Restaurant

Rare Hare Wine & Food Store

166 Balnarring Rd, Merricks North VIC 3926, Australia

Recommended by 45 people

Updated

Find Rare Hare Wine & Food Store

166 Balnarring Rd, Merricks North VIC 3926, Australia

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HoursMonday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM Tuesday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM Wednesday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Rare Hare Wine & Food Store

Perched over the Jackalope estate, Rare Hare delivers the quintessential Mornington Peninsula long lunch alongside sweeping vine views. The glass dining room hums with communal energy, framing rows of grapes while the handcrafted wood-fired oven runs hot. Diners routinely steer their tables toward the Hare Share set menu—an unhurried progression built for passing around. First come warm potato bread and fried barra wings bathed in 'nduja butter, followed by tender wood-fired eggplant, slow-braised lamb shoulder, and glasses of estate-grown Pinot Noir. It winds down with toffee date cake slicked in salted butterscotch cream.

  • Vineyard Panorama: A sun-filled dining room with floor-to-ceiling glass windows framing working vineyard rows on the Jackalope property.
  • Wood-Fired Share Feasts: Generous shared courses anchored by wood-fired potato bread, fried barra wings, eggplant, and braised lamb shoulder.
  • Estate Cellar Door Tastings: Casual counter tastings poured steps from the dining room highlight cool-climate estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

What's On at Rare Hare Wine & Food Store

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Dine at Rare Hare Wine & Food Store

Discover why diners choose Rare Hare for relaxed winery lunches, wood-fired seasonal feasts, and shared celebrations.

  • Picturesque Vineyard Outlook

    Panoramic vineyard rows frame the dining room, providing a scenic backdrop for an unhurried winery lunch.

    the vineyard views really made the whole experience - so relaxing and easily the highlight

    Naga
  • Light-Filled Winery Atmosphere

    Floor-to-ceiling glass captures abundant natural sunlight and sweeping views across the vines throughout the meal.

    The space is stunning, filled with natural light and overlooking the vineyards.

    Stephanie Rose
  • Wood-Fired Share Feasts

    A handcrafted wood-fired oven produces generous seasonal share plates, including house-made potato bread and charred vegetables.

    The highlights for me were the potato bread, zucchini with stracciatella mousse, the woodfired Lebanese eggplant

    Leh
  • Signature Seasonal Dishes

    The kitchen delivers distinctive wood-fired and specialty sharing dishes, featuring standout plates like nduja butter barramundi wings.

    The ultimate star is the fried barramundi wings with nduja butter sauce, and the miso furikake eggplant.

    Dionne
  • Communal Group Dining

    Long communal tables provide a relaxed country dining ambiance suited for groups gathering over shared plates.

    casual long table setting gives you a bit of country communal dining

    Daniel Loui
  • Attentive Group Hospitality

    Thoughtful service accommodates diverse guest requirements and group preferences seamlessly across multi-course menus.

    Two people in our group don’t drink alcohol and the team went above and beyond to explain the non alcoholic selection.

    Kelly Dawn

Other favorites

Breads, desserts, and cellar door wine experiences to round out your visit

  • Potato bread

    the freshly made potato bread was a highlight!

    Mew Wong
  • Woodfired cookie

    plus the squid, woodfired cookie and even the salads were top notch

    Julie West
  • Wine tasting

    also tried $10 wine tasting, it's worth!

    Yosy Christy Natalia
  • Chardonnay

    The Chardonnay we chose went beautifully with the meal.

    Natasha Scott-Haeussler

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful details that elevate your dining experience at Rare Hare

  • Dedicated Dietary Menus

    Staff provide dedicated dietary menus, making dining seamless for Coeliac and allergy-conscious guests enjoying the Hare Share feast.

  • Curated Non-Alcoholic Pairings

    The beverage team curates thoughtful alcohol-free options and custom pairings alongside the estate wine selections.

  • Personalized Cellar Door Tastings

    Tasting hosts at the cellar door deliver warm, personalized guidance through estate vintages before or during dining.

  • Golden-Hour Vineyard Seating

    Communal long-table layouts pair with sunset seating times, offering expansive views across working vineyard rows as dusk settles.

Before you head over

Practical advice on pacing, reservations, and dietary planning for your winery visit.

  • Allow Ample Time for the Feast

    Plan for an unhurried multi-course dining experience rather than a quick stop. The share-style menu arrives in steady waves designed for leisurely enjoyment over vineyard scenery.

  • Reserve Ahead to Avoid Delays

    Bookings are strongly recommended as the dining room fills quickly with peak holiday visitors and walk-ins, which can occasionally slow down table service.

  • Check the Dedicated Dietary Menu

    Ask staff for their separate dietary menu if you have allergies or preferences; the kitchen comfortably adapts dishes for coeliacs, though individual a la carte items may feature pepper or set choices.

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