"Welcome to Five Senses Coffee"

There were plenty of celebrations at the roastery this month when we learned that one of our favourite customers, Josh Ball, owner of Two Buoys, won Best Café Restaurant in the Mornington Peninsula Regional Awards for Excellence.

The Mornington Peninsula is blessed with an abundance of excellent restaurants, talented chefs and outstanding wineries, so taking home a win is no easy feat. Two Buoys, however, has a formula that’s proven unbeatable.

Two Buoys has an enviable location, with stunning views of the peaceful Dromana foreshore. It attracts a large breakfast crowd, who gather around the espresso bar enjoying a lazy start to the morning over a full bodied Five Senses coffee and the morning paper; or tucking into one of the tasty breakfast selections.

The tapas style lunch and dinner menu has proven equally popular, with both tourists and in-the-know locals flocking in to share a plate. The menu is well rounded, with plenty of seafood, meat, vegetarian and sweet tapas offerings, along with flatbreads and starters, and plenty of desserts, including the option to build your own tart. Our favourites include the Coffin Bay oysters, the simple asparagus with butter and parmesan, which really allows the fresh, local produce to shine, and the beef carpaccio with capers, aioli and crostini.

Josh is a distinguished sommelier with a highly developed palate, and the wine list at Two Buoys deserves lots of praise. It has over 250 wines, including an array of high end wines, from both local and international wineries. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of choices for the more budget conscious, which is welcome news in the face of the apparent impending doom of the GFC. Two Buoys serve heaps of wines by the glass, and recommend a couple of favourites, the Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo from Italy and a Leo Buring Riesling from Australia’s own Clare Valley. The guys at Two Buoys are certainly knowledgeable and bend over backwards to help you out with some recommendations if you’re overwhelmed by choice.

Everyone at Two Buoys is keen to make sure you feel at home, to help you “relax and have fun”, and they encourage you to enjoy the atmosphere and explore something new. There’s no doubt that Josh and Two Buoys deserves the win, and we’re all wishing them victory in the Victorian Awards for Excellence, which will be held later this year.

If you’re keen for a closer look at Two Buoys, including menus and wine list, check out their website — but be warned, you’ll be dialing up for a booking before you know it!

Two Buoys: 209 Point Nepean Road, Dromana, Mornington Peninsula VIC 3936; Phone: (03) 5981 8488
Opening Hours: Open 7 days a week, 7.30am — 11.30pm (closed Christmas Day)