Organic Restaurant and Bar

Taste the difference of organic food and wine in a beautiful setting high in the Barrington Tops

The food at the Tops Organic Restaurant is delicious, unpretentious and served in a hospitable, relaxed atmosphere.

You can enjoy your wine and meals in our beautiful timber restaurant which also has a pool table and lounge area next to an open log fire in winter. In the summer, dine on the veranda overlooking the rainforest.

The Tops Organic Restaurant is open for breakfast 7 days and for dinner Tuesday to Saturday evenings.
The restaurant is closed for both breakfast and dinner on all public holidays.

We would like you to not only have a delicious food experience but also feel nourished by what you have eaten.

From garden to table...

John loves producing some of the food for the organic restaurant in his "Organic Food Garden." He is happy to share his knowledge of organic farming principles and enjoys seeing the fruits of his labour being enjoyed in the restaurant.

John has been involved in the organic food industry for over 20 years and has been on the Board of the peak industry body the 'Organic Federation of Australia.' So, he is passionate about how the food we eat is grown. The organic food garden harbours no artificial fertilizers and none of the hundreds of legally permitted insecticides, pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or waxes.

With the "roots" of the organic garden in place, John is working towards being more self-sufficient and supplying the restaurant with abundant nutrient-rich organic fruits and vegetables in the future.

Sharini's speciality is traditional Sri Lankan curries. Her signature dish is Sri Lankan red prawn curry using wild caught prawns. Sharini has a keen interest in nutrition and, as a Chef, loves creating tasty meals to be enjoyed by the in-house guests. She creates the fresh table d'hôte menu which is on offer in the evening. The evening meal is based on what John has growing in the garden, what is in season, and what is local. It is important to cook using pure essential ingredients such as Celtic sea salt and Rosnay’s certified organic extra virgin olive oil.

For children, there are no chicken nuggets on offer, but real food. Sharini is happy to accommodate varying tastes, especially those of children.

Organically-grown is sometimes used loosely, but not here. We serve certified organic lamb, beef and chicken. The seasonal fruit and vegetables are also certified organic. Being aware of the "carbon miles" in bringing food to the table, we also source some locally grown produce which may not be certified but grown organically. Seafood that is served in the restaurant is not farmed, but wild caught.

We serve a hearty organic breakfast starting with our own oven roasted muesli or bircher muesli, organic fruits, fruit loaf and biodynamic yoghurt. This is followed by a hot breakfast including farm eggs, sausages, freshly made tomato sauce and other seasonal accompaniments.

Prices

You may spoil yourself on a leisurely organic breakfast for $25 with bottomless cups of organic teas and coffee. A fresh menu is offered each evening with a choice of entrees, mains and desserts. You can enjoy a 2 course dinner for $50 or a 3 course dinner for $60. Children under 10 years are half price. Please book in advance for breakfast and dinner.

Special Diets

Sharini finds it a pleasure to cook for vegan and vegetarian guests.

Many people have special diets or food allergies. The Tops Organic Restaurant caters for gluten free, lactose free and other special diets. Please let us know in advance so we can look after you.

Knowing what ingredients to use and how to cook them is important when preparing a meal for someone with a special dietary requirement. Cooking meals for others is a creative process and the care taken with the choice of ingredients and the method of cooking is evident in the dish especially prepared for you.

Self-catering cottages

If you are staying in one of our self contained cottages, your food supplies can be purchased in Gloucester (35 min by car). The local supermarket FoodWorks has organic milk and some organic fruit and vegetables.

You may also pick-up fresh regional produce at The Gloucester Farmers Market which is held the second Saturday of each month at Billabong park (corner of Denison Street and Billabong Lane). We are fortunate to be in a region known for good food. Some our favourite include cheeses from Marook farm, hand made breads from Fosterton Bakery, and fruits and vegetables from the Tucker Patch organic growers. If you need a coffee break before heading up our way or an organic salad, we recommend Perrenti's on the main street in Gloucester. The owner, Jane, also supports local growers who are members of "Essentially Barrington".

Organic Wines and Olives

We welcome you with a glass of Rosnay organic wine or real ale. If you prefer, you may have your complimentary drink with your evening meal.

Rosnay has been certified organic for over a decade and won many awards. In 1997, the family planted the first organic wines and olives. Richard and his son Sam run the vineyard and winemaking while Florence develops the olive products and is the artist behind the beautiful labels.

Not all the wine is preservative-free. But the guide for organic wine (125ppm sulphur) is half the mainstream wine limit, and Rosnay is less again. At Rosnay, they believe that the way wine is grown is more important: certified organic, high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, but also with ability to age well.

The Rosnay red vineyards are Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Mourverdre, making Cabernet and Shiraz varietal wines, and Rosnay’s signature wine the "Triple Blend." All are unoaked and medium bodied with a uniquely fine and earthy tannin. Rosnay does not add protein to soften these tannins, which naturally form sediments and crystals with bottle age.

The Rosnay white vineyards are Chardonnay and Semillon. They are made as varietals or blended. Organic fruit is also sourced to produce the very popular Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blend. The whites and rosé are all unoaked with natural fruit character and well-balanced acidity. Again, minimal additives are used.

Rosnay's sparkling Vintage Chardonnay is picked early for natural acidity and low alcohol, both of which are key to good sparkling wine. It is fermented using the "charmat" method for natural bubbles and lively fruit. Sparkling Rosé is also made in natural, fruity and lively style.

Growing between the vineyards are about 2,400 olive trees. The Kalamata olives are fermented in salt brine using Murray River salt. The olives are hand graded but Rosnay tries to retain the natural mix of rich black and crunchy green Kalamata. Olive paste is made from the ripest Kalamata olives.

Enjoy these wines and olive products at The Tops Organic Restaurant and Wine bar.  We also have wholesale case rates.