MERRICKS STORE

This is a solidly reliable food and wine venue on the peninsula. Sound venue, food and service. My prawn risotto had excellent flavour and texture but was perhaps just a little on the small side. The burger was generally good too. The beetroot salad was very nice as well. Service was good throughout from the young but competent servers

It’s not often that you come across a gem like the general store. The food blew us away and the service and atmosphere was first class. We had some of the best oysters with fingerlime vinaigrette…amazing! The grilled cabbage and chicken pot pie were perfect. This was some of the most tasty food we have had. Beautiful presentation and seasoned perfectly. “Sweet fancy Moses” it was good!! Well done we will be back.

Amazing place! We went to visit nearby winery and stopped by for a quick coffee and we almost stayed there entire time. Such a comfortable and inviting place with wonderful staff and great coffee and food. I cannot find fault even if I want to. Just prefect, like a visit to your family somewhere away from the city. Highly recommended!!!! Must stop by if you are anywhere near.... Jana & Boris

We went on a public holiday and they charged a surcharge, not only on the restaurant bills but purchase of wine as well. I understand the law allows cafe and restaurant to do that. But is it also legal for cellars, like a shop selling products be allowed as well? Maybe it is, but not great. In addition to that’s the food is so average. The focaccia is nice and others are below average. Medium well steak when we asked for medium rare, quality of steak is poor in general. That block of butter was cold and just gross in your mouth. Disappointed

Stepping into Merricks General Store is like uncovering a hidden gem—it’s much bigger than it first appears, and by the time you leave, you might find yourself wishing you could just move in. The combination of rustic charm, incredible food, and a touch of Napa-esque vibes makes this a must-visit destination. Start with the Beef Tartare, easily one of the best I’ve ever had, paired with the Homemade Focaccia, which is an absolute “yes” from me. The Farm Heirloom Tomatoes bring a delightful smoky flavor that sets them apart. For mains, the Pan-Roasted Snapper Fillet impressed with its generous portion and perfectly cooked flavors, while the Crispy Hazeldene Chicken was a standout, moist and packed with deliciousness. The wine selection is vast, and complimentary tastings help ensure you pick the perfect glass to accompany your meal. And trust me, you’ll want to save room for dessert—the offerings rotate daily and are well worth indulging in. Before you head out, take a moment to explore the “Traders” shop on-site, which is full of curated treasures. Merricks General Store is more than a restaurant; it’s an experience that feels like a little slice of Napa nestled in the heart of the Mornington Peninsula. Don’t miss it.

Love this place. Made a last-minute reservation l. Thankfully, a table opened up, allowing us to dine earlier than our booking. Had the special. Carbonara, delicious. The sauce was a foam. Making it lighter than the traditional version. The salad was fresh, with a lovely vinegarette. Staff friendly and attentive.

This is one of those places that you know will always be great. They provide the food, atmosphere & great service. All you have to do is bring your enthusiasm and enjoy it! Fabulous place to start or finish the 12km return hike to Red Hill. The start of the hike is over the road from the store in the park opposite. Highly recommend on a beautiful day. Note there are more hills to climb when you start from Merricks. Stop at the Epicurean for a break at the other end. And if they have the Italian torte in the cake display, try it. Made of almond meal, it is a delicious treat for gluten intolerant folk like myself. Also loved their almond chai! 🙃

Fabulous spot for a meal. If the weather suits, choose to dine outdoors instead which doesn’t feel as packed as the indoors seating area. Service was nice and so were the food, wine and coffee.

