Alas, I have no photos, as it was a work lunch - so i felt a bit too self-conscious to whip out my camera/iphone.
Anyway I'd been busting to try Charcoal Lane since I very first heard of it when it opened. But that menu seemed a bit pricey, which got me saving for a special occasion. I'd spoken to a few colleagues about Charcoal Lane and we all agreed it would be a very fitting place forour Christmas party!
Wel, finally the day arrived and it certainly was a day of firsts, as I got to try the new Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvee (at 11am!???) and it was yum.
If you haven't heard about Charcoal Lane here is a paste from the website:
As a high quality restaurant, Charcoal Lane provides the best work experience, hospitality training and supportive environment to enable Aboriginal and disadvantaged young people to transition to mainstream employment.
Charcoal Lane’s apprentices and trainees will be able to move into career in hospitality and other industries as a result of their invaluable experience at Charcoal Lane and their work with our valued corporate partners.
Through contemporary Aboriginal art, Aboriginal stories entwined within the restaurant and aboriginal flavours fused into modern cuisine, customers are invited to experience and engage with contemporary Aboriginal cultures. Charcoal Lane apprentices and trainees interact with customers and add to this engaging dining experience.
We see this as “reconciliation through dining”.
I don't often comment on the interior design of a restaurant, but i think it is particularly important with Charcoal Lane. There is little, if any 'traditional' Aboriginal Art, the walls a crisp white offset with black trimmings and soft wood furniture. I could imagine that some might be surprised expecting to be eating surrouded by dot paintings! I thought it was really thoughful- my interpretation; cleverly and silently banishing pre and misconceptions of what 'Aboriginal Culture' is or isn't represented.
Anyway back to the food...As a really interesting and unique dining experience new to Melbourne (apart from Fifteen) I was really interested to see hoe good the food was. I ordered the grilled Salmon with artichoke chips and tomato relish - which was delicious! I did find the menu a little inconsistent however, as ordering from the same menu some dishes were so tiny it would hardly satisfy a lunch time belly, while others were quite big. This seemed to be the general trend with the vegetarian/seafood options - quite small in comparision to the red meat or poultry. I think it's sorta interesting - when you order a gnocci and you end up with five pieces- quite comic really sitting nibbling, pondering how you're going to pace yourself while your table neighbour devours the massive kangaroo fillet! I mean I know it's sustainable but come on!
So thankfully for us, lunch was all paid for so we ordered heaps of sides - wild mushrooms, salads, french fries (omg amazing!) as well as a couple of dessert trays. The dessert had to be the highpoint - delicate rich samples from the dessert menu including rasberry cannelloni, compressed melon balls, blood orange pudding.... was awesome and completely absorbing.
At the time we went, back in December, Charcoal Lane was a dry restaurant, honouring Indigenous Australia's history of alcoholism, interestingly though, this policy has since changed, if the website's wine munu is anthing to go by.
SO yes. I recommend it, especially if you're a big fan of kangaroo!
Charcoal Lane
136 Gertrude Street,
Fitzroy
3065
Tel: 03 9418 3400
Fax: 03 9418 3411
Email: eat@charcoallane.com.au
Opening hours:
Breakfast: Saturday – Sunday 9am to 11.30am
Lunch: Tuesday – Sunday 12noon to 3pm
Dinner: Tuesday – Saturday 6pm to 10.30pm
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