Grumpys Green
Most bars I know look a little seedy during the day what with the light picking up the spilt beer and split chair fabric and whatnot. So it’s interesting that Grumpys Green is not only open for dinner and bar snacks, but also breakfast from 10. Having only visited for dinner, I can’t actually tell you how Grumpys fairs in the daylight but perhaps they’re going on the fact that the food is just that good that people don’t care. Or that they’re too hung-over too notice. Both are distinct possibilities.
It has to be something pretty spectacular to get me to trek over to the other side. But when perusing Grumpys menu online, it got my little vegetarian heart racing. The experience of being able to eat anything on the menu is always a little overwhelming, especially when everything sounds totally, one hundred percent mouth watering. What’s not to love about beer battered eggplant wedges in tomato chutney? Not much I tell you, not much.
Which was somewhat a problem because rather than choosing between things, my friends and I ended up ordering most of them and when the first dish of nachos came out like some heavenly mountain range of goodness, (the thing was huge I tell you, several mountains’ worth) we began to worry that we’d over-ordered just a little bit. Thankfully, everything else was a normal size and I even considered dessert at the end (though I am able to fit a curiously large amount of food into a seemingly small exterior.)
But though the food is glorious, the set up is unusual. It’s far more of a pub than anything else, (albeit an environmentally friendly, vegetarian friendly one.) Finding a table for nine was quite a challenge given that none of us felt like embracing Melbourne’s wintery depths to sit outside. Having crowded out some drinkers from the long high table in the centre of the room, we helped ourselves to menus and then began the arduous task of trying to order. In the end we settled for writing a list and handing it to the barman. I’m not sure that’s what was supposed to happen but food arrived and in correct quantities. However towards the end of dinner we experienced a karmic crowding-out from others so we took our leave slightly earlier than planned.
Still, it was a great meal and probably one to be repeated.
Here are some things I have learnt about Grumpys:
The food is spectacular (Highlights include the eggplant wedges, spring rolls and mountainous nachos. Next time I’m going the tower burger because I experienced massive order envy when I saw it slip past our table to a booth behind us. Although the breakfast tortilla sounds great…and there’s still half an entrée menu to sample…)
Keep your party to four or five to maximise comfort and the probability of finding a table.
Glutards* are made to feel as welcome as vegetarians and lactards**. A triumph for all!
Organic doesn’t have to mean exorbitant. All ingredients (including wine and beer) are sourced in Victoria and many are organic, yet most dishes hovered between $8 and $12.
I really need to live somewhere on the other side, where asymmetrical haircuts and grungy knitwear are essential.
*Urbandictionary.com explains this as one who is glutarded, ie:
“Hey, do you want some pasta for dinner?”
“No, sorry, I’m a glutard.”
“…what does that mean?”
“It means… I’m glutarded.”
“Oh. Okay.”
**As above except with an aversion to products obtained from a cow’s udder, rather than wheaten-like foodstuffs.
Seedy is an understatement in some Melbourne’s clubs hope this one is good when i check it out.
by JANICE on September 22nd, 2010 at 12:56 pm