Andrew “How good is food !!!” McBride
Google
My better half booked this restaurant as a birthday lunch during our stay in the region where we were visiting my brother for New Year’s. It came highly recommended by a friend and had a strong reputation, so I was excited to experience it firsthand.
Located just a short drive south of Tamworth, Goonoo Goonoo Station is set on a stunning property with beautifully restored architecture that complements the original sheep and shearing sheds, as well as other heritage buildings on-site.
Our group of six arrived for lunch. After reviewing the menu options in advance and taking a moment to decide, we chose the “Chef’s Tasting Menu.”
We began the meal with a bottle of Pol Roger champagne, which paired wonderfully with the entrées:
• Applewood Smoked Salmon Rillette
• BBQ Spring Carrot
• Artisan Burrata
The salmon rillette was exceptional—subtly smoky with perfect textures, served on warm toasted sourdough. This was easily a highlight of the meal, although the crème fraîche flavor was quite subtle.
The BBQ spring carrot was equally impressive, featuring a rich romesco puree and thickly sliced carrot pieces with a delicious smoky finish and excellent texture.
The burrata, while fresh, lacked flavor. However, the golden beetroot accompaniment added some brightness to the dish. I enjoyed it, though some in our group were underwhelmed.
For the mains, we ordered a bottle of 10 Minutes by Tractor Pinot Noir (Mornington peninsula), a fantastic wine recommended by our waitress that complemented the following dishes:
• Hand-Rolled Gnocchetti
• Slow-Cooked Angus Tri-Tip
• Crispy Sebago Potatoes (side)
The slow-cooked Angus tri-tip was phenomenal. The flavors and textures were superb, with the green peppercorn sauce elevating the dish to another level—i could easily have had alone as a main. The beef was cooked to perfection.
The gnocchetti, however, didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The others enjoyed it.
We also noted that while the crispy Sebago potatoes were delicious, three different types of potatoes throughout the meal felt like overkill.
For dessert, we opted for an additional course: a raspberry and dark chocolate plate featuring vanilla meringue, raspberry semifreddo, and dark chocolate mousse. I added a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream to balance out what I anticipated would be a chocolate overload. The ice cream was fantastic, but the rest of the dessert was somewhat underwhelming.
We concluded the afternoon with a digestif on the rear terrace, enjoying the shade of the umbrellas, the beautiful view, and the cool breeze. We also strolled around the grounds, exploring the shearing sheds and herb garden—a wonderful way to wrap up the experience.
It was a fantastic afternoon overall, and I would gladly return.