Southgate Welcome Winter Feast
/
Southgate's plethora of premium restaurants makes it the perfect destination to enjoy hearty winter feasts.
To welcome the arrival of winter, Gastrology were led on a culinary journey through Southgate as the chefs and bartenders showcased the best of what the season has to offer.
First stop: ENA Greek Street Food
Translating to number one in Greek, ENA serves up rustic offerings that are inspired by the streets and beaches of Greece. The use of communal dining spaces and a focus on share plates nods to the venue’s strong roots in Greece, where meals are a fun, social and a celebratory affair.
We enjoyed tasting the menu. Of particular note was the grilled octopus - incredibly tender while retaining a robust structure courtesy of being expertly cooked. The Roasted Beetroot, prosciutto and poached figs salad was another winner.
Second stop: P.S. Bar + Kitchen
P.S. Bar + Kitchen is Pure South's more casual and relaxed approach to eating and drinking. The eatery offers beautifully prepared modern Australian cuisine that is perfect for sharing. Adopting the ethos of Pure South, the restaurant serves superbly fresh produce, all sourced directly from Tasmania, King Island and Flinders Island.
With Head Chef David Hall heading the kitchen, the restaurant is in safe hands. Everything we tasted was delicious. An absolute stand out was the Sticky King Island beef short rib. The beef short rib was stunning - Tender, falling off the bone, juicy and packed with flavour. A memorable dish combining flawless texture with equally superlative flavours, it was particularly noteworthy for its fragrant and complex beefy flavours.
Third stop: Tutto Bene
“Tutto Bene” is an Italian phrase that translates literally to “everything’s good”. Our previous visits to Tutto Bene suggest that it is a highly appropriate name - one which evokes memories of the warm familial atmosphere, of the consistent excellence of its cuisine and, inevitably, of their revered risotto.
On this occasion Tutto Bene pleased with an absolutely delightful tiramisu. The tiramisu was well made, with its flavour heavily dominated by the constituent alcoholic component. It was a simple traditional dessert that was well executed and thoroughly enjoyable.
Final stop: Waterslide Bar
Waterslide Bar is located in the precinct’s opening onto the spiral staircase overlooking the Princes Bridge and city skyline.
The bar is a tribute to the colourful area once known as “near Princes Bridge”. Favoured as a circus location and outdoor playground since the 1870s, Princes Bridge was Melbourne’s entertainment hub until well into the 20th century. Just metres from Southgate’s spiral staircase, adventure seekers used to hop into a water chute taller than the skyscrapers of the time. They would then be propelled down a wooden waterslide, fully dressed to the nines!
Various elements from the history of the cocktail were an inspiration in the concept with added contemporary quirky characteristics like, swing seats, lounge nooks, dramatic bottle display, rocking chairs and rotating stools as subtle touch points for customers to draw to.
Our favourite cocktail of the night was The Baller - magnificent! Not one for the faint hearted, the cocktail was a heady combination of Hennessy VSOP, Cynar and Bruichladdich Octomore, stirred and served up to deliver a smokey yet complex drink.
Winter nights come alive at Southgate with its restaurants showcasing warming seasonal produce with a feast of foodie events. Find out more at www.southgatemelbourne.com.au.
