Peppermint Bay Bistro


Peppermint Bay Bistro
In search of good food and a view to match, This Girl chose Peppermint Bay Bistro as the location for the final supper with interstate visitors; let’s call them K squared. I was after The Stackings but it has shut up shop to reopen shortly in the former The Mercury newspaper building on Macquarie Street (watch that space).
Conningham Beach
It was the end of the first full week of Hobart’s summer and a swim to show off beautiful Conningham beach was the first stop. Woodbridge is just around the corner, with its stunning Peppermint Bay Centre, and that was our lunch destination.
Peppermint Bay is location, location, location. Connection to the landscape is optimised with outdoor seating so close to the water’s edge, you feel as if you can reach out and touch it.
With perfect alfresco weather, we sat about on bench seats and gazed out over the hazy day and muted blue Channel.
We shared the cold smoked trout and home-made labneh, and the white bean and goats curd with nigella seeds and lavosh. Both were good value at $7 each.
For mains, K squared both chose mussels in a chilli, white wine and tomato broth, $24.
This Girl chose the fish and chips, $24.
The plate piled high with large black mussels and a wedge of crusty bread was the pick of the mains. The fish and chips: gummy shark, sans-salad; was a bit ordinary. The fish lacked a little something, probably seasoning. However, the mains were still fairly good value for the price.
The least inspired presentation - the roasted green beans
We were way to full for dessert, but you can check out what they have to offer on their online menu here.
The service was efficient and friendly. 
There is something a little discordant at Peppermint Bay at the moment. The shop that used to sell Tasmanian wares is now focused on wines, but it looks a bit abandoned. The restaurant area that once buzzed with clientele had just a few tables occupied with tourists off the Peppermint Bay cruise. It doesn’t detract from the Bistro, but it does look like an opportunity neglected.
This Girl wouldn’t make a beeline down to Woodbridge to make Peppermint Bay Bistro a regular haunt, but I would easily eat there if I lived in the area, and would mostly certainly take visitors there again for the setting. If you're heading down the Channel, give it a go. They don't take reservations and you'll find stiff competition for the view on a beautiful day. It's a great place to take an interstate visitor or two.
From the decking you can almost reach down and touch the water.

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