Restaurant review
The Grain Store
SALUTING the sun, arching like a dolphin and the shoulder stand pose always leave me relaxed and ravenous,
It is just as well that my yoga session is timed just before lunch which was a good reason to visit The Grain Store in Flinders Lane.
Imagine a rustic, country-style ambience smack bang in the middle of the city and you'll appreciate this fantastic concept.
Smartly attired office types were still lingering over their cafe lattes when we arrived, while another group headed to the private dining room for a conference enlivened by scrumptious cakes.
Recently opened, The Grain Store is open every day from breakfast until 5pm.
Breakfast is served from 7am weekdays and 8am weekends until the civilised hour of noon and you can choose from wholesome sultana and quinoa bread with honey and cinnamon ricotta ($8), cotechino and lentil cassoulet with poached egg ($16), if you're starving, or portobello mushroom and raclette potato rosti ($17).
For me the iron bark pumpkin soup ($11) from the lunch menu (unti 4pm) was the perfect starter, all creamy-rich and topped with crunchy sourdough croutons, a drizzle of sage oil and a blob of chantilly cream.
Having shushed the tummy rumbles, I was comfortably ensconced in my cushioned window seat when my lunch partner arrived and decided to forego an entree and dive straight into the charcuterie board ($20).
Stylishly presented on a timber board, the array of charcuterie included locally sourced cured meats and pickles complemented by a tangy onion, beetroot and pear chutney and wafer-thin slices of crostini.
It was all I could do to flick a slice of prosciutto my way (purely for research purposes) before it all disappeared.
My slow-cooked Tasmanian trout ($23) was just as spectacular, a brick of lightly cooked fish sitting pretty on potato fondant, crowned with crisp fried leek shreds and draped with a red wine glaze.
For dessert I couldn't resist the mini pear tarte tatin ($8), warmly caressed by a butter caramel sauce with rhubarb spears and creme fraiche. Pure comfort food.
My lactose-intolerant friend was pleased with his fruit salad, which had the bonus of poached pear and goji berries.
Do visit The Grain Store soon.
Head chef Ingo Meissner's food is exciting, the staff is friendly and professional and the ambience warm and welcoming.
Try 5 at 5 on Fridays, where drinks are $5 from 5pm and served with complimentary canapes.
It is also worth mentioning that The Grain Store helps the environment in reducing the food miles of their ingredients by teaming up with CERES Fair Food organic food delivery service as their only food host in the CBD.
The Grain Store
517 Flinders Lane
Melbourne
03 9972 6993
