Pub Of The Week: Tony Leonard reviews the Elgin Inn, Hawthorn

Elgin Inn

75 Burwood Road, Hawthorn.
9819 3338
www.elgininn.com.au

When? August 5, 2022.

VENUE 

A wonderful old time stayer on the Melbourne pub scene is the Elgin Inn.

The pub is set out over two and a half levels so let’s start at the top. The rooftop deck looks back towards Hawthorn station/Melbourne CBD , and offers comfortable ( leather seating, booths, sun/shade with pretty (night time it lights up). It doubles as your function space for any reasonable size.

Ground level is delightful exposed brick/timber seating with a range of sports covering the globe on at anytime with TAB (No Pokies) going unobtrusively in the corner.

The tap tops glisten as rivulets of condensation entice to make the hardest of choices: Carlton D or Melbourne B? (Former chosen, was panting for one actually – 6.3/pot).

The lower spilt level is the main area for indoor dining and a parade of pub favourites are offered at the right price. Like a good suburban pub, there’s Parma, Burger and Happy Hour nights of the week.

The exposed kitchen hosts an exposed, proper, brick pizza oven and while  I steadfastly maintain that pizza in  pubs are not your go to  (behind Pub risotto), the Elgin Inn has established a winner here if demand for them is your guide.

There is familiarity in the menu offerings, pub classics with a touch of difference. You can confidently go there and be satisfied.

The Elgin Inn is a true example of success being the sum of its parts.

FOOD/DRINK 

Expansive choices covering all bases, priced at the right mark.

Starters will offer Mainly Tacos – Vegetable/Beef/Chicken/ Fish, with Buffalo Wings and Spring Rolls.

If you are up for Meat Lovers Pizza to share, the toppings in race book order are;

• Chorizo, Salami, Ham, Tandoori Chicken (hmmm), mushroom, onion, tomato, cheese, spinach, BBQ Sauce. $26.

Be my guest.

There are 5 salads, 3 steaks, and the holy pub trinity of Burger/Parma/Fish&Chips.

The Elgin is very much a CUB /Treasury Wines pub so you will be familiar with many of its offerings (Pepperjack, Squealing Pig, Koonunga Hill) provided in 150/250/Bottle. All can be consumed with confidence of product.

Average Prices:

• Entrees: $16
• Mains: $27 (steaks start md-high 30s, fully plated)
• Desserts: Normally on special

Tried was

• Vegetable Spring Rolls, sweet chilli mayo. 4/$14. Good solid start, with the usual suspects packed in and supported by a good sweet and sharp sauce. As expected, no faults at all,. $18/4.
• Bratwurst sausages, light char, veg, mash, onion gravy. $24. How good? Slight variation on your normal pub sausages, these had a fine smoky flavour, with a wonderful and plentiful supporting cast. Good shopping, good pub grub.

Summary

There are a stack of reasons why some pubs can experience successful longevity in a fickle game that is operating a pub, but essentially to me it is consistency of service or more broadly put, exceeding expectation every time you come in.

The Elgin Inn is one such and like its nearby neighbour the Emerald in South Melbourne, it delivers a consistency in hospitality that earns both respect and repeat business.

In the many years past since the last visit, there were familiar faces still working there, and even at an early hour, the pub was comfortably full with a rather  large luncheon/ business gathering (50 downstairs in bistro) not far away but the staff was on top of things already.

Good solid offer, neat surroundings, the Elgin Inn continues to be one of Melbournes most bankable pubs. Rinse, Repeat.

As it has traded successfully for decades previously the Elgin Inn will  do so long into the future.

SCORE: 15/20