Pub:                       Arcadia Hotel
Where:                 2 Toorak Rd, Sth Yarra
Phone:                 9866 5380
Date:                     17 June 2011
Score:                   13.5/20
internet:              www.arcadiahotel.com.au

OVERVIEW:

What good fun this pub is. Having been past this icon of the inner  s-east too many times to recall, I have never ventured in until today.  Definitely aimed at a younger 20 something market, it doesn’t lose sight of the fact that it is a pub first, with terrific beer and good grub at sensible prices.

How many times have you seen the old Victoria Bitter neon, on the 3^rd floor of this pub?  I know we get all ‘ancy’ about the skipping girl and the nylex clock, but this too, is a Melbourne treasure.

At the moment, there is a stack of work taking place inside, where 6 pool tables are nestled closer  than standing room  patrons at the G on grand final day.   But in the dimly lit sunken floor that housed them, those playing navigated their way around the baize without incident.

It is hard to put this one into any specific category as the inside is a Victorian terrace with a room to sit by the fire, a swish lounge bar, very small front bar and a rooftop terrace  (retractable roof is a winner).

No Tab/Pokies, meal deals during the week (Wednesday steak recently 300 were served – heaven knows how!), the pub relies on goodwill and hospitality to trade successfully.

Repeat business suggests it is doing this.

PRICES:

Entrees:               $7-12
Mains:                  $18
Desserts:             Not really
Wine:                    $30+, good range, established brands with a mix of the interesting

COMMENTS:

The pub succeeds in being all things to all people of as wide a demographic imaginable.  It is a traditional pub, heavily relying on sports to bring the crowd in.  To that end, it reminds me of the much loved Rose Hotel in Fitzroy.  There is a small, good old fashioned bar if that’s your thing.

If I was to try and tag the Arcadia it would be the anathema of the swanky, exclusive clubs in the area.  There is an element of controlled, nice, (I have been watching Fargo lately) grunge about the pub!!

The kitchen is located on the rooftop terrace, complete with retractable roof and that’s where the majority of the action takes place.  They do some smart food and there is a good range of small plates.   The down side is the two storey walk for staff and patrons alike but once up there you get what the Arcadia is all about.

The pub goes out of its way to keep food prices as low as possible; turnover is huge. 

ORDERED:

-Ham and pea croquettes (4) on eggplant dip - $7.  Smart and tasty.

-Moroccan lamb Sausage Rolls. 2 for $7. Puff pastry encases the snags – good, hot, nice filler.

-Melbourne Pizza - $8.50.  Here goes and I not making this one up:

-Tomato

-Ham

-Brie

-Beetroot.  And it works!!

-Fish and Chips - $16. Flathead tails.  No faults, but stock/standard

-Penne Chicken Pesto - $16.   Not bad, a little rich

-Plantagenet Riesling (WA) - $35.  Good pale colour, fruity and I think at $7/glass was fair shopping.

SUMMARY:

There is still much to be done here with painters and plasterers in force.  Even given the old exterior, I had formed the view that it was solely a place to have a beer and that’s it.

Wrong.  There’s a soul to the Arcadia and I like it.  As the warmer months kick in, their rooftop will be place to go and have a bite. Sadly, not much they can about the stairs.

For such a small area, there’s plenty packed in.