New Spring/Summer menu @ The Emerson Rooftop

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of The Emerson.

Located on Commercial Road South Yarra, The Emerson is Melbourne’s first destination that allows you to play on a rooftop day or night in winter or summer.

The rooftop, known as the jewel in The Emerson crown, sports a first-class retractable rooftop with motorised runners designed by the project architects at Newline Design.

We loved the rooftop area at The Emerson. It is a breathtaking space that boasts stunning views from South Yarra to Melbourne’s CBD skyline. The rooftop space boasts two large bars areas, an extensive food and drink menu, a live cooking station as well as a cushion lined deck and enough space for all night dancing and relaxing with friends.

Head Chef Jeff Trotter (ex-Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld) has carefully crafted a produce driven menu with a selection of dishes designed to be shared and enjoyed on the rooftop. 

Foreground: Tempura soft shell crab, chilli, coriander caramel

Background: Zucchini flower, feta, thyme, black olive tapenade

Our meal began with the simple, yet ever so enticing, soft shell crab. The deep fried crustacean pieces were coated in a semi-thick crisp batter that encapsulated firm, sweet flesh. Similarly the accompanying fried zucchini flowers, stuffed with goats curd was an excellent dish.  The batter encasing the zucchini flower was ethereally light and very crisp while the stuffing was rich and flavoursome.

Prawns, toasted garlic, spring onion & parsley

The dish of Crystal Bay prawns arrived as a stack of peeled and cooked prawns, toasted garlic and julienned herbs - spring onion and parsley.  The prawns were very fresh and the herbs provided punchy fragrant flavours. 

Flinders Island lamb rack, zucchini, almond, yoghurt & mint

This dish was simple, homely and well executed. The lamb was roasted to a tender and juicy pink and was exceedingly flavoursome and "melt in the mouth". 

Greenvale pork belly, spiced date puree, pea, rocket and radish

The large nuggets of moist pork belly, which contain the perfect amount of unctuous fat, are encased in a crisp outer crust and went superbly with the spiced date puree and roasted cauliflower.  Having been succulently roasted to retain a porky juiciness and achieving a healthy layer of melt-in-the-mouth fat in the process, each bite truly gratified the palate in both texture and taste. 

Asparagus, pea, lemon, goats curd, poached egg

We adored this well formulated salad of bold and vibrant flavour combinations. It was an enlivening salads with a medley of exciting flavours and textures which will appeal to even the most carnivorous individuals and was a lovely thing to throw in the mix amongst the heartier dishes we sampled.

Led by Head Chef Jeff Trotter (ex Royal Mail Dunkeld), the kitchen is in safe hands. The menu features a carefully crafted selection of dishes designed to be shared. We especially loved the use of fresh and seasonal produce and their excellent execution of it. 

Be it the middle of Winter or the stroke of Summer, The Emerson’s rooftop is fit for all seasons with its custom, advanced designed retractable rooftop The Rooftop features an extensive beverage list including a range of cocktails designed to be shared.

Location: 143-145 Commercial Road, South Yarra
Phone: 03 9825 0900
Link: http://www.theemerson.com.au/
Cuisine: Modern Australian, Seafood