The Puddler Restaurant & Bar offering the largest fresh variety of seafood and grain fed steaks in central Victoria with a price that impresses even the tightest budgets.

Now “The Puddler” which leads its new name from the days of the old Jolly Puddler is back bigger and better with the venue wining awards and award wining Chefs, new menu, extensive wine list and open for breakfast lunch and dinner we guarantee we’ve got what you’re looking for in a dining experience.

Our History

The Puddler Restaurant & Bar is one of Bendigo's most iconic and oldest established fine dining Restaurants in Central Victoria. The now Heritage listed building has been operating as a dining venue for well over 30 years and was one of two original fine dining Restaurants established in Bendigo. Before that this Building spent time as steel yard engineering and plumbing supplies store and a Butcher before finally being turned into Bridget McGinty a small tavern with the front room and lounge area being used as a peanut gallery. There are stories about how the entire floor was covered in peanut shells and sacks of peanuts stacked beside the fireplace.

In The early 1980’s the business was sold and The Jolly Puddler was born. Serving Fine Quality steaks and other dishes cooked on giant Mongolian Kettle Drums at the rear of the main Dining room in front of Customers watching on, the new Fine dining restaurant Fast Became well known for Quality and service winning numerous State Hospitality and Tourism Awards.

Over the next 20 years controversy has played its part with the restaurant burning down at least 2 times but being rebuilt better. Over those years the business changed hands a few times with each new owner putting their unique stamp on the business even changing the name in 1999 to the Garden of Eden with a court yard dining area added.

Then in August 2005 The business changed hands again a local Chef Chris Murphy and his wife Kelly Murphy bought the business and bought back The Puddler name and with it all the unique features of the building from the original maroon Table cloths to operating open fireplaces and wood heaters in Winter to the fully refurbished undercover court yard and mezzanine dining area for Alfresco dining in the warmer months The Puddler is again a multi Award winning Local Restaurant. 

Our Most Recent Awards

         2007 Bendigo Business Award for Best Local business for Hospitality and Tourism 

         2008 Best Local Chef and Best Seafood Restaurant voted by the readers of Bendigo Magazine

         2009 Best Local Chef and Best Seafood Restaurant (back to back 2 years running)

Our Commitment to you

Here at the Puddler we pride ourselves on the finest Quality Steak and Fresh Seafood available and bring it from all over the region state and country. Whether it is our famous Pacific oysters from Coffin Bay, our Jumbo Prawns from Coffs Harbor, or our Irresistible Live Southern Ocean Rock Lobster from Apollo Bay. We guarantee Our Seafood is the freshest and tastiest here or anywhere in Australia. Our beef is all inspected and hand picked by our Head Chef, it is certified Angus stamped for export and is a minimum 120 days grain fed yearling Beef.