There’s a nice little corner just a block off
Lygon St, if you’d like something a little bit fancy. Yes, I’m talking about the corner of Faraday and Drummond Streets,
and it’s little wonder the Readings Books headquarters is located in this
foodie hotspot (well, I understand they like the best down there).
I’ve been to all three of these restaurants
over the years, each within hopping distance and sight lines of each other, but
see I’ve neglected to include this cluster of quality in this blog.
An error now addressed.
They’re all pretty good, so if you’re in Carlton and can be bothered walking one block from the standard pizza and pasta joints, you’ll find yourself well rewarded. They also have a very good bakery nearby…
172 - 174
Faraday St, Carlton (Cnr Drummond St)
I’d typify this as a trattoria in what
could best be described as “the artist formerly known as a pokey corner milk
bar”. The floor layout is a bit
crowded, on different levels, and they have a “private dining room cellar”.
Food and wine pairing is the key here, with
an excellent wine list –as you’d expect from their name – and high end fancy
foods (yet another “seasonally” driven menu) that are essentially Italian inspired
and feature seafood (I see they have a $1 oyster happy hour).
While I was there, there was some senior
copper out for lunch who was under investigation for fraud. I dunno. My dining companion recognised him, a bloke with a
moustache. He looked like a copper
anyway.
313 Drummond St, Carlton
With its giant street lamp hanging from the
roof, this is the family restaurant of the Maisano family and has been around
for over thirty years. Set in a beautiful old building, with a wedding
reception hall venue upstairs, the tables are overseen by sommelier Kara, the
daughter of restauranteur and chef Richard.
I ate beef carpaccio, duckling with French
wine, and grappa with my coffee.
Be warned, though, it is pricey.
This joint was the habitué on that day of
some guys “in concreting”. So I guess
you get bent coppers at one venue, and then members of la famiglia at the
other.
312 Drummond Street, Carlton
I’d always been underwhelmed in passing this
venue because of its trendy “bar styling” set up, with high stools, but was
encouraged to attend recently and found the food there surprisingly good.
While questioning what sourdough miso might
possibly be (“stop being so critical, I’m sure its lovely”), the menu is “lots
of little pieces” or “large dishes to share”. I’m not sure what the trend is here, everyone is doing it,
but it probably saves on washing up, lets patrons try a bit of everything, and
the relatively small prices sneak up on you as you seamlessly go from one dish to the
next and order more drinks by the glass.
That said, I found the prices… reasonable, if not inexpensive.
I completely failed to spot anyone dodgy
there, but as I heard one comedian note: ‘You know when you’re on a train, and
you’re looking for the crazy person on the carriage, but then everyone looks
normal? And they’re looking at
you, and you realise “It’s me, I’m the crazy person!”?’
Hem hem. Enough said.
Anyway, while you’re at the corner, why not
pick up some bread?
178 Faraday St, Carlton VIC 3053
I just found out this is a franchise of a
trendy “south of the river bakery”, but it is surprisingly difficult to buy
quality bread in Melbourne that ranks with the average baguette en France (in
my experience anyway – supermarkets and country Victoria do not cut it, m’dear). This place also sells pretty good
croissants, so you know, if you’re there, it’s almost worth your while popping
in. Be sure your pockets are
weighed down with gold coins though (or take a credit card…).
Next edition:
Bread (man)
1 comments:
Just found out about "mains to share"; the advantage is for the kitchen, who can send things out as they're done, rather than trying to time everyone's dishes to land at the same time. Tricky! Thanks for the heads up CJ!
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