MELBOURNE | The Rocket Society is a new wine bar by Joseph Abboud, located next door to his recently relocated iconic Lebanese restaurant, Rumi. Named after Lebanon’s short lived 1960s space programme (a move came out about it in 2012), the Rocket Society is the youthful, fun counterpart to 17 year-old Rumi.
Whereas Rumi is all about the restaurant’s classic dishes that diners know and love, the Rocket Society is where Joe and the kitchen flex their creative muscles. It’s a small venue, with space for 20 people overlooking an alfresco laneway that’s home to Bridge Road Brewers’s new brewpub, and the soon to open FOMO cinemas.
Open from lunch until night, the menu is constantly changing. During the day, it’s wraps with flavours like beef kofta, parsley, tomato and sumac; and my favourite, chips, toum, and pickles.
As night approaches, the menu switches to a more snacky wine bar affair. Lamb and sweetbread kebabs; salt and Aleppo pepper seasoned fried barramundi wing with toum tartare sauce; and HSP croquettes are just a few of the things you can expect to find on the menu. Those three dishes in particular, are well worth trying. And yes, there’s hummus and flatbread.
To drink it’s light, fun wines, and creative cocktails created by bar manager Grace McArthur. Grace is really into mezcal at the moment, so be sure to try one of her smoky mezcal creations. If you’re looking for a bolder wine than what’s on the menu, you can also ask to take a look at Rumi’s wine list.
The Rocket Society
2 Village Avenue
Brunswick East
Victoria 3057
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9388 8255
E-mail: [email protected]
Website
Open
Mon – Sun: 11:00am to 10:00pm