REVIEW:
There's been lots of fuss over Rockpool opening in Melbourne. Inner-city rivalry raising its head perhaps or just the apprehension of a well-known chef opening a large and fine dining restaurant. But Rockpool Bar & Grill is no simple clone of the Sydney original. The menu is a la carte rather than degustation, and meat features highly, with fine aged grass-fed beef including a stunning Wagyu Rib-eye steak. The much-hyped publicity around this $90 dish would indicate that the entire menu is very expensive, but overall pricing would have three courses at $75. There is a bar menu that allows for a graze of Rockpoolýs offerings over a glass or two of wine. Rockpool has always taken wine seriously and hiring talented local sommeliers has ensured an appropriately Melbourne-style wine list that crosses the globe for an extensive and eclectic selection. The large, high-ceilinged space has been creatively broken up by slatted screening into a bar and restaurant space so that each area feels warm and intimate, with the bar itself a discreet mix of booths and open seating. The kitchen itself is open, and very obvious as you walk along the Yarra promenade, but it is also discreetly screened from the dining area. Rockpool looks cool, feels cool, and is an exciting & stylish addition to Melbourne drinking and dining.
