We partook in the Lunch Degustation menu with paired wines.
The food was amazing and the experience was enhanced by the wonderful hospitality of Nicola, Warwick and Frankie (the owners).
We loved that all the fresh produce was from their farm and the were sourced locally.
We highly recommend this experience.

We had the most wonderful 'Experience' at The Watervale Hotel today. We chose the 'Teach Me Feed Me' experience from their website and would describe it as world class. Mmmm I hear you say strong praise indeed! Well, The Watervale Hotel won the 'Best Hotel Restaurant in the World' award in 2023 and today in 2026 we could vouch for that and not fault them on anything.

We started off with a 'Teach Me' class given by host Warrick Duthy who explained about the exceptional terroir of the Clare Valley. It was so informative. He also touched on the local indigenous history, which is also very interesting although sad too. Incidentally, the 'Teach Me' class is given in a converted old jail building that had the local name of 'The Hell Hole'.

We tasted five amazing wines from the region. The Clare is world famous for it's Rieslings but as Warrick explained, the region has such a wide range of terroir that it is ideally suited for many many types of wine not only Riesling. I won't describe each tasting individually but they were great.

On to the food . amazing! Executive Chef Nicola Palmer (South Australian Chef of the Year) and her team turn out exquisite food. From fine dining at her Chefs Table in the kitchen and the restaurant to pub classics in the courtyard. There are also several private dining rooms to choose from for larger parties.

We had a couple of small bites which were:
Salty crispy kingfish skin topped with a seafood paste (sorry can't quite remember the exact topping) delicious though
A house made wafer with chicken liver topped with a juicy cherry.

Then Kingfish ceviche topped with a little dollop of citrus gremolata. I think this was my dish of the day. The citrus gremolata matched the local Riesling so perfectly and the fish just seemed to dissolve in our mouths. The waiter came by and said "So what did you think of that?" We think it was his favourite as well.

Onwards to a pork ragu pasta, again melt in the mouth meat with a sauce that was perfect for mopping up with the house made sourdough bread.

Then, mains Kangaroo loin served rare on black rice with an asian style juice with potatoes and carrots grown on the Hotels own Penobscot Farm nearby.

Desert was also a show stopper. In season figs served with a dollop of espresso ice cream and a drizzle of a sweet, toffee-like syrup. (sorry I can't remember exactly, my hearing isn't the best these days, but it was yum).

All up, this was just a sensational meal and 'experience'. I'd been planning it for several months after watching an SBS TV show on the Riesling trail which ended up at The Watervale Hotel. It was actually better that I had been anticipating. We would thoroughly recommend stopping at The Watervale Hotel if you are visiting South Australia and the Clare Valley. As usual it's best to book ahead.

An outstanding dining experience from start to finish. The food was absolutely exceptional with the corn ribs and chicken as particular standouts at our table. Dietary needs were also catered for, with delicious house-made gluten free bread.

What really made the evening special was the fantastic service by the owner who curated the experience for us, guiding the meal with suggested entrées followed by mains so the dishes flowed perfectly. It felt far more like a thoughtfully crafted dining experience than just a meal.

We left thoroughly impressed and satisfied. Will definitely be returning and would highly recommend to anyone looking for incredible food in Clare Valley.

Attention all food and wine lovers! The 2 day epicurean package at the Watervale Hotel is a must - as good as anything we've experienced around the world. The degustation dinner - 10 courses with matched wines - and the wine masterclass were standouts. Add to that the local history especially around Mintaro and Burra and you have a fantastic 3-4 day break.

Our first visit to this restaurant. If we could give 6 stars out of 5 we would. We went for lunch a la carte. Home made bread with smoked butter. Duck parfait yum and ample. Our little mini schnauzer approved of the duck as well and was made to feel welcome. I had zucchini salad for entree and could not finish.( took some back with us) the fresh dill, yogurt dressing and nuts/sultanas were delicious topping. Love their fresh produce. .For mains: The half chicken was outstanding. Succulent, full of flavour with fresh kale and great cauliflower mash. My porterhouse steak was perfect. Med/rare to rare side as should be. Very juicy and tender. That little bit of fat on the side…yum! the beef fat potatoes were also part taken home as they were far too good to be left behind. We normally don’t do dessert, but today we did. The panna cotta was a winner. Smooth with crunchy honey bits. Service was attentive, delightful and spot on. The French waiting staff members and today’s French chef are so passionate about good food and wine. All in all, delicious lunch. Well done. The owners have obviously made their dreams come through and it pays off. In addition to their own skills, they also welcome international young people who love to stay and learn from them. Great vibe and atmosphere, good kitchen, good crew, outside charming spot with pizza oven and smoke/grill, inside beautifully decorated with class and style. We get it. Well done. Big smile and big tip.

