MELBOURNE | The last place that I dined in at before lockdown 4.0 hit was Poodle. It’s a bar and bistro that was meant to open in March last year before lockdown 1.0 happened, opened in Fitzroy in the middle of last year, just before lockdown 2.0 hit, and it was put on pause until November last year. It’s currently back on pause during lockdown 4.0.
Poodle is owned Emilio Scalzo and Zoe Rubino, who have enlisted the devices of head chef Josh Fry, who has several of years working in some of Melbourne’s top kitchens, including Marion, and Cumulus Inc, to create a menu that puts a contemporary Italian leaning spin on retro and kitschy dishes.
The space is well suited to the theme. Low lights, dark wood panelling, marble, and tiles create an air of Milan meets Paris. The main space is split into the bar area and booths and tables, there’s a courtyard out back, a dining and function space upstairs, and a rooftop bar above that with it’s own menu.
The food, as the theme suggests, doesn’t take itself to seriously, and in the hands of Fry, it’s seriously good. You can easily nibble of snacks while enjoying a drink, or go all out with a full meal here.
There’s the popular spanner crab with taramasalata and salmon roe, formerly served in vol-au-vents now atop house made crumpets, brilliantly dense pork and tarragon croquettes, charcoal grilled duck heart skewers, and a brilliant wagyu steak tartare just to name a few of the things on offer. Make sure you save room for dessert. The gingery chocolate ice-cream sandwich is divine.
The cocktail and craft beer list is short but quality, and the wine list extensive and on point. I know I’ll be coming back when lockdown is over.
Poodle
81-83 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy
Victoria 3065
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9086 8971
E-mail: [email protected]
Website
Open
Tue – Wed: 5:00pm to 11:00pm
Thu: 5:00pm to 12:00am
Fri – Sat: 12:00pm to 1:00am
Sun: 12:00pm to 5:00pm