Pub of the Week: London Tavern Hotel, Richmond
London Tavern Hotel
Where: 238 Lennox St, Richmond
Phone: 9428 6058
Internet: www.londontavernhotel.com
SCORE: 15/20
JULY 11
VENUE: Beautiful brick double storey pub in Lennox St, Tigerland. Leadlight windows displaying an era past. Old school front bar, a shrine to the Tigers.
Wooden table tops/concrete floor. Its big semi circular bar is large so schools can gather, pre any event, at the G.
A dimly lit dining room, warm from the fires burning brightly. An enclosed courtyard, shielded from the biting cold. A dormant beer garden, for now, completes a wonderful Melbourne pub, knowing that it will be bursting at the seams when its Grand Final day or the English tour for the Boxing day test.
This is the London Tavern: a beloved Melbourne institution, that does little more than offer excellent hospitality in a true pub setting.
Its secret sauce could be any of the features listed but the ace is mine host, Bill Perry, long time publican whose roots lay in the north east of the state, and recently was acknowledged as the best hotelier in Victoria by the AHA. He knows how to run pubs.
But like its Brother-in-Arms, The Emerald in South Melbourne, there’s nothing overly fancy except as soon as you walk in, you are duchessed. Once you have had a great first time you return. Again. Again.
TAB: No
Pokies: No
This is pub food, with a trick or two, elevating above the norm. Different is the big share plates for two to three, e.g. Smoker platter: Beef brisket, pork sausages and smoky chicken chops, served with pickles, slaw, Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce and soft bread rolls ($52). Feeds three, do the math, and this is all you need pre-game. Asian/Middle Eastern platters as well.
But of course there is a chicken schnitty, full plate ($29), maybe seared salmon w/Middle Eastern spice and nut rice and a tomato broth ($33) or lamb shank with black bean and ginger, served with rice and a spring onion pancake ($34). (As an aside, is this the only dish that has gone from the plural to the singular over the journey?).
Excellent Carlton D ($7.25/pot) sits alongside a range of independents, and a small wine list with an Eden Valley ‘Auld Family Wilberforce’ good shopping at $12.5/glass.
HIGHLIGHT/S:
Pork belly, apple sauce, vegetables, $33, another special. This is how you present this one, with the harmonious trio of meat/fat/crackle all working together. Great veg, fine main.
Something Different to Eat: Squid ink ravioli, crab and prawn filled, $28, great shopping, on special.
Generous house made pasta, filled with seafood (crab more dominant), the squid ink powering the taste, different, excellent.
A rare dessert, but the apple/rhubarb/raspberry crumble, vanilla ice cream ($13.5) was the perfect finish.
Surcharges: N/A (please check at venue).
Summary: The London Tavern will roll on. Simply this is a genuine..’ain’t broke/don’t fix’ establishment. Most who go to the G’ know how good this is and if not regulars, there’s an annual pilgrimage.
But there is always something to learn, especially if you are off to the ‘People’s Ground’. Its proximity to the G’ is deceptively close. Down Richmond Terrace, up a lane, cross Punt Road, and you’re in Yarra Park.
That alone is worth doing! (The walk back to the LT is easy!).
Great pub. Great host. London Tavern, Richmond.