Our first visit to this restaurant. If we could give 6 stars out of 5 we would. We went for lunch a la carte. Home made bread with smoked butter. Duck parfait yum and ample. Our little mini schnauzer approved of the duck as well and was made to feel welcome. I had zucchini salad for entree and could not finish.( took some back with us) the fresh dill, yogurt dressing and nuts/sultanas were delicious topping. Love their fresh produce. .For mains: The half chicken was outstanding. Succulent, full of flavour with fresh kale and great cauliflower mash. My porterhouse steak was perfect. Med/rare to rare side as should be. Very juicy and tender. That little bit of fat on the side…yum! the beef fat potatoes were also part taken home as they were far too good to be left behind. We normally don’t do dessert, but today we did. The panna cotta was a winner. Smooth with crunchy honey bits. Service was attentive, delightful and spot on. The French waiting staff members and today’s French chef are so passionate about good food and wine. All in all, delicious lunch. Well done. The owners have obviously made their dreams come through and it pays off. In addition to their own skills, they also welcome international young people who love to stay and learn from them. Great vibe and atmosphere, good kitchen, good crew, outside charming spot with pizza oven and smoke/grill, inside beautifully decorated with class and style. We get it. Well done. Big smile and big tip.

We had heard positive comments about the food served at this upgraded country hotel in the beautiful Clare Valley so decided to have a birthday lunch there. We were not disappointed! The food was excellent (we had the feed me option). Our ambition is to now return with friends and sit at the Chef's Table for the degustation menu.
The staff were friendly, helpful and attentive. Whether by coincidence or design 3 waiting staff were young French people who certainly upheld that country's reputation for interest in food and wine.
The food prices were very reasonable but I have an on going complaint about the price of wine by the glass at most restaurants. Generally I believe they are not justified and amount to price gouging. Having said that it is worth noting that the wine here was well matched to the food (allowing the staff to make the choice) and offered an interesting selection from the region. The Mitchell Shiraz was good value considering it's age.
One strange matter was that when booking online you are asked whether a special occasion (birthday, anniversary etc) is being celebrated. We nominated a birthday but no mention was made of it on the day. It didn't affect our enjoyment of the meal but why ask if it doesn't generate some action?

Ive been wanting to check this place out for a while and I can say it was delicious, but not wow. The food was fresh, but a few dishes were less flavorful than I would have liked. The corn was my favourite. The risotto was a bit bland, the zucchini salad was as well. The fish was divine. The service was friendly, but they did get one item wrong and took the food away then we waited for correct item, which I found odd. The lamb was good, but a touch overcooked. Overall it was an enjoyable experience and lovely venue, but did not live up to my expectations. I would recommend for a lunch in the Clare area nonetheless.

Clare Valley’s Jewel: What an absolutely perfect experience to be waited on by some of the finest people and eat one of the greatest degustations in the southern hemisphere.

When we arrived (a group of boys enjoying the wine tours of Clare) we were greeted be a wonderful young man who offered us a beer and had a chat about the evening.

After a few minutes a gentleman named Warrick appeared and with genuine enthusiasm he explained what makes Clare so great for growing fine foods and premium grapes. This man knows more about wine, the industry and its people than I could ever dream to learn and he shares his knowledge with humility and interest.

Warrick then showed us to our dinner table where we had the most epic courses of charmingly home grown and meticulously curated foods. Emelion was our guide and chef, he was gracious and enthusiastic. We choose the wines from what is one of the most impressive wine lists going.

I’ve said enough, this place deserves all of the success it will no doubt continue to receive and much much more. Thanks team!!!

Clare Valley’s Jewel: What an absolutely perfect experience to be waited on by some of the finest people and eat one of the greatest degustations in the southern hemisphere.

