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Thursday May 17, 2012

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The Little Press & Cellar

Posted by: Ela Carte | 10 August, 2010 - 1:50 PM
Little Press Club

The Little Press & Cellar
72 Flinders St City 9677 9677
www.thepressclub.com.au

After a full refurb of big sister restaurant next year, and 6 months worth of reno’s itself, the Little Press & Cellar is finally open. Formerly the Press Club bar, the rebirth isn’t one that leaves it unrecognizable, it’s still a bar/restaurant/casual space, but certainly it’s now a real dining alternative with a relaxed feel and now the addition of a private room/cellar for those wanting a more private feel.

Focus for Little Press now is on the wines, trying to allow punters the chance to try the great wines that are on the restaurant menu, and through some pretty nifty technology the opportunity to try some more unique and ‘expensive’ wines by the taste, half glass or glass.

But of course, the exciting stuff is the food. Things can get pricey next door, so Little Press offers us a fantastic chance to try the wares of a deserved celebrity chef … reasonably priced smaller share plates, and a few gutsier mains.

You know food is good when it elicits an audible reaction, and this tucker managed to do that more than once. What did we eat? First - marinated olives with pistachio and chilli crumbs.
Next, a plate of octopus slices drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil.
And then … prawns were rolled in thinly shredded Kataifi pastry, deep fried and sat upon tangy avocado puree and drizzled with a honey dressing.

So those audible sighs, they accompanied the BBQ’d pork riblets - mini racks of meat, not just falling off the bone, the bones seemed to leap away from it before your fork made contact, and soaking in sweet tomato sauce with sour grapes. Just divine!
 
Last of the small plates was a potted rabbit, beautiful shredded meat that could be slurped up with a knife and slapped onto toasts with a tasty cherry preserve/jam.

That probably should have been enough, but there were three larger options on the menu (including a slow cooked goat cooked with 40 garlic cloves) to choose from … but we were offered some lamb off the spit from next door with white bean skordalia and winter coleslaw. Greek meat how it’s supposed to be - soft, and super tasty. For food alone, you’re looking at a bill there at just over $100 for three people.

The wine selection is impressive, though certainly not cheap – it’ll be your choice of grape that determines how expensive your day/night is.
Cheapest wines by the glass don’t drop below the $10 mark. The Hoddles Creek Estate Chardonnay and 2004 Thompson Estate Cab Sav came in and $11 and $14.5 respectively, both well worth the price put on them. Some of the more unusual wines kept fresh with the “Le Verre de Vin” system range from $4 for a taste to $90 a glass!

Be warned – Little Press is following the example of many smaller, relaxed establishments in refusing to take bookings for tables of anything under 6 people, which makes it really difficult to count on a nice dinner out.
Your best bet is to perhaps try it for a weekday lunch, or according to staff, things quieten down later in the night so it’s a great option for dropping in after a movie or show, the kitchen’s open until 1am.

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