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Restaurant

The Rabbit Hole Inn, at Harvest Home

1 Bank St, Avenel VIC 3664, Australia

Recommended by 52 people

Updated

Find The Rabbit Hole Inn, at Harvest Home

1 Bank St, Avenel VIC 3664, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 4706 0813
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 6:00 – 9:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 6:00 – 10:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 6:00 – 10:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About The Rabbit Hole Inn, at Harvest Home

An easy regional rail hop lands you at this 1870s homestead, pairing fireside European dining with leafy garden grounds. Chef David Bellamy turns out scratch cooking in the antique dining room, opening with a crisp cheese gougère before moving into handmade fettuccine in white lamb ragout or flounder in browned butter. Travelers praise the unhurried rhythm—sipping local reds beside the hearth, spending the night upstairs in boutique country rooms, and heading outdoors for morning coffee by the swimming pool. Lunch settles naturally into pulled-beef cottage pie and a slice of warm apple sticky date pudding.

  • 1870s Homestead Grounds: Hearthside seating, shaded verandas, and a guest swimming pool set across manicured Victorian grounds.
  • Chef-Led Scratch Kitchen: Scratch-made European plates featuring house pasta, white lamb ragout, and complimentary cheese gougères.
  • Rail-Adjacent Weekend Stays: Boutique upstairs guest rooms situated footsteps from Avenel railway station for easy city escapes.
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What's On at The Rabbit Hole Inn, at Harvest Home

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

The Harvest Home Advantage

Why guests choose The Rabbit Hole Inn at Harvest Home for dining, getaways, and celebrations

  • Scratch-Made Seasonal Dining by an Accomplished Chef

    Chef David Bellamy crafts dining menus entirely from scratch, highlighted by handmade pastas, complimentary veloute, and classic hearty comfort fare.

    The chef came out and introduced himself, and explained that he makes everything from scratch...Wow, so refreshing these days, and you could certainly taste the love and care he puts into his food.

    Simone Negus

  • Cozy Fireside Dinners and Regional Wine Tastings

    Guests can dine directly beside a roaring open fire or inside character-filled Victorian dining salons with curated regional Victorian wines.

    We had some delicious paata dishes by the fireplace and enjoyed some local red wine. Exactly what we needed on our winery weekend escape!

    Rebecca Monforte

  • Seamless Regional Train Access with Onsite Boutique Lodging

    Conveniently situated adjacent to Avenel station and under two hours from Melbourne, guests can easily pair destination dining with boutique overnight guest rooms.

    The place was busy at dinner, then quietened down and we had a lovely chat with the owners and then pretty much had the place to ourselves as we were staying the night upstairs. Had lunch the next day before catching the train back to Melbourne.

    Tim Davies

  • Historic Victorian Homestead and Tranquil Garden Grounds

    Surrounded by lush mature gardens, outdoor bistro seating, and a swimming pool, the 1870s estate offers an immersive country sanctuary.

    The gardens and outdoor dining areas are immaculate and the best I have seen in any regional venue. Definitely worth the 1 hour 15 min. trip from Melbourne for lunch or dinner but even better if you stay in the beautifully appointed Victorian hotel rooms

    Brian Lewis

  • Intimate Weekend Gatherings and Storybook Weddings

    The enchanting gardens and vine-covered estate provide a picturesque backdrop where couples and loved ones stay together for entire weekend celebrations.

    Ourselves and our family stayed at the venue for the wedding weekend, and all the rooms were very clean and well presented. We would highly recommend this, as it is a great way to bring loved ones together in a beautiful and calming space.

    Jonty Hogg

  • Attentive, Hands-On Hospitality for Group Milestones

    Dedicated hosts Sara and David provide hands-on, tailored hospitality that accommodates custom requests and makes every family event feel effortless.

    Sara, David and all their staff were absolutely amazing and done everything possible to make our day perfect. No request was ever to hard.

    Trevor

Hearty scratch-made mains and handmade pastas crafted with classical technique

  • Lamb ragout pasta

    Lamb ragout pasta deserves a special mention for its depth in flavour (despite its deceptive lack of colour) and how lightly its flavourful sauce coats each strand of handmade fettuccine.

    Cin Dy Wong

  • Cottage pie

    For mains we both had the cottage pie, made from pulled beef and gorgeous mashed potatoes. Oh my goodness, it was outstanding.

    Simone Negus

  • Confit duck

    As for main, they have the confit duck for the special menu. One of the waiter mentioned that it is that popular that they are thinking to put that in the permanent menu. I, for one, would go back for this dish. It is such a comfort food dish.

    Jenny Kwong

  • Flounder in brown butter

    For our mains, we had flounder in brown butter, chicken with lemon, mushroom pasta, meatball pasta with bechamel sauce and lamb ragout pasta.

    Cin Dy Wong

Other favorites

House-made starters, charcuterie, and classic desserts to bookend your meal

  • Barramundi and chorizo croquettes

    We started off with Barramundi and chorizo croquettes, so delish.

    Simone Negus

  • House made pate

    The house made pate is equally impressive.

    Jenny Kwong

  • Apple sticky date

    To finish we shared a serve of their apple sticky date, which didn't disappoint, so yummy.

    Simone Negus

  • Creme brulee

    Oh they get the creme brulee right here. The consistence is on point.

    Jenny Kwong

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful hospitalities and personal culinary gestures experienced at The Rabbit Hole Inn.

  • Complimentary Amuse-Bouche Course

    Guests are greeted with complimentary fine-dining touches such as a cheese gougère and velvety cauliflower velouté to start their meal.

  • Personal Chef Table Visits

    The chef visits fireside dining tables directly to introduce himself and share the dedication behind making every dish entirely from scratch.

  • Tailored Dietary Accommodations

    Kitchen menus are personally adapted for guests with lactose and gluten sensitivities without sacrificing flavor or presentation.

  • Considerate Birthday Acknowledgments

    Staff offer understated, personal birthday well-wishes across the dining room without unwanted fanfare or disruptive public singing.

Before you head over

Practical planning tips for your dining visit and weekend getaway

  • Reserve Indoor Seating Early

    Indoor dining is sought-after on busy lunch services, while seating near the roaring open fireplace is in high demand on cold days. Reserve an indoor table ahead of time if you prefer dining inside rather than in the garden courtyard.

  • Ask About Dietary Customizations

    Guests with gluten intolerance or lactose restrictions can dine comfortably, as the kitchen readily accommodates dietary adjustments and provides tailored breakfast and dinner selections across the menu.

  • Consider Arriving by Train

    The property sits right next to Avenel train station, making it directly accessible by rail from Melbourne without requiring a car for a dining or overnight weekend visit.

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