Brother Burger opens second restaurant on Chapel Street

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Brother Burger and the Marvellous Brew.

Adored Fitzroy burger destination, Brother Burger and the Marvellous Brew, has crossed the river to open its second restaurant on Melbourne’s iconic Chapel Street. Taking over the site formerly home to Café Greco, Brother Burger is part of the new guard of Chapel Street hangouts.

We loved the atmosphere and social vibe of their new haunt. Owner, Marcelo Tummino, who in a former life worked in advertising as an art director, has filled the industrial inspired space with pre-­‐loved items he personally collected. Recycled materials complement the nostalgic ambiance of the venue, which boasts a receding courtyard entrance framed by New York loft-style windows, large red semi-circle leather booths, a wall panelled in deconstructed metal shelves, tennis court lighting and over 800 vintage meat grinders.

The menu focuses on producing authentic, high quality food. You can expect a few tweaks to the original menu you know and love, but we can confirm there is no deviation from the timeless flavour combinations which are all made by hand, from scratch. 

We enjoyed the Hot Stuff burger - an almighty burger with a large 100% wagyu grilled beef patty, smoky double bacon, melted cheese, house-made pickles, mustard-mayo and chilli jam all squeezed into a fresh, toasted brioche bun. It was the small details that set it apart - from the slightly crispy edges of the pattie to the subtle smokiness of the bacon. Yum!

For something a little different from the beef patty, we recommend their Hey Ewe! burger which is filled with beautifully spiced lamb, beetroot, lettuce, preserved lemon and minted yoghurt and house-made pickles. A clever and pleasingly complex combination of flavours that we loved. 

Their fries were beautifully crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside while their onion rings had us doing it Gollum style - fighting for the last ring. They were deliciously sweet, soft, sticky and encased by incredibly crispy batter (highly recommended).

And while you're there, don't leave without having a look at their ever changing dessert specials. We loved indulging in their very decadent chocolate ganache tart.

Showcasing a menu that maintains the integrity of premium produce and an impressive 15 tap beer selection, Brother Burger combines the winning combination of juicy burgers with independent craft beers. We will be back. 

Location: 560 Chapel Street, South Yarra

Phone: 03 9041 1393

Link: http://www.brotherburger.com.au/

Cuisine: Burgers, Bar, Bar & Grill

Greek-Cretan banquet @ Zimari

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Zimari.

Zimari offers a diverse culinary trip for those wanting to explore Greek - Cretan cuisine in Melbourne. The menu takes you through an array of the island’s traditional cuisine using time honoured techniques and flavours.

Zimari opened its doors last November and is owned by Yiannis Malindretos and his partner Melanie Raman, and is already (not surprisingly!), a neighbourhood favourite.

Warm garlic pita bread with oregano and olive oil, served with smoked eggplant dip, tzatziki, caviar roe dip and beetroot dip.

Our feast began with warm pita bread served with an interesting caviar roe dip; smoked eggplant dip , beetroot dip and tzatziki. These dips of bold and vibrant flavour combinations were each well formulated and delicious. 

Dakakia 

Cretan bruschetta with mizithra cheese and crushed tomato

The dakakia was a cracker. Made from crisp bread topped with chopped tomatoes, crumbled mizithra cheese and dried herbs and drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper, the dakakia was a perfectly light appetiser.

Ouzo prawns sautéed prawns in garlic, lemon, ouzo and avocado

The dish of Ouzo prawns were our favourite dish of the night. The prawns were very fresh and the garlic, lemon and ouzo provided punchy fragrant flavours while the avocado imparted a luxurious and rich touch.

From left: Spanakoptia – homemade pastry filled with spinach and mizithra cheese; Greek salad - lettuce, tomato, cucumber, pepper, onion, feta and olives

Spiced pulled pork, chickpeas coleslaw

The spiced pulled pork boasted a lovely and unique flavour. It was beautifully tender, courtesy of being slow cooked and was accompanied by a wonderfully fresh chickpeas coleslaw.

Beef cooked in red wine with pumpkin mash

Baked lamb - lamb marinated in orange juice and wine, served with oven potatoes

The outstanding baked lamb was expertly prepared. The lamb meat was incredibly tender and full of flavour. The perfectly baked oven potatoes were a more than willing canvas for the decadent flavours which we found both complex and interesting.

Sikalaki gliko (greek fig spoon sweet) and Portokalopita (orange and syrup cake with filo and yogurt)

Zimari’s rendition of the classic portokalopita was superb - crispy, syrupy, custardy and paired with sikalaki gliko enveloped in thick, creamy Greek yoghurt. It was a refreshingly zesty dessert that was made even better when paired with a couple of shots of Mastic Skinos.

Zimari pleases with simple foods, meticulously prepared with love. 

Location: 268 High Street, Windsor

Phone: 03 9529 7894

Link: Facebook 

Cuisine: Greek, Breakfast, Bar & Grill