If you live in Harden, Murrumburrah, Boorowa, Galong or Bookham, a proper dinner out usually means a short drive. Ours runs along the Burley Griffin Way to Binalong, where the Motel Royal Tara restaurant serves dinner every day except Wednesday. There is a licensed bar, a BYO option for your own wine, and a menu that moves from thick-cut steaks to Hyderabadi dum biryani. Nothing about it is fussy. You book a table, you drive over, and you eat well in a quiet country dining room.
Why Binalong Works for a Night Out
Binalong sits on the Burley Griffin Way, about 30 minutes from Yass and a short detour off the Hume Highway, so the trip from any of the surrounding towns is easy to plan around. It is a small village, not a busy town, which is part of the appeal. You arrive, park, and sit down without the usual shuffle of a main street on a Saturday night.
Our dining room is fully air conditioned and seats up to 50 people, so a table for two feels relaxed and a table of ten still fits comfortably. You can park at the motel and walk the few steps to the dining room. If you would like to see what is on before you leave home, the full menu is on our dining page.
Open Every Night Except Wednesday
Dinner is served every day except Wednesday, so Friday and Saturday nights are an easy choice for a night out. Winter hours run from 5pm to 9pm, and summer hours run from 6pm to 9pm. The later summer start suits the long daylight hours, giving everyone time to get home from work, finish up in the paddock or feed the animals before heading over.
For a Friday or Saturday dinner, booking ahead is sensible. Those are the nights when country towns tend to gather, and a table you have booked is a table you keep. One quick call is all it takes.
What Is on the Menu
The menu covers a lot of ground, which helps when you are bringing a mixed group. There are steaks for the traditionalists, curries and biryanis for anyone who wants something with real spice, and familiar counter classics for the kids or the plain eaters. Everything below is available on every night we open, and every dish can also be ordered as takeaway.
Part of the menu | What you will find |
|---|---|
Signature steaks | Scotch fillet 250g, porterhouse 250g and rib eye 350g, with chips or mash, seasonal vegetables and mushroom or pepper sauce |
Indian curries | Butter chicken, paneer butter masala and lamb vindaloo, served with naan and rice |
Hyderabadi dum biryanis | Chicken, Chicken 65 and goat |
Other mains | Burgers, pizzas, fish and chips, schnitzel and parmigiana, and pasta |
Desserts | Gluten-free cakes and gulab jamun |
Signature Steaks
Steak is the heart of the menu. You can order a 250g Scotch fillet, a 250g porterhouse or a 350g rib eye, each served with chips or mash, seasonal vegetables, and your choice of mushroom or pepper sauce. It is the sort of plate that suits a Friday night after a long week.
Indian Curries and Hyderabadi Dum Biryanis
Butter chicken, paneer butter masala and lamb vindaloo all come with naan and rice, so a curry is a full meal rather than a side. The Hyderabadi dum biryanis are available with chicken, Chicken 65 or goat, and they are the dish people come back for when they want something different from a standard country menu.
Burgers, Pizzas and Classic Mains
Burgers, pizzas, fish and chips, schnitzel and parmigiana, and pasta round out the menu. There is enough choice here that a family with different ideas about dinner can all order something they actually want. Portions are generous, which is how it should be in the country.
Desserts
Finish with a gluten-free cake or a gulab jamun. Both are made to suit people who might otherwise skip dessert, and both are an easy way to stretch the evening out a little longer.
Licensed Bar and BYO
The restaurant is licensed, so you can order wine by the glass or by the bottle, or a beer with your meal. If you would rather bring your own wine, that is welcome too, and corkage applies. Bring a bottle along if you have something special set aside, and let us know when you arrive so we can bring glasses to the table.
Takeaway, if You Would Rather Eat at Home
Every dish on the menu is available as takeaway. That matters if you are finishing a job late, passing back through Binalong after dark, or simply prefer dinner at your own table. Ring ahead on 02 6227 4310 or send a WhatsApp message to 0426 428 501, and your order will be ready when you arrive. It is the same kitchen and the same menu, packed to travel.
Booking a Table
To book, call us on 02 6227 4310 or send a WhatsApp message to 0426 428 501. Let us know how many are coming, roughly what time, and whether you would like a particular table. If anyone in your group has dietary requirements, mention it when you book so the kitchen can plan ahead. The dining room seats up to 50, so larger bookings simply need a little notice.
Stay the Night Instead of Driving Home
One advantage of dining at a motel is that you do not have to drive home afterwards. Motel Royal Tara has 20 ground-floor rooms, all non-smoking, each with an ensuite, reverse-cycle air conditioning, an electric blanket, WiFi, a TV, a kitchenette, tea and coffee making facilities and an iron. Housekeeping runs daily, and every room has a private parking space at the door with room for trailers, utes and work vehicles.
Room types include Family, which has a queen and two singles and sleeps four, along with Triple, Queen and Twin. Check-in is from 1pm and check-out is 10am, so you can have a long dinner, sleep well and still be back on the road at a sensible hour. Room details are on our Binalong accommodation page.
Coming from Harden, Murrumburrah, Boorowa, Galong or Bookham
The drive to Binalong is a short one along country roads, and it is the kind of trip that does not need much planning. Leave once the afternoon jobs are done, arrive for dinner, and be home the same night if that suits. Binalong is also about 30 minutes from Yass and a short detour off the Hume Highway, which makes it a natural stop if you are already on the road.
Travellers and work crews in the area for infrastructure projects also stay with us. Ground-floor rooms and parking at the door make early starts straightforward, and dinner on site means nobody has to go looking for a meal after a long day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions from people planning a dinner out from the towns around Binalong.
Do I need to book for a Friday or Saturday dinner?
Booking is not compulsory, but it is a good idea on Friday and Saturday nights. Those are our busiest evenings and the dining room seats up to 50 people. A quick call on 02 6227 4310 or a WhatsApp message to 0426 428 501 is all it takes, and it means your table is waiting when you arrive.
Can I bring my own wine?
Yes. Our restaurant is licensed and also BYO, so you can order wine by the glass or bottle, or bring your own. Corkage applies to BYO bottles. Beer is available from the bar as well. Let staff know when you sit down and we will bring glasses to the table.
What are your dinner hours?
Dinner is served every day except Wednesday. In winter, food is available from 5pm to 9pm, and in summer from 6pm to 9pm. The later summer start suits the longer daylight hours. Booking ahead helps on busy nights, particularly Friday and Saturday when groups drive over from the surrounding towns.
Can I order takeaway instead?
Yes, every dish on the restaurant menu is available as takeaway, from the steaks and schnitzels to the curries and Hyderabadi dum biryanis. Call 02 6227 4310 or send a WhatsApp message to 0426 428 501 with your order, and it will be ready to collect on your way through Binalong.
Can we stay overnight after dinner?
Yes. Motel Royal Tara has 20 ground-floor rooms with ensuites, reverse-cycle air conditioning, electric blankets, WiFi, TVs and kitchenettes, plus private parking at the door. Check-in is from 1pm and check-out is 10am. Family, Triple, Queen and Twin rooms are available, so you can enjoy dinner and a comfortable night without driving home.
A country dinner is worth the short drive. If you are in Harden, Murrumburrah, Boorowa, Galong or Bookham and you feel like a Friday or Saturday night out with a steak, a curry or a biryani, we would be glad to see you in Binalong. Ring 02 6227 4310 or send a WhatsApp message to 0426 428 501 to book a table or one of the rooms. For best rates call or book us online from our website.