When we arrived (a group of boys enjoying the wine tours of Clare) we were greeted be a wonderful young man who offered us a beer and had a chat about the evening.

After a few minutes a gentleman named Warrick appeared and with genuine enthusiasm he explained what makes Clare so great for growing fine foods and premium grapes. This man knows more about wine, the industry and its people than I could ever dream to learn and he shares his knowledge with humility and interest.

Warrick then showed us to our dinner table where we had the most epic courses of charmingly home grown and meticulously curated foods. Emelion was our guide and chef, he was gracious and enthusiastic. We choose the wines from what is one of the most impressive wine lists going.

I’ve said enough, this place deserves all of the success it will no doubt continue to receive and much much more. Thanks team!!!

We went there two nights in a row. As it was just a pleasure.
We had the master wine class with dinner. What an incredible experience. 🤩
The learnings about the local wine & ingredients were impressive. If you are interested in this area culinary, go there. So much knowledge. Thank you.

My family and I have recently dined here for the sixth time in two years, and we will come back for more! Delicious and creative dishes, beautiful local wines, great ambience and lovely, international staff. Congratulations to Warrick and Nicola for bringing this level of boutique gastronomic dining to the Clare Valley.

Nicola and Warrick have done an outstanding job of transforming this country pub into a genuinely special culinary destination. They are incredibly hospitable hosts and the experience we had at the Penboscot Chef’s table for our anniversary was unforgettable. Thank you Nicola for the phenomenal food and Warrick for the beautiful wines. (We also stayed in the farm cottage which we loved!)

Excellent Wine Class and Lunch! We had a fantastic master wine class and lunch here. Learned so much about the history of the Clare Valley wine industry. The food was pretty good, and the owner is incredibly knowledgeable about wine. A truly great experience!

I have dined at the beautifully updated Watervale Hotel in the past and had great experiences. So, when I spent the weekend in the Clare Valley with friends, I suggested we have a meal there. However, it was disappointing. The drinks arrived promptly but we were left sitting there for ages waiting for food. At some late stage, a staffer apologised and muttered something about "I'm not sure what's going on in the kitchen but it shouldn't be much longer." I understand that delays can happen. This could have been smoothed over with some snacks or free drinks or something. When our food arrived, it was very tasty, so no complaints there. But the poor service means I probably won't be going back.

The feed-me menu was excellent. It’s the second time we’ve been here and we’ve always had a great time. We did have to wait a while for our main course but to be honest, when eating such a large meal, it was no problem. Also, the staff were very polite and apologetic about the wait. In any case, there is a beautiful and friendly dog who comes and entertains you while you wait so, really no drama.

We just had dinner at the highly rated watervale hotel. We heard great reviews and came all the way and was excited. Dinner started off great, entree was amazing and delicious. Then, we had to wait for our mains. We waited and waited, for almost a whole hour. I noticed at this time new tables are seated and many tables have food at this point. We were seated right in the middle of the restaurant with an empty table while the other tables were bustling. No one came and check on us, no one apologized for kitchen taking too long. Which we would have understood completely, working in hospitality. We finally had to ask the staff if the main were taking any longer, they then apologised and said a few more minutes. The food did come 10 mins later but at the point we have lost our appetite. I usually do not write reviews but we just left feeling annoyed with the whole situation. When we paid the bill, the staff apologize and took two glasses of wine off. It was a nice gesture but did not lessen out feelings of disappointment.

An impromptu date night with my wife led us to Watervale Hotel. A most pleasant environment, yet what sets this place apart from others is two-fold. The staff is wonderful, so cheerful and accommodating while not being pushy or 'over-the-top' with conversation; secondly, the food! Made with such attention to detail and paired with an amazing wine.

What an amazing space, delicious food and comforting experience. A quiet Monday night, with only a few early diners always makes me nervous. However, the service was great, the food truly delicious and the space eclectically wonderful. A nice little mocktail and no alcohol beer rounded out the experience nicely.

This was such an incredible spread!!! So so delicious. We stambled upon it by chance while riding the risling trail and it was the luckiest find ever! Food was unbelievably good- havent eaten that well in a long time - staff super friendly, and owner came check on us several times. Great atmosphere as well! 10/10 recommend! Bring your friends, and an empty stomach because excellent value for money. Get the feed me menu, you won’t regret!

