Valley Inn Hotel

Wad in town and looking for somewhere to eat. Great food and prices. Would definitely go back. Table service too. I had roast of the day.

Tried this pub out for dinner last night, and probably won’t go back again. The atmosphere felt off – the bar felt cold and empty with hardly any seating, yet there were over 10 TV screens which made it feel overstimulating rather than inviting. The menu was massive with some odd choices, like 20 different types of parmis. The portions were huge, but sadly the food itself was dry and tasteless. Part of my order was missing, though to be fair, the staff fixed it quickly once I pointed it out. Overall this place was hit and miss – one of the bar staff accidentally bumped me, and my handbag ended up on the dirty floor. The beer also had a strange metallic taste, which didn’t help.

Great range of choices for small and normal sized meals. Most meals offered were gluten free or the kitchen staff were prepared to adapt. The waitress also explained all sauces were gluten free and was most helpful in offering suggestions for others in our group. She was warm, friendly, caring and accommodating. We have now visited twice after not doing so for over 20 years+. A nice atmosphere both for lunch and dinner. The dining room is a pleasant size, but I do recommend booking online in advance.

First time visit and very impressed. We ate in the dining room which is very spacious and well designed. There are 20 parmas on the menu! I had the Greek one which was very nice. Everyone else's meals were good too. Good menu with plenty of options. Plenty of tap beers on offer in the main bar as well.

The Valley Inn in South Geelong offers what I’d describe as a fairly standard pub meal experience — perfectly fine, but nothing particularly memorable. The venue itself is popular and clearly well-frequented, which gives it a lively atmosphere, though the dining area can feel very noisy and quite crowded. For my taste, that made it a little hard to relax and enjoy the meal, and this seems to be a common sentiment echoed in other reviews. Staff were reasonably friendly and attentive during the main part of the service. However, things fell down at the end of the meal when my dessert was completely forgotten despite being charged for it. What was more disappointing was that there was no real apology when this was raised, and it almost felt like an inconvenience to bring it up, particularly as lunchtime service was winding down and other customers were leaving. That left a slightly uncomfortable impression to finish the meal. The main course was a roast beef with vegetables. It was reasonably good value, nicely cooked, and tasted good, but it didn’t stand out. Compared to roast meals I’ve had at other pubs around Geelong, it felt a bit safe and unremarkable rather than something memorable. The biggest let-down was the crème brûlée. The custard lacked flavour and had a far too firm consistency, and the topping wasn’t properly brûléed. Instead of a crisp sugar crust that shatters when tapped, it was an odd mix of soft and hard — more like it had been chilled and then reheated rather than freshly torched. Given the price and the fact it was forgotten altogether, it was particularly disappointing. Overall, the Valley Inn delivers an okay pub dining experience. It’s serviceable and I would return, but with lowered expectations. It’s a decent local option, just not one that stands out in a city with plenty of strong pub food alternatives.