The Local Taphouse, Melbourne Airport

On my way to visit Perth and, despite holding a rare pass for the QANTAS Lounge (They don't allow thongs! How unAustralian!), I opted to perch at the bar in the airport version of the famous Local Taphouse.

Wings were had, beers were drunk. But was it any good?

Let's find out!

The Scores

• The Specs: Just Flats. No Drums... I guess that still counts as a RATING of 5.
• The Sauce: Probably not Franks. I mean, it might have been but there's so little of it that it barely throws a punch RATING 3
• Crunch: These wings... they... they were crumbed! Ugh. Taste like fish too. RATING 3
• Serving size & price/Value for Money: 8 flats.. $17 in total, coming in at just over $2 apiece. Which rates about average and yet i still feel shorted. These wings are small, man. RATING 5
• Heat/spice level: Not hot, and not enough sauce. Effectively these were dry, crumbed wings but... not quite a disaster. RATING 3
• Flavour: Not so hilariously, these wings taste like fish. I like fish. But these are chicken wings, not fish fingers  RATING 3
• Celery: No celery. There was a coriander garnish. Wash your mouth out. RATING: 0.
• Dipping Sauce: Ranch RATING: 0
• Other Stuff: Its an airport bar; There's no ambience. Everyone in the place is either nervous or pissed. I was somewhere in between. The taplist is, as expected, broad. Victorian independent breweries, multiple styles, and several Stomping Ground brews. The Port Philip West Coast IPA made an excellent accompaniment to my fishy wings.  RATING 5.
  

OVERALL RATING 27/80. 

No Moist Towelettes. No Bonus Points. No hope... We have a new venue holding up the Wing Rankings Ladder! Unbelievably, Drums Hotel in Coburg has been worsted!

Good Lord.

Date Visited: 16th April 2026

Venue Details:

Qantas Domestic Terminal, Melbourne Airport VIC 3045