Great food, generous servings, Bar menu is Tex Mex and very tasty, you can order in the Bar and eat in the Lounge with the Lounge menu, which is also
great....

I try to be positive about a local business but I am unable to after our meals at this pub. No one on our table was satisfied with their meal. And by the way I am not a fussy eater but my calamari was tasteless. I the chips were OK, even the drinks tasted watered down. I will never go back!!

We dined here 20 Sept 2023: Service and staff were lovely and super friendly. We ended up here by accident after the Little River Hotel screwed us over for lunch. Meals were very generous, ambient atmosphere and location (parking too) is great and plenty of room where you're not forced to sit outside in dust and cold wind conditions. Oh and they have senior meal deals too, which is another great bonus (over LR hotel). We will be visiting here in future and highly recommend ... AAA++++ -- Thankyou!!

EDITED BIT: Uploaded more photos after we ate there again -- Absolutely delicious, great service and definitely value for money ... Thankyou again :-)

We have eaten here for nearly 3 decades, food has consistently been slightly above average, can't say we have ever had a horrible meal.
Today I was quite annoyed with my chicken schnitzel, it was as thin as a couple of sheets of paper, might as well not bother putting the chicken in?? Poor value and poor quality meal.
I really hope this was a one off.

We dined here 20 Sept 2023: Service and staff were lovely and super friendly. We ended up here by accident after the Little River Hotel screwed us over for lunch. Meals were very generous, ambient atmosphere and location (parking too) is great and plenty of room where you're not forced to sit outside in dust and cold wind conditions. Oh and they have senior meal deals too, which is another great bonus (over LR hotel). We will be visiting here in future and highly recommend ... AAA++++ -- Thankyou!!

We very happy with the meal we had at the Lara Hotel. Good menu and reasonsbily priced. Food was good and the staff very friendly and helpful. Would go again.

Just had a lovely meal with my mother. Service with a smile when ordering. Meal was cooked well and serving size was generous. Place was clean and atmosphere was great. You were actually able to talk without having to yell over the crowed. Price was reasonable and on par with other pub meals I have had.

4 of us went to lunch at the Lara Hotel today. Very ordinary, understaffed and I cant get over a $24 Lara Burger being served up on a side plate piled so high with chips and onion rings that it was impossible to comfortably eat. Whats wrong with a dinner plate. None of our party liked their lunch. I could go on about each meal but you get the picture.

My first time going to Lara, went for a drive with a Mate to drop his daughter off and glad I did, we won $1600 😜 and we paid for a couples Anzac Day dinner! Winning!! We didn't have time to have something to eat there but next time 100%. The atmosphere was Awesome, friendly people and staff were great!

The chair that I was sitting on had an exposed nail picking up through the chair and it tore my New DRESS and not even an offer to pay for a replacement for my dress or even an apology.
All I got was we will have to get the chair replaced.
Discussting behavior from this hotel.
They weren't even concerned about my leg been scratched and cut by their with the nail that was picking up out of the top of the chair.
Will never go back there nor recommend it to anyone.

Dinner we arrived at 6pm ordered grilled fish and chicken snitzel, took 30 mins to be ready. Fish had bones and lots of scales very unpleasant to eat. Chicken snitzel was very thin and I was charged extra $2.50 for gravy. For the price I expected gravy included and better fish. We will not be returning.

The Lara Hotel is a pretty nice Australian pub, with a welcoming atmosphere, diverse menu of classic pub food.
Through the tunnel out the back of the Lara Hotel, you may meet the elusive Victorian Mole People, who are said to control the weather and interest rates. But be warned, show no fear if you wish to meet their king and know their secrets. Overall, pleasant experience. Nice staff and chicken parmigiana, would recommend.

I don't know if we managed to be here on an off night but based on what we just experienced, Do not eat here.
We were unfortunate enough to make a reservation here to try the local out.
The food is atrocious, inedible stale cardboard made with absolute zero care for end result.
There is no care in preparation.
The food is definitely not fresh, Leaving a sour and disappointing taste.
Pricing is above what you would expect from a bistro but with quality less than McDonald's.
Avoid this place at all costs.

Food has really improved there. Young staff members and guy plating up good were lovely. Older lady in dining room was rude to younger staff. This was unfortunate to see

Beer was flat. Honey burger was dry and tasted like sugar on chicken. Steak was tougher than a rubber boot when i asked for it medium rare. Also waited 50 minutes and not even 12 people in the restaurant. Will not be going back!

My group of 14 booked a week in advance to meet at the Lara Hotel for a mid-week lunch. It's located right across the road to the Lara train station and also the Lara RSL Hall - which is just a hall (no pokies, drinks or meals aa the RSL).
I was sceptical about the ability of one person to manage making coffees, serving alcohol, taking lunch orders and clearing and wiping the tables for over 20 people. She actually managed really well and her bosses would have pocketed a nice profit from having just one person take care of all those tasks.
The kitchen staff did a nice job of the food, we were all happy. It was the kind of simple pub food you'd expect at a country pub. They were renovating so it would be good to go back and see what the other half of the building is like when it's done. It's quite modern, comfortable and has large windows and good acoustics. Lara is a much larger town than it used to be and we carried on to the nearby You Yangs for a walk in the bush. It was a fabulous day trip.

Quick service.

Actually has entrees suitable for post bariatric surgery clients although maybe a healthier option for kids meals would be good.

Mains were well presented and went down a treat.

Venue clean.
Staff very helpful.

Boring and unexciting pub fare. Daggy menu. The beef salad was nice, but unexciting. The roast was a very small serve. Service appalling, bordering on rude and no wine knowledge whatsoever, clearly did not want to be there, or want us to be there either.

Went with elderly friend, and we had a great time. Service was friendly and polite. We had 2 Seniors meals, there was a good choice, and meal size was very generous. Roast pork was yummy, and fish and chips were fresh and delicious. Gluten free was no problems, so will be going back. It is nice and quiet at lunch time. Good ramp at the front for those with a disability.

The meals were a good size. Steak was a bit ordinary and the paper sauce tasted like a cheap home made sauce. But it was reasonably priced and a good family friendly restaurant.

Food great ! Generous serving and the best hot chips cut thick. Homestyle! Venue dated but clean ??'?

An older style pub in a town that's developed. It's one of the few places that still feels like it's from the small country town I grew up in. I sincerely hope they never change.

Not happy with the service, they had 2 bar staff for a busy service when they needed at least 3 if not 4 people and lots of tables had plates sitting on the table until service had finished. Meals where avarage, my partner had the enchilada with Mexican rice and all we could taste was pepper. I had the ribs which was over cooked and tough. Definitely won't be back.

Had lunch and a few drinks roast of the day very tender and tasty bar staff recommended a nice wine to accompany the meal at a reasonable price. Staying in Lara for a few weeks will come back prior to leaving

Brilliant service from Alex and the chefs at the Lara Hotel! Dietary requirements of dairy, soy and egg free were catered for without a problem. Excellent meal and staff were beyond helpful!

I wouldnt recommend this substandard, working class establishment. The service is poor and the meals are mediocre at best. There are far better offerings in the region, this place is best left to the uncouth locals.

Family of 2 headed back from fairy land Geelong and were famished after a few hours. We headed back to Lara for a meal and found Lara hotel that had the most amazing menu. We got in and the lady said "the kitchen shut 15 minutes ago". We were about to head out and she called us back and said, "let me speak to the kitchen staff and if there is a way we could help you and the kids" and with their kind hearts, they accomodated our request and had the most amazing experience and the food was brilliant. Thanks guys. Loved it.