Paul and Jan Phillips enjoy a delightful dinner at The Carrington.
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Dive into the heart of the Goulburn Valley’s culinary scene with Jan and Paul Phillips. Every Friday, the pair will serve our readers with their knowledge of our communities’ restaurants, cafés and pubs — one plate at a time.
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There’s definitely something special about Mary Zurcas! She’s a courageous, dynamic, hard-working lady with a remarkable history. Mary and her husband, Tassie, purchased the Lakeview Motel from Max and Lorraine McPherson. They worked tirelessly with a clear vision for their future. Tragically, Tassie faced significant health issues and passed away, leaving Mary in an unexpected and challenging position. Despite her loss, Mary focused on her and her family’s future, growing her business and making the most of her circumstances. This marked the beginning of the next chapter in Mary’s life.
Mary ran a successful motel and gradually built it into what we know today. The Lakeview eventually became The Carrington. To achieve this, Mary purchased adjacent properties, including the Farrell sisters’ house and the mansion built by John Avram, developing the site into the iconic Carrington. This beautiful establishment has made Shepparton proud with its grandeur and imposing presence.
When we arrived at The Carrington for dinner, we were greeted with wonderful service from Linda Stephens, a long-time employee who has worked there for over 20 years. She was ably assisted by Ian Young, and their dedication, graciousness and skills were notable. Mary was full of praise for all her staff, both those you see and those in the kitchen, thankful for the excellent service they provided to her and her customers.
Jan Phillips with the Carrington team — Mary Zurcas, Ian Young and Linda Stephens.
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We were seated in the first-class area at the front of the restaurant, overlooking Shepparton’s Victoria Park Lake.
Even at night, the view is sensational and deserving of its moniker.
The entire restaurant exudes sophistication.
The Carrington has been beautifully renovated over the years and continues to be updated, with future plans for a stylish and chic café.
The restaurant’s ambience is superb, with beautiful lighting, a gentle din, elegant linens, and comfortable seating.
It offers first-class elegance even before you taste the first dish. The cuisine is modern Australian fare.
We enjoyed calamari and soft-shell crab for starters, followed by the best seafood linguine and melt-in-your-mouth steak.
The meal was an absolute treat, and the food at the Carrington is always consistently good.
The menu offers a wide variety of choices, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, catering to most needs.
We highly recommend this restaurant. It is well priced considering the excellent quality you receive.
Food pricing for The Carrington, rated by Jan and Paul: $$
(Expensive $$$, moderate $$ good value $)
Starting with crispy calamari – simply delicious.
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Paul Phillips smiles appreciatively at Ian Young for his exceptional service.
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Delight in the exquisite soft shell crabs, a perfect starter dish.
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The best seafood linguine.
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Indulging in the perfectly cooked eye fillet.
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