Austins at Mount Erica Hotel

Iconic Prahran venue, the Mount Erica Hotel, has undergone a transformation with a new team and two new offerings, Austin’s restaurant and Austin’s Pantry & Wine Bar.

This improved incarnation sets the bar high when it comes to dining. 

The kitchen is led by respected chef, Sunny Gilbert (MoVida Next Door, Orange) who has brought with him long-time colleague and venue manager Ross Murray (MoVida Next Door, Jamie Oliver Italian Kitchen). Together their efforts have transformed the once loved Mount Erica with a new direction inspired from their experiences.

Austin’s - named after Sunny’s son - is a Spanish and Mediterranean influenced restaurant and garden serving shared tapas dishes complemented by daily specials, using only the freshest, locally sourced and seasonal produce delivered each day.

The ambiance is relaxed and the service friendly and quick, making it a great place to drop in for a casual drink or stay for a long lunch - the perfect local. The  menu boasts a delicious selection of tapa to accompany the succinct wine list which features varieties from local Victorian suppliers and a selection of Sunny’s favourites from Europe.

Our evening commenced with crusty in-house baked bread served with some excellent extra virgin olive oil - a great sign of things to come. 

The octopus served with squid ink was one of our favourite dishes of the night. The octopus was incredibly tender while retaining a robust structure courtesy of being expertly cooked. The accompanying heady squid ink delivered a luxurious salinity and also enhanced the flavours of the octopus.

The clams which followed were sweet, luscious, perfectly cooked rockling and bathed in a light yet flavoursome and aromatic broth.

The crispy skinned pork belly served with pickled fennel and apple is another must have. Succulently prepared to retain a porky juiciness whilst achieving a healthy layer of melt-in-the-mouth fat in the process, each moreish morsel was tender and sat beneath a perfect layer of crackling.

The duck breast continued the trend of the evening - delicious.  The generous slices of duck breast were beautifully cooked, allowing the rich flavour of the duck to shine through. The freshness of the figs, summer cress and sweet port-soaked currants provided balance. Superb. 

Pleasing to both the eyes and palate, the Crème à la cassonade was a wonderfully sweet end to our visit. Rich, smooth and eggy, it was seductively easy to eat. An exemplary display of Sunny's versatility.

Location: 420 High Street, Prahran
Phone: +61 (3) 9529 5770
Link: www.mterica.com.au
Cuisine: Spanish