[content_slider]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[/content_slider]
MELBOURNE | Red Gum BBQ is one of Melbourne’s best BBQ restaurants. It opened in 2017 in the Mornington Peninsula, but the pedigree of the venue goes back well before then. It’s the creation of wife and husband team Melissa and Martin Goffin. Melissa hails from Florida, and grew up enjoying BBQ while British-born Martin spent years learning about BBQ in the US south, including a stint on the pits at Souhern Soul BBQ in South Georgia.
In 2012 they decided to open a BBQ restaurant and in 2013 Red Gum was born as a pop up with a marquee, a trailer, and a Texas offset smoker. The BBQ proved so popular that it soon became time to open a stand alone restaurant, which is what opened in 2017 inside an old former truck’s mechanics space.
The 900 square metre space is large and open. A bar takes up one end while the four metre long trailer pit “Big Red” from Texas can be found at the other end. In between is a lot of communal seating, a children’s play area, and a small stage for live music. It’s a lively space that’s popular with locals and visitors, groups of friends and families.
The menu features a large selection of barbecue favourites like brisket, pulled pork, ribs, slaw, and cornbread. All meat is free range and sourced locally, and smoked over native Australian hardwoods.
We had a large group when we visited, so were able to try several things of the menu. Long story short, everything was fantastic. The brisket uses Hopkins River beef and is smoked for around 16 hours. It has the perfect texture, falls apart in your mouth, with a beautiful crust. One of the best we’ve tried in Australia. The pulled pork is fantastic too, and a proper vinegar sauce is provided to cut through the fat wonderfully. The beef ribs are another highlight – succulent and full of flavour.
The sides are no slouch either. Brisket chilli cheese fries are fantastic, as is the corn bread, which is served with whipped honey butter. The ‘Grandma Cobb Corn’ with creole butter is another winner. If we had to find something to pick on we’d say the mac & cheese isn’t the best we’ve had in town, but even then it’s still delicious.
Thirsty folk are well served at Red Gum, with 11 local craft beers on tap from the likes of Red Hill, Mr Banks, and Dainton. If you can’t decide what to order, a tasting paddle of any five beers is available. Sparkling, red, white, and rose wines are all local too, and there’s a whole range of non-alcoholic drinks for those who don’t want booze.
It took us longer than we’d have liked to visit Red Gum but we’re glad we finally did. The space is great, atmosphere fun, and service friendly. Most importantly of all, the food is fantastic. It’s easily one of our top BBQ restaurants in the country.
Red Gum BBQ
87 Arthurs Seat Road
Red Hill
Victoria 3937
Australia
Telephone: (03) 5989 3156
E-mail: [email protected]
Website
Open
Wed – Sun: 11:00am to 9:00pm