The Port Lincoln Kingfish Ceviche dish is exceptional. We loved everything about this place - the food and wine, the service, the setting and the philosophy. We dine out a lot and have to say this is one of the best lunch experiences we have had, and was certainly our most memorable dining experience from a recent trip to the Clare Valley. Thanks to Warrick for taking such great care of us and to the chef's for the attention to detail about dietary issues. It was very nice to be treated with such warmth and kindness.

Having read many great reviews about the Watervale Hotel we decided to give it a go. It was a very quiet Wednesday evening and we enjoyed a bowl of olives with a pre dinner drink. For our meal we ordered the porterhouse dish and the barramundi in barley broth. The porterhouse was quite grissly and rather disappointing. (There is no excuse for serving up a grissly steak!) The barramundi came out in a small bowl with a lot of broth and a large chard leaf wilting in the heat of the broth. My standard knife was replaced by a fish knife - fair enough I thought - but the stalk of the chard was incredibly tough and I could not cut it into bite sized pieces. I tried using the steak knife but that didn't work either! I was obviously struggling and the staff just walked by. The flavours were good though. It would have been better to serve the food in a lower larger bowl so I had a flat surface to cut the chard stalk. We were quite excited about coming to a restaurant with such a good reputation and left very dissappointed.

A truly memorable experience at The Watervale Hotel. Being our 25th Wedding Anniversary we opted for a package which included a nights stay in their Penobscot Farm Cottage & a 10 course intimate degustation meal, with wine pairing. What a treat !!! Can’t recommend this experience highly enough. We just loved being seated at the kitchen table watching the chef create the delectable dishes. Put together beautifully using many home grown foods grown at Penobscot Farm. Yum, yum. Well done Warrick & Nicola, keep up the amazing offerings. Lastly, the cottage was cosy, with a comfy bed & tasty breakfast provisions, and when the ‘entrance’ garden to the cottage is spruced up it will make this entire package at true 11/10. These guys work their butt off, they deserve success! Support small business, you won’t be disappointed.

I dined here with my daughter last Tuesday night ( mummy daughter getaway ) to the beautiful Clare Valley) All I can say is .. What a stunning Hotel 🤗 the decor itself is stunning. We were greeted so warmly by a lovely young lady. We started with the kingfish Cerviche with lemon sorbet WOW the flavours were amazing.. We followed with a Prawn Risotto with A side of The most delicious greens with chilli and hand cut chips. Sensational flavour bomb to be sure. The service was exceptional by all the staff and the owner was so lovely, taking the time to come to the table to chat and make sure all was well 🤗 Do yourself a favour and just GO Thankyou for a lovely night. We will be back 😘🥂 cheers Alana

Excellent degustation with matching wine, one of the best I've had anywhere. The food was exceptional, the wines delicious, expertly matched to the flavours of the dish. The owners were lovely too. Highly recommend coming here and trying it out, you will not be disappointed.

We had the most wonderful dining experience at Watervale Hotel restaurant.
The Penobscot Restaurant is a ten seat, degustation only dining experience seated at the Chefs Table. There is the option to pair courses with wines or order wine/beverages as you wish. We were greeted and seated by Warwick who is affable as well as knowledgeable about local wines and was the perfect host. The real fun begins watching Chef Nicola prepare and plate the most delicious delights for us to enjoy. She answered all our questions and is an inspiration with her knowledge of growing, sourcing and preparing all manner of produce. I LOVE LOVE LOVED it!

Watervale Hotel – ★★★☆☆

We dined at the Watervale Hotel and tried their Feed Me menu. The food was tasty and well-prepared, but it didn’t quite stand out as something special. Unfortunately, the service didn’t match the quality of the food, there were plenty of staff around, but they seemed unsure about presenting the dishes and replaced plates without cleaning the table, leaving it messy between courses.

The wait between meals was also very long, which made the experience feel a bit tiring.

On a positive note, the interior design was absolutely fabulous, with beautiful paintings and artwork on the walls that gave the place a warm and stylish atmosphere.

Overall, while the food and setting were lovely, the service and pacing need improvement to make the experience truly exceptional.

Thanks 😊

Had a fantastic lunch at the Watervale Hotel. Was a very busy Sunday of the long weekend. However the staff were great, along with the owners running tables just as hard as anyone. Shows the passion they have to give everyone a great experience.
The meals were top notch, and will definitely return. Well worth the travel from Adelaide.

