The secret to a perfect lunch at Bistro Molines

Let's be thuddingly obvious.

Some restaurants are purely for eating; others are for escaping.

Bistro Molines is a definitive blueprint for the latter. Draped across the rolling, vine-laced hills of the Hunter Valley, it's a place that doesn't just feed you, it rewrites your sense of time and place.

To call this place a restaurant doesn’t come close. This little piece of Provence is a lifetime's passion, set against one of the Valley's most cinematic backdrops.

The moment you step onto the terrace with its brick floor, blonde Thonet chairs and impossibly crisp white tablecloths, you're no longer in the Hunter. You're somewhere more serene, sunnier, and altogether more composed.

Master Chef Robert Molines

Although an Algerian-born Frenchman, Robert Molines is as ‘Hunter’ as Semillon. He is undeniably, the godfather of Hunter dining. He was championing local produce long before it was a hashtag, and his influence continues. Many of the Valley's most successful restaurateurs, from Margan's Lisa Margan to Muse Restaurant's Troy Rhoades-Brown, cut their teeth in his kitchens, and his legacy continues.

Bistro Molines isn't about chasing trends; it's a masterclass in timeless, authentic French countryside cooking. The food is at the peak of freshness, refined but without a hint of fuss. It speaks with confidence of its origins.

The menu is filled with essential French classics. Starting with delicate, zucchini flowers, filled with herbed goat's cheese and drizzled with a bright tomato relish. Or perhaps Robert's Pâté, a generous plate laden with house-made charcuterie—Parma ham, terrine, salami, rillette.

The House-Made Linguini with Prawns, Saffron, Fennel, Fresh Peas, and Bisque Cream is both light and delightful. Make sure to try the garden salad, which is always just picked. On this spring day, white asparagus, pink grapefruit, chopped cos, cucumber and avocado were all brought together with a hazelnut vinaigrette and finished with a little puff pastry duck.

It's the good stuff, executed with the kind of assured authority that only comes from decades of dedication. While each dish is brilliant, it’s this magnificent spot on the hill at Talavera Grove that is the cherry on top.

The Insider's Tip: This is the most valuable piece of advice we can give you. Although the light-filled dining room is the heart of Bistro Molines, the soul is not within its four walls. It is on the terrace. You must request one of these tables when booking. From this vantage point, the magnificent view of undulating hills and manicured vineyards becomes your wallpaper. Embrace the otherworldliness of it all. Put your phone away. Order a bottle of the 2023 Thomas Braemore Semillon and take every recommendation your host offers. They know what they're doing.

This is the quintessential long lunch, a classic French experience delivered with a warmth that makes you feel less like a customer and more like a cherished friend being let in on a beautiful secret. It's an unforgettable, essential Hunter Valley day out.

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