The Goose (Busselton)

In General
I lived in Busselton for a year and a half before we finally ventured to The Goose. What initially put me off was the menu on their website contained no vegetarian options as mains (other than perhaps salad). Despite this, we had a special occasion to celebrate so we thought we should try somewhere different, and The Goose is definitely special.

The Food
The menu had been changed and there were a few options that appeared meat free. I opted for the roast butternut pumpkin risotto with rocket & roasted roma salad, shaved parmesan and balsamic reduction ($26.50). I was surprised by the portion size when the meal arrived at our table. The pumpkin risotto was a small square offering with salad on the side and the balsamic reduction dribbled over it. It’s not that I mind small portion sizes at restaurants (so long of course they’ve gone for quantity over quality), but that my dining partner’s meal was huge. The risotto was the cheapest main on the menu, with the Pork Belly being around $6 dearer, but it was over double the size. Aside from that, the risotto was very good without being brilliant. It’s main appeal was its more patty like texture rather than the creamy offerings of say the Dome’s pumpkin risotto or The Vasse’s. It wasn’t necessarily better, but it was different, which is sometimes just as good.

Atmosphere/Service
While Holden shirts may not be out of place at The Esplanade, nor footy jumpers at The Vasse, The Goose provides a much more classy venue for an evening meal. Words can’t do the view justice, although having spent many hours out on the Busselton Jetty, the location of the Goose was always going to be a winner in our books. The service was also immaculate but the atmosphere was a little stiff. However, the timing of our arrival unintentionally coincided perfectly with the sun setting over the bay, which demanded far more of our attention than anything happening inside the restaurant.

To conclude
Despite maybe the minor gripe with the portion size, I still want to refer to our dining experience at The Goose as perfect. The meals are more expensive than other favourite restaurants in Busselton, but the quality and presentation of the food, the superb service and the unbeatable location make it worth the extra cost. We definitely will not be waiting another 18 months before we return.

Food 8/10
Value 7.5/10
Atmosphere 8/10
Service 9/10