We had such a fantastic experience at the Watervale Hotel! The risotto and pasta were absolutely amazing – full of flavour and perfectly cooked. What really made the night extra special was the warm hospitality. The owner came out personally to chat with us, which made us feel so welcome and valued. It’s rare to find that kind of personal touch these days. We’ll definitely be back again soon – highly recommend!

Wonderful dinner for two. Thoroughly enjoyed the meal: I had kangaroo and quandong pie and it was delicious. Love the paddock to plate ethos and the obvious care that goes into creating good food.
Friendly and attentive service, and excellent wine list. We thought it was good value for money too. And it's been beautifully renovated. Well done to the team there. 🙏

This is not a pub - it is a gourmet restaurant attached to a hotel. We thought it was so good we went for both lunch and dinner. Our dishes included Kingfish Ceviche, Kangaroo Pie with Quandong Relish, Kangaroo Loin with Black Rice, and Slow-Cooked Pressed Camel. These were all delicious, innovative and reasonably priced. There is a good wine list and service was excellent. Highly recommended.

Great food but perfunctory service at best. Waitstaff were disinterested and forgetful. Had to ask after 15 minutes for our bread so that it wasn’t delivered at the same time as the mains. Kept wanting to take our wine glasses as we hadn’t ordered a bottle but we’re waiting for a glass of wine to be poured. Tatty dessert menus plonked on our table. We were asked when we booked if it was a special occasion which it was - our wedding anniversary but this was not noticed when we arrived. It’s a great venue and superb food and the owner probably sensed we were disappointed so showed us around at the end. But the wait staff need a lesson in providing service comparable to the food and price. Frankly we had much better service from the backpackers at the William Creek Hotel.

We enjoyed our Charcuterie board, wine, beer, and desserts on Sunday. We stopped here for lunch on a whim and were so impressed. We will definitely be back again soon and are already sharing our thoughts on this unexpected venue with others

Popped in for lunch. Had the feed me menu at $85pp. Sounds expensive but I have to tell you it was worth every cent. I think it was 7 or 8 courses of chefs selections.
I can remember going to the Watervale Hotel years back when it was a rundown pub and now it is an amazing venue. Would love to know how much was spent on the renovations.
Highly recommend this place for a simply stunning dining experience.
Sorry we didn't take any photographs.
There is accommodation and I can only assume that it would be simply stunning.

We absolutely loved the Degustation menu at the Chefs Table for lunch. The venue is just beautiful, the staff were so attentive and knowledgeable and the food and wine were amazing. The wine list was extensive and it was great to be able to try a couple of half glasses of wine and some great original mocktails. We would highly recommend a visit

A ‘light’ lunch. A wagyu burger and chips. Duck sliders.
We shared both and it was heaps! Burger was terrific. Hand cut chips and a house made mayo dip. Sliders (3) were very tasty.
Service very friendly and very good. A must do stop.
A great looking wine list which unfortunately couldn’t partake as tastings to continue through the rest of this amazing valley

Incredible lazy lunch in a beautiful setting with wonderful staff.
We had the feed me experience which was stunning- exceptional quality fresh ingredients, starting with three small entrees, ( tuna on feta with crunchy skin, duck pate) and delicious home baked bread before moving to a goat ragú pasta and finished by kangaroo loin with amazing lamb fat roasted potatoes and baked beetroot. The dessert was a Catalan cream with the thinnest of crispy tops!
Everything was exquisite and presented at a lovely leisurely pace by engaging and knowledgeable staff.
We’ll be back!

Just wow Watervale! This is a stunning old pub with a French food influences and a massive wine list the boot They have won multiple awards and it was an incredible experience in the Hell Hole the old prison I had the Carpaccio and the beetroot cigars and I wasn't left disappointed! The food is on the smaller portion side and fancy so is you love degustaion menus this is the place to come. I was very happy with the food wine and service a great venue for a wedding or large event with a perfect outdoor and indoor areas I'll definitely be back!

