Hotel Lincoln
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MoVida Aqui’s ex-manager, Iain Ling has taken over historic Carlton pub, Hotel Lincoln. While the iconic pub’s architectural features have remained the same, the food offerings have been revamped.
Having assembled a dream team with Lachlan Cameron (Supernormal, MoVida Aqui) running the kitchen, Emma Ramos (Le Bon Ton, The Everleigh) behind the bar and Paul Guiney (most recently floor manager for Brooks) running the floor, Ling has breathed new life into the Lincoln with a menu that pushes pub boundaries.
We were pleased to indulge in a specially curated dinner featuring some of their most popular dishes.
Spanner crab, corn crackers
Atop the perfectly crisp corn crackers lay soft shreds of beautifully sweet spanner crab. We loved this delicate start to our dinner.
Coffee-cured trout with radish and nashi pear
The cured trout was delicious. A wonderful mélange of flavours, the cured ocean trout slices boasted a distinct coffee taste and aroma. We loved the addition of radish and nashi pear which added a delightful freshness to the dish.
Beetroot, pickled green tomato, farro, goats’ cheese
We were particularly pleased with this dish of perfectly balanced flavours. Luxurious goat’s cheese paired beautifully with the slight acidity from the beetroot and pickled green tomato which brought a lovely tanginess that cut through the creaminess of the cheese while the farro added a lovely textural element. It all came together beautifully.
From left: Triple cooked chips; Brussel sprouts, nduja, slow cooked egg
Lamb shoulder, pickled fennel, rocket
The lamb shoulder was superbly slow roasted and was incredibly tender and went very well with the well-conceived side dishes.
Chocolate & beetroot pudding, crème anglaise
The desserts at the Lincoln were similarly well devised. Our dessert of Chocolate & beetroot pudding was well made with gooey chocolate centre and a slightly crisp cake exterior. The classic combination of citrus (in the form of dehydrated orange zests) further enhanced the dark chocolate flavours while the addition of beetroot in the constituent batter ensured the pudding was beautifully moist.
Having earned a nomination for ‘People’s Choice’ at the Time Out Melbourne Pub Awards, our recent visit has certainly helped us understand why. The Lincoln is reaching exciting new heights that go above and beyond what you would expect.
Location: 91 Cardigan Street, Carlton
Phone: 03 9347 4666
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Hotel Lincoln.
