The prospect of grabbing a bite to eat at a ferry terminal during your travels is unlikely to have you frothing in anticipation; plastic-wrapped sandwiches or sad-looking bain-marie fare are typical contenders on offer.
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But Queenscliff's futuristic and architecturally award-winning ferry terminal is busting all expectations.
The launching point for a 40-minute passenger and car service linking Victoria's Bellarine and Mornington peninsulas is home to TARRA Queenscliff, headed up by executive chef Michael Demagistris - ex Masterchef and Noma of Copenhagen (in 2021, considered the best restaurant in the world).
This isn't food to fill a hole while you wait to be whisked across the water; it's food to be savoured, maybe with a glass of locally produced Golden Plains Chardonnay or Red Claw Pinto Noir. Expect dishes like spanner crab breakfast bagels with lemon and herb salad and wasabi mayonnaise, or baked scallops with bonito butter and finger lime, perfectly complemented by the sea views. There's a hint of the ocean in the decor too with polished concrete floors and blue light accents that give the impression of being in a stylish underwater world.
Matching the ferry's daytime operating hours, TARRA is primarily a breakfast and lunch affair but once a month it opens the doors at night for a four-course feast as part of their Dinner series. When I visit, the theme is "global palate", inspired by Demagistris' travels, and it's a festival of flavours.
A stream of bite-size tastings include mushroom and ricotta piroshki, marron raviolo and duck confit terrine. Dry ice washes the floor during a palate-cleanser of liquid elderflower encased in white chocolate, and the apple, strawberry and rhubarb crumble is served shot-style in a test tube.
Be warned, you can happily pass hours at TARRA. Don't miss your ferry. tarra.com.au
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