Pub:  North Fitzroy Arms Hotel
Where:  296 Rae St., North Fitzroy
Phone:  9489 8519
Date:  20 August 2010
Score:  14.8/20
Internet: www.northfitzroyarms.com.au

I am here to proclaim a first in Melbourne hotelling life, and as already experienced by email, give up one of Melbourne’s best kept secrets.

There are pubs that Irish/English, pubs that are sports bars, parma havens, have 70 beers on tap but there isn’t one like the North Fitzroy Arms.

Welcome to Melbourne’s first Slovenian pub, or more precisely, owned and operated by a generous husband and wife team cooking up a storm of goulashes, sausages, strudel, smoky pork etc, that give more than a passing nod to their country of birth.

Actually it a more a shrine to old Fitzroy Footy Club, and the tables in the bar bear the royal lion motif, suitably set out in maroon and gold. Fitzroy jumper on the walls, a WEG poster and a proud photo of the greatest royboy, Kevin Murray.

Set aside any thoughts of being overly sporty; it’s not in spite of the TVN going quietly in the background. No TAB, No Pokies.

It is fabulous old school Fitzroy, great horseshoe public bar, passage way to the dining room, a courtyard setting to the right. If you can’t get comfortable here, you’re not trying.

The beer is excellent, 7oz glasses, and sticks to a couple of choices only. The pub was humming on the Thursday lunch time, and was told at night later in the week, the place is alive.

My suggestion – if you are so inclined to have a look – BOOK.

The food was wonderful. And something pub goers aren’t inclined to do and that is share so the three dishes were brought out and the three of us tucked in.

Tried was;

-  Entrée of spicy calamari (13), served on a hot plate ( about 8 pieces0 with a chilli sauce. Balance was superb, and the calamari had that char grill flavour through them. This is how you serve this often totally butchered dish!!

-  Kassler ( smoked pork chops – 2 ), horseradish sauce, bread dumplings and vegetables - $27. Tuck in, share it around with the friends. Excellent pub grub.

-  Sizzling Saganaki Prawns - $28. Uncertain how the cheese and prawns would mix, but with the rich tomato sauce, fresh prawns (8/9) and with a mound of spinach rice and crisp beans, the meal was easily knocked over.

-  Murindindi Vineyards “Don’t tell Dad” chardonnay - $35. Produced at Yea, the story behind the name is cute – the fizz was a beauty. And you get the sense by buying from fire affected areas, you are offering real support.

The traditional Slovenian apple strudel tempted (12), but no, the meal was a ripper and so we passed.
But why does it work?

Well, there is the theory of good hospitality, backed up by food and bev, but there is something about the North Fitzroy Arms that nails it as soon as you enter. Simply you are comfortable and can take up a quiet space and be left alone.

Also it carries a bit of a legacy with the name ‘Haskins’. This pub was a trend setter in the 90’s but opted for a safer approach with its offer, rather than push the boundaries in the past decade.

But after 4 years, the noise about the pub gathers momentum. Like many, you want to discover a new place and then basically crap on about ‘your discovery’ to the accolade of the masses.

Can’t do that here – its been going gangbusters for too long. But I’m glad I went.

The North Fitzroy Arms – another of the fine pubs doing brilliantly in Melbourne.

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