Category: Bar food

November 15, 2014

Melbourne 3000: Father’s Office Speakeasy Bar

The Father’s Office is located in the heart of the student precinct of the CBD, close to RMIT and next door to The State Library. Students and travellers seeking Melbourne’s hard to find happy hour congregate in the large balcony area at The Father’s Office. The bar is jumpin’ jumpin’ with people ordering $6.50 Absolute vodka’s and craft beers on tap. But the Father’s Office is also known on Instagram for it’s cute American style share plates and burgers.

You will find share plates from polenta and parmesan cubes to pork cracking and popcorn chicken on the menu, enough to excite anyone who hasn’t eaten before drinking at the bar.

After ordering on an empty stomach, we were presented with the Home-style mac and cheese, arancini balls and fries.

Rustic creamy mac and cheese baked with breadcrumbs and topped with cheese (bacon optional) was well presented and tasty enough for $8, but the dish was not big enough for one person, never mind substantial enough to share.

Three Arancini balls that sat in a sweet smoked aioli for $6 were delicious, but you might want to order 3 plates of these if you’re hungry. As for the fries, I have never seen such a small portion of fries served at a bar in my life. It was as if the chef of The Father’s Office took our order, walked down to McDonalds on Swanston Street, returned with a small fries and then poured them into a tea cup.

I know you have potential Father’s Office, so please stop being so stingy.

June 9, 2014

Melbourne 3000: Pacos Tacos

After polishing off half a bottle of wine with work colleagues I was pretty excited to eat what was described to me as “fresh cheap and delicious tacos.”

I headed off down to 500 Bourke St and up the stairs to level 1 to the Pacos Tacos establishment.

I arrive at what looks like a very trendy little beer garden wedged between high rise buildings. The furniture had plenty of character, which is more than I can say for the cashier.

In line with the fact that Australia ranks fourth in the list of the fattest country in the world, after America and Mexico, Melbournian’s newist craze seems to be unhealthy American diner cuisine. Burgers and chilli fries served in colourful plastic baskets are popping up everywhere at the moment from Brunswick to St Kilda.

At Paco Tacos, I was surprised that my nachos and tacos arrived in the classic American diner red oval basket. I had got the impression from friends that the tacos here were modern and fresh. The initial excitement I felt about coming here to eat fresh faded and was instantly replaced with the guilt of eating cheap fast food.

I am aware that all tacos are messy, but when I pay for them I expect them to be somewhat nicely presented on the plate (or oval basket). Luckily they tasted better than they looked. The Pescado was simply delicious. Next time I am craving fish and flavour, I will be ordering the Semolina Coated Fish, Chipotle Mayonnaise, Radish & Pickled Zucchini nestled in a soft flour tortilla.

The calamari taco was nice too, but the fish taco was far superior.

By the time I tried the sloppy looking nachos, which claim to be delicious in description; Tortilla Chips, Salsa Verde, Pico de Gallo, Chipotle, Cheddar, & Pepita Seeds, I had drank a few beers (one contained hot sauce) and they didn’t taste anything different to something I could prepare from an Old Ell Paso kit.

Overall I was somewhat comfortable in my surroundings, confused by the Spicy Beer I drank, delighted with my $6 fish taco, but wouldn’t bother with the nachos again. I recommend dining at this established if you’re young, hip and want a cheap taco.