Garden Hotel

Great Bistro Food, cheap, just like grandma’s cooking, a hearty full sized meal. Good chips and gravy. The best hamburger you’ll get in Dubbo.

Gluten Free Food

If you are in Dubbo and can’t have gluten, here are some trusted and tested places to eat.

Two Doors - a lot of choice of gluten free.

Sticks and and Stones - gluten free pizza plus some pastas.

Essence - always have a couple of gluten free on the menu, or seem happy to modify.

Hungry Jacks - yep, take your own bread and ask them for a gluten free hamburger and chips!

Jimmy’s Kitchen

Jimmy’s Kitchen can cook a ‘to-order’ stir fry if you are sensitive to certain ingredients. They are open for Lunch and Evenings, take-away or eat in. Quick service.

Love Fish n Chips

There’s a new fish and chip shop in Dubbo on the main highway on the north side, next to the convenience store, between Elston Park and the Apex Oval. It’s pink and blue and white, called love fish n chips.

I’ve heard a couple of rave reviews, the best fish and chips in Dubbo and so on.

Macquarie Inn

There’s a good bistro at the Macquarie Inn, Birch Avenue, called the Governor’s Table Restaurant. If you don’t mind a bit of smoke and noise, it has a wonderful room with large open beam roof, wooden furniture, a fireplace going in Winter, and Lounge Chairs to relax in before or after your meal. A good place to take Kids and it doesn’t matter so much if they are a bit noisy. The Pub has Guinness on tap. There’s a chinese restaurant upstairs.
The food here is probably the best you’ll find in a bistro. It’s a cross between a bistro and a restaurant.

Pastoral Hotel

You’ll get one of the best Pub Meals in Dubbo at the Pastoral Hotel. On a day that’s not too hot, it’s great to sit out on the balcony overlooking Talbragar Street for Lunch. Great Steaks, good kids menu. It’s in the Middle of Talbragar Street, on the left if you are heading away from Macquarie Street.

Rose Garden Thai Restaurant

This is currently our favourite place to eat out in Dubbo as a couple on a quiet night out.

The room feels like you are in Thailand, and so does the food, by that I mean it’s very good.

It’s quiet and we feel relaxed here.

We’ve been to the Rose Garden about 5 or 6 times and I’ve never been disappointed.

It’s on Brisbane Street on the South End near the Highway.

Sticks and Stones

Best family food. At the South end of Macquarie Street, Dubbo. Sticks and Stones has fantastic wood fired Pizzas and Italian meals. Good atmosphere and excellent food. A good range of other Italian style items on the menu too.
Great risotto. Great lamb cutlets last time we were there.
Some interesting furniture around made from old wooden objects and farm equipment.
Friendly staff. Currently our favourite place for a special family meal.

If you are tossing up between here and Essence - they both have great food, I’d go here if you have kids and essence if you are on your own, just because Essence is slightly better on the food side of things, but Stricks and Stones is slightly more fun.

They have a box of Children’s toys, and a great value good quality kids menu - but I’d only take the kids if they are reasonably behaved. Last time we went to sticks and stones the kids were given some dough balls to play with after dinner!

For those on special diets, Sticks and Stones have some simple items on the menu, so they are good if you need something low in low in salicylates and amines, etc.

TAFE Restaurant OPEN

I just recieved an email that the Dubbo NSW TAFE restaurant is open again. This is a restraurant that is run by the tafe students, and you get a very good meal for a reasonable price. It’s only open on Tuesday nights, and it’s best to book ahead. Here’s the menu:

HORIZONS RESTAURANT MENU

ENTRÉE

Sautéed King Prawns
with fresh ginger and chilli, fragrant jasmine rice and tangy lime aioli

Tiered Tomato Aspic
served with fresh radish salad, dressed with grapeseed vinaigrette

Warm Asian Pork and Rocket Salad
tender fillet, with an Asian inspired flavour, and dressed with vinaigrette

MAIN

Succulent Lamb Shanks
slowly cooked in a fragrant bouillon, served on a creamy bed of kumara with a rich jus

Stained Glass Lasagne Sheets
sweet roasted butternut pumpkin, layered with fennel seeds and fresh coriander

Pan Fried Snapper
served with a fresh tomato, garlic and chervil salsa

DESSERT

Dark Chocolate and Walnut Brownie
drizzled with butterscotch sauce and whipped cream

Caramelised Pineapple Slices
stacked and accompanied with dipping selections of mint sugar and yoghurt

Star Anise Blancmange
complemented with poached cherries

To make a booking ring 68833601

West Dubbo Bowling Club

I reckon the the best bistro in Dubbo is the West Dubbo Bowling Club, on the left as you head out to the zoo. It has a fantastic view out it’s floor to ceiling glass windows, overlooking the picturesque Macquarie River. A great place to go for dinner, lots of seats, fast service, and the usual range of bistro meals - Steak Diane, Chicken Schnitzel, Beef Casserole, Creamy Chicken Casserole, Grilled steak etc. Best to arrive early or book if you aim to go there on a Friday or Saturday night because it’s a spot that’s always popular with visitors and locals alike. Good for families.