Omggg this place is Beautiful simply amazingly gorgeous. An old general store that has captured, retained, and continues to display the beauty of the original design of the building. While it is repurposed into a very active restaurant with an extensive wine tasting experience in the mornington peninsula. Service is quick and efficient. Food is delivered hot, beautifully presented full of flavors gnocchi is done nicely, pork belly delicious. And our waitress was energetic, efficient, and pleasant. This is a must stop and visit establishment when ever you are passing through the area. Pp

I was not expecting such an amazing dining experience or such a stunning dining area driving upto this place, as on the outside it is very rustic and looks like a general store so my expections where not very high, however Everything was cooked beautifully and presented well. The waiters were prompt and friendly there was a fantastic wine selection We had the Burrata as a starter with some bread, it was absolutely stunning, the best Barrata iv had. Everyone ordered there own mains and shared the vegetable sides, which was a fantastic conversation starter. With everyone having there own mains we ordered 2 vegetable sides for 4 people and i was the perfect amount. The perfect place to surprise someone special on a cute date.

It was hot on the Mornington Peninsula so the Uber Blonde and I headed up into the hinterland between the two coasts, to a place from the Blondes treasured memories of outings with her late mum. Merricks General Wine Store has changed hands many times since those days but whosever palms it rests in now has nailed it. Entering through a tidy and buzzing cellar door, the place opens out into three ultra casual dining spaces. We chose the cosy deck, and despite the heat, it still attracted an ocean breeze through the overhead vines. The service here is superb. We had a bottle of water within a minute and menus post haste after. The fare is not cheap, at first glance, I mean 32 for a green papaya salad, but wait, these (and all of the offerings) are main meal size. Not your Don Tapa tapas style. Once I got over that it was all good. We opted for the house MGWS Pinot Grigio, at $7 an absolute steal. Crisp, edgy and a bit Italian, the wine was perfect. We ordered the Schnapper with quinoa/zucchini salad and pesto $36 and the aforementioned Green papaya/vegetables/peanuts salad with grilled local calamari $32. The papaya salad, even without the fab calamari, was worth the money. The dressing was perfect, not heavy-handed on the fish sauce, Long Chim take note, and the vegetable components were crunchy and fresh. Hanoi street food in your face in country Victoria! The local schnapper sat on a perfectly composed quinoa and zucchini mound. The fish was crispy where it counted and succulently moist when split. Superb dish. This place was a true find and well worth a look if you happen to be on the Peninsula.

Beautiful place to have brunch. The wine selection is good. Had the flathead capers and butter, delicious. The waitress was very attentive to my request for chillies. The frozen honey parfait and the carrot cake was the highlight of our lunch.

It was at Merricks General Store cellar door, under the incredibly enthusiastic guidance of Ed, that we really hit the jackpot. We had visited this gorgeous country gem last year - when we headed to the area on a day trip with a Melburnian and visiting Sydneysider friend - at the time we feasted on coffee and cake (white chocolate and raspberry muffin and caramel slice had us vowing to come back for more), however, we didn't realise the vast potential of the place. Now we're hooked, and we still haven't eaten a full meal here. Why? Because behind the counter, open and ready for tasting, are more than 30 local bottles, which are as interesting as they are varied. It's a veritable something for everyone - from easy drinking pizza-and-pasta reds to complex white blends and a whole range of pinots that challenge the palate and push the region's beloved grape to its limits.

Its name is quite deceiving, as Merricks is not your typical general store; it is not the Kwik-E-Mart. Instead, it has a small providore that sells gourmet food items such as artisinal breads, olive oils (in fact, I initially hunted down Merricks in search of a porcini infused olive oil that was sold out at the Red Hill Farmers' Market), chutneys, cheeses, etc. It also serves as the cellar door for a couple of wineries. The real gem, however, is its cafe/restaurant. Sit outside on the deck, underneath the shade of trees whilst feeling the gentle breeze from the ocean, and be treated to some delicious food (the mushroom and lentil pate there is a real winner). A perfect way to cap off a day of winery visits, browsing through the farmers' market, or picking strawberries or cherries.

This is a great place to stop for a bottle of wine or two on the way to meet somebody for lunch, or to pick up a gift for those back home. Parking out front is ample, the bathrooms are clean and light, and the help with tasting is much appreciated. Plenty of good stuff to be found here.

Come for breakfast and follow it up with a wine tasting from multiple Mornington Peninsula wineries. They do great dukkha and eggs and really friendly service. Stonier is right across the gravel road and that is a great place for a tasting too.