"J" is for The Junction Hotel- Preston

There aren't a lot of options for 'J' unless you want to drive to the Jamieson Hotel. Ms X therefore opted for Junction-hotels.
There was the Junction, at the Moonee Ponds junction and of course the Junction Hotel in Newport. Both have been visited before by our pub-tasters so The Junction Hotel in Preston got the nod.

Nothing fancy and no frills but tasty and well prepared menu items were had.

Mr X enjoyed a Chicken Kiev

Ms X opted for the roast pork

Ms X: 7
Mr X: 7

"I" is for the Irish Times- Melbourne CBD

Mr X had reluctantly chosen this venue and knew what he would face with parking in the CBD on a Friday. Mr X refuses to park unless he gets a deal. That can be problematic and may mean you have to drive around and around and around before you park miles away and then have to RUN cos you only have 40 mins left to scoff lunch!

A classic parma for Mr X and a Guinness Pie for Ms X

Mr X:  7      Ms X:  7

"H" is for the Healesville Hotel- Healesville

A mini-break in the Yarra Valley gave Ms X an opportunity to complete her turn with "H".
We understand that choosing geographically can be fraught with danger and can be a deal-breaker however Ms X had done her homework on this gastro-pub.


Now Mr X was feeling nervous with the menu.With no parma on offer he opted for the ole fish 'n chips stand-by.

Ms X was a bit more adventurous ordering the Jungle Chicken after which Mr X then spent the entire meal drooling over!

Ms X: 8
Mr X: 7

The winner: 

"G" is for the Gorden Hotel- Gorden

Mr X's turn and he had planned a 'country pub' for the letter 'G.'
He does love to plan alphabetically and geographically concurrently.

We passed Gisborne (nice eateries there)
We passed Greendale........ no, not today.

It was to be the Gorden Hotel in Gorden. Yep, that's the number of cars signifying the number of customers, and perhaps staff? Our car included. Ms X was nervous.

We did get pole position by the fire.

Easy, when you are the only ones in the place.

Ms X does love a Sunday roast and when she asked what was the roast of the day the answer was : "It's roast lamb. Hang on a bit, I think I have some chicken left over from last night"

Hmmmm, I wonder what she had?

Mr X opted for the Chicken Kiev, complete with melted butter with some bits of garlic served on the side.......interesting!

Mr X: 3
Ms X: 0.5

Warning: Mr X you have been put on notice! Lift your game.

"F" is for The Flying Duck Hotel in Prahran

Tucked away in a little suburban pocket of Prahran is where you will find the FLYING DUCK HOTEL.

If you are thirsty, you will have to wait until noon for the place to open.However, prior to opening the doors, be rest assured someone has lit the open fires to ensure it's toasty when you enter.

Grilled fish and chips

Traditional Parma enjoyed by Mr X.

MR X: 7

MS X: 7

" E" Is for The Excelsior Hotel in Thomastown

Excuse us for taking photos of half eaten dishes but Mr and Ms X were ravenous after waiting and waiting and waiting for their meals. Ms X had asked for the sauce 'on the side' of her dish and chef forgot so chef had to redo it but then chef forgot about Mr X's steak and ale pie that was already in the oven baking and baking, so....... You know the rest! It was chef's FIRST DAY. So let us all forgive him the ONE TIME. And yes it was a male cos we all know that a female chef would have been able to multi-task on their first day.

Meal ordinary and not worthy of returning.  A bigger effort needed by both chef with his time management skills and Mr X in his selection of hotels!!! Ms X very unimpressed.  A rule was also broken with this selection of venues as Ms X had already been to the Excelsior Hotel- granted it was in another life. 
#justsaying

Mr X scored them a: 5

Ms X scored them a : 4

Appreciated the complementary drinks from the staff 👌

Chicken with avocado and Steak and Ale Pie.

"D" is for the Dick Whittington Tavern- East St Kilda

 Ms X is still drooling over the moussaka.

So much more memorable that the one she had in Athens and she liked that one too.

Mr X enjoyed superb crumb cutlets

Both of us declared this lunch a 'delicious meal'

 Definitely a place we will return. 

Mr X: 9                          Ms X: 10 

Shame about the table of loud -oldies beside us!

Well done Ms X. Good choice.