The Winey Cow(Mornington)

The Winey Cow is Mornington's award-winning brunch institution at 39A Main Street, near the top of the shopping strip and about two minutes' walk from the foreshore. It pairs a produce-driven breakfast and lunch menu with one of the more complete dog setups on the Peninsula: leashed dogs at the outdoor footpath tables and a dedicated dog menu so nobody at the table misses out.

The dog setup

Well-behaved dogs on lead take the outdoor footpath seating, part of it undercover, so a drizzly Mornington morning does not ruin the plan. The indoor dining room stays people-only. The dog menu runs through proper treats, with dehydrated chicken necks and bully sticks the usual suspects, and the staff are known for making a fuss of the regulars on four legs.

The vibe

The kitchen covers the brunch canon with its own signatures: chicken and waffles, truffle mushroom dishes, the Smashed Avo V, sweet potato fries and a matcha latte line, with strong vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free coverage. Weekends add a boozy brunch and live music slots. Hours are 7:30am to 2:30pm weekdays and 7:30am to 3pm weekends. Weekday mornings suit dogs best; on weekends aim early if you want an undercover table with floor space beside it.

Getting there and parking

Street parking sits out front on Main Street but turns over slowly at peak, so on weekends the side streets and off-street car parks are the reliable bet.

Pair it with

Main Street runs downhill to Mornington Park and the water, on lead through the park. Royal Beach, a pocket beach south of Schnapper Point reached by steps off the Esplanade, is off-lead all year round, which makes brunch-then-swim an easy sequence. For a fenced run instead, Civic Reserve Fenced Dog Park is a few minutes inland. More of the region is on the Victoria list and in the Mornington guide.

Pepsi: my own menu, my own order, and the sand at Royal Beach afterwards. Mornington gets it right.