Kent Hotel

We have family friends who rave about this place. I've been longing to visit the great Aussie pub since Covid (given that I live in the US) and am here visiting for the week. The Kent is a cracker of a place. Service is excellent, what a great location on the corner and the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. More importantly the food punches well above its weight. I had the fish and chips (rockling was excellent), my Dad had this amazing Cavatelli pasta in a wagyu and pork bolognese sauce (this was amazing) and Mum had the scallops. The Kent represents the best of what a Melbourne pub can and should be. Not pretentious, excellent food and service with a smile. This is why I miss Australia!

Very good, if uneven, food let down by a total lack of atmosphere. The Kent is reliable and fine. I just wish they would try and offer some character. Maybe a live music act or art on the walls or maybe even turn down the bright house lights and turn up barely heard music from the speakers - anything to add some ambience. Otherwise, yeah, fine.

The Kent Hotel offers amazing Modern Australian pub fare with a sophisticated touch, so not your regular kind! They are also a sister restaurant to the Plough Hotel in Footscray. The place was buzzing on a Sunday night with every table booked out, I see this as a sign of good food. The service is attentive and thoughtful, the specials were read out to us and our courses arranged and timed perfectly. The pasta had so much flavour and was easily mopped up with some complimentary bread. The pizza was sensational, a 10/10 in terms of dough and flavour. The steak was perfectly cooked and paired with a delicious serve of seasonal greens. I was especially impressed by the eggplant chips which are usually hard to nail, but they did - crispy, light and not at all soggy! Not to mention the generous portion size. They have an extensive drinks list, with many local and international options. I enjoyed a great Italian Pinot Grigio. This dining experience was a gifted invite, however they agreed to having me come in without advising them of when, so every part of my experience was authentic. I wouldn’t hesitate twice recommending this restaurant. ⭐️ 5/5

Great dinner at Kent Hotel tonight. Atmosphere is fabulous and the staff were just so lovely and attentive without being in your face. Ordering my gin and tonic was in itself an experience and the blood orange segment made it perfect. Caesar salad was fresh and good portion size. Bonus was the playlist gently humming in there background was perfect. Not too noisy as it filled up. Looking forward to coming back in the warmer months when no doubt the doors/windows are opened up and a street dining experience begins. Wheelchair friendly. Kid friendly. Good parking.