Newly opened The Town Mouse at 312 Drummond Street Carlton is delighting diners with its relaxed, finessed food and drinking in the iconic and historically prosperous restaurant site, proffered with an edgy yet refreshing ambiance.
Chef Dave Verheul has hatched a menu bountiful in seasonal produce that flaunts the extensive range of local offerings he has discovered since arriving in Melbourne from New Zealand. Verheul’s cuisine focuses on balance and texture with a sophisticated interest that remains approachable without overwork or over garnish.
Commencing with light starters designed to share such as profiteroles with goats cheese mousse, honey icing and black caraway salt and moving to raw entrée style dishes, bonito with gin botanicals, sesame cream, rhubarb, green tomato and avruga. The menu progresses into main-sized share dishes such as milk roasted suckling pig shoulder with caper parsley jus, saffron shallots and potato yoghurt, offers five exciting vegetarian options and finishes with fresh fig puree, poached vincotto meringue, soured orange and salted caramel ice cream.
Owner Christian McCabe says the menu showcases an array of original and award winning techniques. “The key aspect of the food is that it is gastronomic, yet humble enough to be eaten everyday which allows the venue to function equally as a local as well as a dining destination for special occasions or date night”.
McCabe, who set the benchmark for New Zealand’s hospitality industry with his 2008 Cuisine NZ Restaurant of the Year, Matterhorn, has teamed up with sister Amber McCabe (previously Longrain) and Jay Comeskey (previously St Ali) to create a casual yet unsurpassable front of house crew.
Interiors by Allistar Cox create a combination of glamour, old school charm and again that humbleness with hand crafted and natural materials.
“The design of The Town Mouse is an idealised portrayal of how we believe the everyday should be lived – just because something is nice doesn’t mean it should be saved for a special occasion. Being with friends and family is special enough,” McCabe said.
The Town Mouse is open for lunch Friday to Sunday and dinner Tuesday to Sunday.
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