MELBOURNE | Ruby Dining is a new venue from the team behind the “Operator” trio of venues – Operator25, Operator Diner and Operator San. It’s the first restaurant from co-owners Randy Dhamanhuri and Valerie Fong, inspired by the brasseries of London and New York. I was recently invited in to take a look.
It’s a small space, with lots of dark timber and a white-tiled rear wall. There’s brown leather booths, and deep ruby red accents, all of which nod to the venue’s brasserie inspirations. For breakfast, you’ll find a menu that runs along the same vein as other three venues. Things like a croque madame with smoked ham, aged cheddar, and double yolk egg; shokupan French toast topped with strawberries, mascarpone, maple syrup, and pistachio; and excellent coffee.
From 11:30pm, Ruby Dining’s lunch and dinner menu of bistro classics, and familiar dishes with a twist, becomes available. It’s been developed by head chef James Cornwall, in collaboration with his chefs Leon Appelbee and Jaehong Park.
There’s classics like Black Angus bavette steak with fries, and your choice of sauce – Bearnaise, pink peppercorn or mojo verde; and a grass-fed beef hamburger, with aged cheddar, pickles, and fries. The bavette steak, at $35 ($28 on Mondays) for a 220g steak of this quality, is one of the best value steak options in the city at the moment.
Of the smaller dishes, try the crispy duck salad with plum dressing, watermelon, and radicchio; and the Margaret River Wagyu bacon skewers topped with gentleman’s relish, and pine mushroom. Brown butter madeleines with whipped goat cheese and honey are a wonderful lighter option for dessert.
To drink it’s mostly local beer and wine, with a cocktail list of classics and house creations.
Ruby Dining
1/189 Queen Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9606 0664
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Sun – Tue: 8:00am to 3:00pm
Wed: 8:00am to 9:00pm
Thu -Sat : 8:00am to 10:00pm