Absolutely awesome spot! 🌟 We stopped for lunch after hearing great things, and it totally delivered. Incredible food 🍷🍽️, warm and attentive service, and a beautiful setting. Even when we arrived soaked from the rain, they welcomed us with open arms. Loved the asparagus risotto and wine tasting with half glasses! Highly recommend. Will be back! 🙌

— Alex from Perth

A group of 5 of us stayed at the Watervale guesthouse on our walk on the Riesling trail. The accommodation was superb, very spacious and comfortable. Dinner at the hotel was amazing, the food, wine and service was perfect. A lot of thought has gone into preparing a menu with beautiful fresh local ingredients. Breakfast at general store was equally as good. Warrick was a wonderful host , very attentive with great attention to detail. He couldn’t do enough for us which was greatly appreciated. Wonderful premises and location. Highly recommended.

Bloody awesome. We stopped here for lunch on the way into Clare having been told about how amazing the food was, and we were not disappointed. The service was outstanding. The food was delicious and plentiful. We all left happy.
We also ordered a $60 bottle of wine which was clearly priced on the menu which we enjoyed a lot.

Five of us had a lovely lunch there. All the food was great and everybody was very happy. Barramundi from NT was excellent according to our two guests. One eats it regularly in Darwin. So that’s pretty good!

Dined in the restaurant for lunch, the staff were attentive, knowledgeable and were great! The food was incredible and loved our long lunch. We didn't feel rushed and loved the experience. Can't wait to come back again

Had an amazing lunch here this weekend, with some of the best customer service I have ever received. We arrived dripping wet after being unexpectedly caught in rain showers on our bikes, and must have looked like drowned rats - but not an eyebrow was raised. In fact, the owner went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable and taken care of. The food was excellent, with our diverse vegetarian, gluten free and allergy needs taken care of. The asparagus risotto in particular was beautiful, an incredible amount of flavour. I enjoyed the half glasses of wine which enabled me to try more delicious options! I can’t wait to return.

Always an incredible experience at the Watervale Hotel! From the moment I walked in, I was blown away by the stunning decor and inviting atmosphere. The food was absolutely delicious, made with fresh ingredients sourced daily by the owner himself. He's a real character, and his passion for quality shines through in every dish and the beautiful details of the venue. The service was also fantastic, with one French waiter in particular going above and beyond to accommodate vegans and other dietary requirements. I can see why the Watervale Hotel has been recognized as one of the best culinary experiences in the Adelaide. If you're ever in the area, this is definitely a must-visit spot!

15 out of 10 No words to explain how good this was especially the kangaroo and the duck sliders 15 out of 10 perfect.................

Watervale Pub rip off! We had high expectations about this old pub, unfortunately we were shot down in flames. Ordered two of the Wagyu burgers for $30 a pop, expecting a burger you couldn't jump over which is the norm for a country pub. What was delivered to our table was a burger the size of a slider, on it was the patty and a piece of lettuce with a drizzle of sauce, on the side was a spoon full of onions and a small bowl of dip. There were exactly 8 chips on each plate. To rub salt into the wound we were charged $60 for a bottle of Kilikanoon Pinot Gris which you can purchase at the cellar door for $25. I will add this, initially we were told that they did not have any Pinot Gris so we looked no further on the price list, only when the waiter brought out two glasses of Sav Blanc instead of the bottle did he make us aware that the Pinot was in fact available. Without having access to the price list at our table I was shocked at our lunch time bill of $120.00. I hope Watervale pub is satisfied and everyone pays attention to the finer details when ordering, I have learnt my lesson and will never be back to be financially violated again.

Absolutely fabulous dinner experience at the Warervale Hotel We had a stunning degustation dinner at the Watervale Hotel. The food, wine, service, atmosphere were all superb ! Highly recommended.

10/10 This is an amazing experience. The degustation offering was superb. Every dish delicious and beautifully presented. Fantastic staff gathered from all corners of the earth. All polite, helpful and knowledgeable. Certainly lives up to the reputation and totally worth going out of your way to find it in a beautiful part of South Australia. 10/10

Sublime degustation lunch We had the very great pleasure of dining at the Watervale Hotel for lunch one Friday recently. We opted for the degustation menu and paired each course with a mocktail each as we don't drink alcohol. Our experience was sublime. The delightful wait staff alone provided a lovely, enjoyable and informative experience. Each degustation course showcased the effective combination of fresh, local beautifully cooked food along with faultless and very enticing presentation on the plate. The mocktails were stunningly produced drink combinations of spice, herb and other flavours and essences to mimic the varieties of wine which would normally accompany such dishes. Impossible to pick any food favourites, though the duck was scrumptious! We will definitely return and try out the other dining options available. Thanks to a great team for a lovely lunch! Kim and Dave

Superb Birthday dinner with friends. Porthouse and eye fillets. Perfectly cooked and oh so delightful. Paired with potatoes. Definitely worth the visit. Plus a sneaky lemon dessert and coffees.

