AUTHENTICALLY Australian is what any customer stepping into Walkabout for a bite to eat or drink can expect.

The themed sports bar and restaurant opened its doors in Head Street, replacing what was Missoula, with a view to bringing the laidback, wholesome vibe of Australia to Colchester.

Grilled meats, kangaroo burgers, parmis and thick maple bacon, which general manager Phil Simpson says are Aussie staples, feature heavily on the menu.

But part of the restaurant’s pull is how much it caters to vegetarians - so much so the food is strictly cooked in separate oil.

“The menu being veggie-friendly is a very big thing for me. I don’t know any typical high street restaurants in Colchester which serve tofu,” he said.

“There’s also tempura vegetables, sweetcorn fritters, fries, and a variety of salads with halloumi cheese and avocado, which is so fashionable nowadays, everyone loves it.

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“It seems small but we also offer a vegemite and cheese toastie, which is vegetarian-friendly but so Aussie as well.

“And we do really refreshing avocado and mushroom on bruschetta, which combines that crunch and softness.”

Before its official opening, customers were invited for a soft launch and blind testing of the menu, picking their meals from pieces of paper in a bucket.

He said: “People were so surprised at what they enjoyed because they expected for us to just have barbecue.

“The burgers were definitely a big winner, people loved them, and we have a lot of competition here with Byron Burger and Love Thy Burger.

“But for me, it’s all about the parmi. People who have visited Australia know about a parmi which is a classic Italian chicken dish we’ve given an Australian twist. It’s a nice talking point for our customers.

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“Our food is unique, it’s happy, chilled and designed for sharing.

“The menu is also so well written for people who just want to graze versus those who prefer to have a sit-down meal.

“For our more sporty customers we have a separate menu entirely, if they want to just stand there and watch a game and graze. It’s very Aussie.”

As a designated sports venue, unobtrusive TV screens are cleverly placed above booths and a large projector near the bar will show the best upcoming events and matches.

Hard-to-get craft beers, tinnies and wines from Oz are well stocked at the bar, satisfying those who want to rekindle the taste of their holiday or are keen to try something new.

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Cherry Pop, a Walkabout take on a classic which blends apple and cherry Sourz, grenadine, apple juice and passion fruit puree, and a Tasmanian Devil complete with a chilli in the glass, have both proved to be summer favourites.

“We’re so lucky to have some of the unique drinks we do. Little Creatures is stunning, it’s so light and refreshing and goes great with a parmi,” said Phil.

“In terms of our wine selection we were umming and ahhing over having only Australian wine but that’s not the point.

“We have such a vast range and they’re beautiful.”