Pub of the Week: Hunter and Hound, South Melbourne
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Hunter and Hound
Where: 209 Clarendon St, South Melbourne
Phone: 8637 0775
Internet: www.hunterandhoundpub.com.au
SCORE: 12/20
MARCH 6
VENUE: The Hunter and Hound (H&H) is a British style pub in the ground floor space that has had its share of aliases over the journey within the “old” Clarendon Hotel space on the corner of Moray in South Melbourne.
That area of Melbourne (read as North of Park St, South Melbourne) has had owner/operators/name changes in recent times and this offering, with a share of shortcomings – easily remedied – is a neat area with a small bar, discreet pool table, sealed concrete floors, leather lounges to make for a pleasant time. It looks good.
Menu is best described as stock standard pub grub, nothing more/less, reasonably priced, with some specials on food and drink dotted throughout the week.
The pub has plenty of seating outside on the corner which is ideal to observe the passing parade, but the antennae went up as the background music was easily audible across the road (Moray St) before entering the pub. Suffice to say overly loud once inside.
Two things about this; British pubs, at lunchtime don’t have it at this volume and two, it is easily remedied. Staff please remember – it’s the customer experience that matters, not something to sing along with, to pass the time of day.
MENU: Now sequencing is vital, but the cardinal sin of bringing everything at once when request is made for entrees first, break, then mains, is a no-no. In spite of a baleful and heartful “sorry”, it just shouldn’t happen.
Chilli garlic prawns ($6), Calabrian chilli, confit garlic, white wine, parsley, bread ($22), was a good start, neat kick in the sauce, bread though needed more charring.
Entrees number 6-7, buffalo hot wings, ranch, spring onion/charred corn ribs, herb Butter, chipotle mayo were $15.
From the mains, visually splendid were the salt and pepper fried chicken, capsicum medley, red onions, red chillies, curry sauce, chips ($28), or steak sandwich, marinated porterhouse, roasted red capsicum, chimichurri, jack cheese, rocket, mustard mayo on Turkish bread, chips ($32).
A sticky date pudding, vanilla ice cream, or rotating ice cream selection rounds it out.
Small wine list, from a couple of suppliers, fairly priced. Tarot Pinot Grigio ($12) was a neat choice from a total of 11-12.
The Sunday roast is $29, beef and comes properly plated, roast potatoes and vegetables, and was a filling meal. God example of a decent pub roast.
Average Prices:
Entrees/starters: $17
Mains: $32
Desserts: $14
Surcharges: 10 per cent Sundays
Beer: Carlton, $7.5/pot, $11
Wine: $14pg
Roast: $29 (Sunday)
Tab: No
Pokies: No
Jack Ginnivan Steak Index (JGSI): This week; Hunter and Hound scotch fillet (LG) 300gm grass fed scotch fillet, charred broccolini, chips, peppercorn sauce, $57.
HIGHLIGHT/S:
Bacon cheese burger, $30. Streaky bacon, American cheese, red onions, pickles, burger mayo, chips.
A tale of two;
– The patty itself was well put together, good size, tight, bacon smoky, nice support cast, however, unable to remember a burger not having lettuce underneath (much less a slice of tomato) to support it (not a hanging offence however)
– The top of the bun was burned badly (left untouched), and the chips were barely room temperature. Quality control?
Something Different to Eat: Side, pig in blanket, $10. Something else to add to the roast? I haven’t seen anything offered anywhere, but I like the originality.
Long, thin snag, wrapped in bacon. Yes!!
Summary: There’s a good story to be told here, and maybe in its relative infancy, an older hand to guide the ship?
Those involved in this operation, may well consider a visit to the Lion and Wombat in St Kilda for a pointer or two. That venue is low flying.
The appetite for this kind of pub offering is definitely there.