solid options, but you just can’t go past the beauty that is the MVP parma with fries and a salad. If you’re not about that simple life, tuck into one of their loaded parmas for a real hectic time. There’s the loaded buffalo parma, loaded Hawaiian parma, loaded Cheeseburger parma, and even a loaded El Grande parma with tasty Spanish chorizo. Absolutely huge range. There’s even a veggie parma if that’s how you like it.
They also do a $14.9 Parma every Wednesday for pickup and curb-side orders, so woop woop.
You can order Sporting Globe online for pick up, or via UberEats and Deliveroo.
The Cremorne Hotel
Ran by Cats champ Bill Brownless, this venue would usually be packed out most game-days with footy fans getting in their pre-game feeds. Luckily, we can still get our Cremorne fix with their takeaway parmis from Wednesdays to Saturdays.
Simply head to their website here and choose one of the five options – the Nudey, traditional, Vego, Texan and the Mexican. If you feel like replicating the entire pub experience, you can even add on a VB stubbie.
Pick up only from 336 Pakington Street, Newtown.
Parmi Bandit
Takeaway parmis get a bad rap, but this place has long been the go-to for them in Geelong, especially considering it’s drive-thru.
With a dedicated menu, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to scratching that chook disc itch. Opt for the classic, the hamless, a BBQ Meat Lovers, the troppo (complete with delicious pineapple), or try out the buffalo, meatball or mushroom. There’s even one called the ‘Fancy Pants’, which comes with béchamel, spinach, avocado, roast capsicum and bocconcini.
All parmis are served with chips and salad, and all you need to do is call (03) 5221 9584 to place your order, then jump in the car to go get it. Pants optional.
Parma Bar
Serving all things parma, this dedicated bar features a massive variety of parmas-to-go, with 44 different toppings – yes 44! There’s everything from the traditional to, nachos, mashed potato and even one with smashed avo.
It’s basically like a subway, but for parma’s. The aim of the game is to choose your topping, you choose your preferred base (chicken, eggplant, pumpkin), then pick from the list of sides (dirty chips, salad, slaw) and then top it off with dessert if you really want.
So many options, so much goodness.
Download the app ‘Parma Bar’ to order, or find them on UberEats and Deliveroo.
