Since opening their doors to the original Smokehouse Café to diners in 2002, Poachers Pantry has been one of my favourite destinations for a leisurely lunch.
Just a short scenic 30 minute drive from Canberra, the restaurant is set in a beautiful country garden in Springrange, NSW near Hall. As you drive away from the city and turn off from Barton Highway, the road to Poachers Pantry is lush and lined with trees setting the tone for a picturesque rural welcome.
Beautiful country garden
Since my last visit, the family-run business has undergone a refurbishment. Originally built by Rob and Susan Bruce, the husband and wife team, has been creating much loved mouth-watering smoked meats and vegetables since 1991. The NEW Poachers Pantry Smokehouse Restaurant and Wily Trout Cellar Door has a new layout inside and out which includes a handmade fireplace made from stones collected by Susan’s son, Will Bruce and a new deck (my personal favourite place to sit) overlooking the 1890s slab woolshed and rolling hills beyond.
Poachers Charcuterie Board & Farmhouse Cheese Board
Poachers Pantry Smokehouse Restaurant and Wily Trout Cellar Door is still serving up perennial favourites the share platters – consisting of either their award winning Poachers Charcuterie Board, Smokehouse Seafood Board, Vegetarian Mezze Board or Farmhouse Cheese Board best enjoyed of course with a glass of their cool climate but have also got a new Spring brunch and lunch menu available.
Wily Trout cold climate wines
With the warmer months upon us, our tip is to make a booking for an upcoming weekend and settle in for some country hospitality.
What you need to know
Location: 431 Nanima Road, Springrange, NSW – 25 mins from Canberra CBD
Opening Hours:
Smokehouse Restaurant*
Brunch Saturdays & Sundays 9.30 – 11.30am
Lunch Fridays to Sundays 12.00 – 3.00pm
Wily Trout Cellar Door and Farm Shop
Seven days 10.00am – 5.00pm
Website: www.poacherspantry.com.au
*We highly recommend booking a table at the Smokehouse Restaurant often gets booked out over the weekend.