37 Little Collins St
Melbourne, VIC 3000
Melbourne, VIC 3000
Merry Christmas everyone! (yep, I wrote this a while back)
As lovely as this time of year is though, it’s become more and more stressful
as I have gotten older. Organising decorations, Christmas dinner, and all the
presents, I get pretty high strung to say the least. So a meal at Bar Lourinha is a welcome
respite; it has all the ingredients for a relaxing night out – secluded and
cosy, simple yet good food, and a small selection of quality alcoholic
beverages, should I feel so inclined.
Tucked away in a little corner,
shaded by trees and dwarfed by the parking complex, the tiny restaurant seems
almost organic compared to the surrounding urban sprawl. Every spare inch of
room on the walls is covered with assorted knick knacks, and we were promptly
seated at the bar, menus in hand and having the specials (oysters, fried
peppers and the like) explained to us.
Lardo 'Soldiers' ($4) |
We started off our night sharing
one of their infamous Lardo ‘Soldiers’
($4). A finger of crispy, grilled brioche was wrapped with a slice of
prosciutto that has all but melted into the bread. Finished with a drizzle of
extra virgin olive oil and spices, this was as fatteningly delicious as it
sounded.
Yellow Tail Kingfish 'Pancetta' and Lemon Oil ($18) |
The Yellow Tail Kingfish ‘Pancetta’ and Lemon Oil ($18) came
with a side of good sourdough bread and pats of butter. Sitting in a puddle of light,
fruity olive oil, the firm and succulent slices of kingfish were buttery and
especially delicious enhanced with a squeeze of lemon and a dash of herbs.
Grilled Veal Tongue, Broad Bean and Mint ($18) |
Feeling a bit adventurous, I
ordered a plate of Grilled Veal
Tongue, Broad Bean and Mint ($18). The folds of veal tongue were rich
with caramelised edges, and more tender than the best wagyu. They were best
eaten with a smear of the refreshing, grassy mint and broad bean puree.
Roasted Eggplant, Spiced Tomatoes and Boquerones ($16) |
Roasted Eggplant, Spiced Tomatoes and Boquerones ($16) |
We were still a bit hungry at that
point so one last dish was in order – the Roasted
Eggplant, Spiced Tomatoes and Boquerones ($16). We were initially
surprised that this was a cold dish but after the initial shock, we piled
pieces of silken eggplant, spicy crushed tomato and meaty anchovies onto
sourdough bread. Freshened up with basil leaves, this was a wonderfully summery
finish to our mains.
Blood Orange Crema and Burnt Orange Caramel ($11) |
But of course, we always have room
for dessert, and neither of us could go past a good crème caramel. We were told
that the Blood Orange Crema and Burnt
Orange Caramel ($11) was absolutely beautiful, not that we needed much
convincing to start off with.
Blood Orange Crema and Burnt Orange Caramel ($11) |
The burnt orange caramel was
overwhelming, too sweet, too sour, too bitter. But once we got to the dense,
tofu-like custard, it was all smooth sailing from there. It was rich, thick and
creamy, and as long as you’re moderate with the caramel, absolutely beautiful.
Bar Lourinha is very hidden away in
the jungle of the city but it has its own loyal following. It’s popular with
couples but also with larger groups, such as the giggly gaggle of ladies
catching up before Christmas on the day we were there. The staff were all
lovely but our waiter, Michael, was awesome. They were down one person that
night yet he still found time to explain the menu to us, and to stop for a chat
every now and then. This is the perfect place to bring a special someone; just
don’t let any of the waiters charm them away!
Rating: 15.5/20 – michael <3

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