The front is unassuming but you walk in and the attention to detail is unmissable. Coming out to the back, seeing the open kitchen with dining is simply stunning. Add to that, our beautiful French waitress was so attentive to our needs. And food that was at the highest level; comforting, flavourful and filling. For an experience that we booked last minute, on a birthday jaunt to the Clare valley- we could not be happier.

Rude owner Yesterday, my family and I lunched at the beautiful Watervale Hotel for the first and last time yesterday. We were impressed with the gentrified surroundings and superb food however sadly let down by the rudeness of the owner. He personally rebuked me whilst I congratulated a staff member for the many awards they had won by saying the staff member “is busy and doesn’t have time to talk”. I sat down back down with my family and shared the experience feeling stunned. The owner bustled around other tables but didn’t approach us. The owner promises ‘an ethical epicurean experience’, I suggest he google the meaning again because we didn’t leave happy and merry, instead left with terrible taste in my mouth. Murray Willis

Sensation!!!! Some of the most flavourful and perfectly cooked food I’ve ever eaten. Have traveled overseas and to many renowned restaurants within Australia, and this food surpasses expectations! Steak was outstanding. The must visit and must experience, Watervale hotel!

Thank you guys!

My husband and I had the most wonderful dinner at the Watervale Hotel. We opted for the feed me menu and loved every mouthful of it. We were blown away with every course. Absolutely sensational!

Most scrumptious food, tastiest the duck and steak I've had in I don't know how long.

The presentation of the food was immaculate, the staff were very friendly and took a lot of pride in their kitchen.

Warwick & Veronica are lovely hosts and are doing wonderful things with biofarming and having a farm led kitchen causes the most amazing looking and tasting produce.

lack of interested service I have been waiting to dine here every time we drive by and go straight on to Clare. finally we booked and looked to a lovely afternoon. the food was on par, very good and the feed me menu flowed well. What was lacking was the service, the staff didn't seem to be interested in well, anything. happy to pop the plate in the middle of the table, say what it was and walked away. seems they may have been doing it all weekend but I think it should be with enthusiasm and genuineness. Such a shame, it really brought down the experience. Food is not pub food but the service was.

Great place for food and drinks, friendly staff. I was in the village doing work on my new place. I'd already treated myself to a couple of sundowners in the beer garden - the ginger beer is the real thing. I decided to treat myself on my last night: steak and chips. The locals said I had no chance but they even have a burger on the menu as well as a kids menu. All the food is of good quality from the devastation menu down. Sure, quality ingredients, well trained staff to cook and courteous front of house staff all cost money but for my meal and lashings of ginger beer and Cooper's stout it was less than $100 and the last meal elsewhere with my wife cost more for less, in Sydney. Viewed purely as a pub, it will get my business: no screens, no ponies, good decor and good drinks. Needless to say, the wine list is fantastic and really does showcase the Clare valley's wines. As a restaurant, going solo was as good as its ever going to get but it really is a place for getting together with friends and family over a relaxed meal in a very informal atmosphere. Highly recommended 👌

What a disapointment! From the moment we sat down inside we were continually annoyed by flies. The charcuterie platter was so cold nothing had any flavour. The Kingfish wings were wonderful. Plenty of flesh and beautifully moist but sitting on a dreadful oily mayonnaise that completely detracted from the wings. The pasta with ostrich was fine, ordinary and could have been any kind of flesh. The kale was cold, wet and very short on crumbs. We did not bother to look at dessert. After waiting for several years to visit this lauded establishment it was a huge disapointment.

You've heard the stories... Best pub in Australia. It's all true! I am not a foody but the food was amazing!! The smoked butter and house made bread was heavenly; the duck sliders were delicious; the fillet steak cooked perfectly; the chocolate mouse was great and of course they have amazing wines from the Claire Valley.