Welcome to Carilley Estate

Went here for lunch on Easter Monday with some friends on their recommendation. The setting is really lovely and the views from inside the restaurant are great. The tables and chairs seemed a bit too "cafe" for me, maybe it was the hard terracotta tiles, or the large space -there was something I couldn't put my finger on but it just didn't feel "warm".
The menu isn't extensive but it covers most of the bases and there should be something to please everyone. After we had ordered, we killed some time by wine tasting and choosing which wine to have with lunch. We saw some people arrive, pick up their pre-ordered hamper, choose their wine and then head outside to enjoy their lunch in the surrounds of the winery - what a great idea.
We shared a tasting plate for entree and it was full of the usual suspects - cold meats, cheese, olives, dips, crostini and included smoked salmon and fresh prawns - lovely and just right between the four of us. Apparently the Easter weekend had been very busy and there were a few things on the menu that weren't available (desserts included) but we ordered a moroccon chicken dish, fish of the day, a beef curry that was one of the specials and a beef fillet.
All of the meals were tasty and beautifully presented.
Service was a bit slow (and it wasn't that busy), having the doors open to outside was lovely but the resulting flies weren't and we did have to ask the staff 3 times to turn the background music down. BUT my meal was divine (the chicken), we all had room for dessert and coffee and being able to taste and choose the wine was a lot of fun. All in all, it was a lovely lunch and we would go back again.

All outdoor seating and extensive gardens and lawns make for a relaxing lunching experience. The food is well prepared and somewhat innovative, with a range of flavour and texture options available, and I've yet to have a poor dish in several visits.

Unfortunately, particularly on weekdays, the cellar door / waiting staff can be run off their feet (not enough staff, but an understandable dilemma for the owners). That hasn't stopped me returning, however, and it gives you the opportunity to relax and enjoy the the garden setting (weather permitting).