Wendy Hargreaves: Melbourne’s best American food
By WENDY HARGREAVES
Often deep fried and always tasty, American food has made a permanent dint in Melbourne’s food culture.
Whether you’re craving dude food like Philly steak or a perfectly constructed reuben sandwich, we’ve got you covered… without the jet lag.
SPARROWS PHILLY CHEESESTEAKS
The Catfish, 30 Gertrude St, Fitzroy, + 240 St Kilda Rd, St Kilda
Philadelphia’s shirt-destroying Philly Cheesesteak is a grilled scotch fillet in a soft white roll with fried onion and melted American cheese. The best place to find it in Melbourne is Sparrows (in both Fitzroy and St Kilda), with a food truck popping up at events across the city.
POPE JOAN
Sofitel forecourt, 45 Collins Street, Melbourne
When Matt Wilkinson moved his Pope Joan diner from Brunswick East to the CBD, his Reuben ($19) had to come for the ride. Riots would ensue if he’d left it behind. It’s that good, with a generous layer of Warialda beef pastrami, smoked mozzarella, sauerkraut and Russian dressing.
LE BON TON
51 Gipps Street, Collingwood
This old pub is a love letter to America’s southern states, with Texas-style smokehouse brisket, Louisiana blackened fish from the Gulf Coast and other dishes from as far west as New Mexico and as far east as Alabama. The chicken wings with chipotle dressing are always good ($12), but the stand-out dish is the Berkshire Pork Belly with Creole honey mustard ($18). And make sure you leave room for pie – a choice of pecan, chocolate cream, banana cream or apple.
BIG DOG DELI
327 Lennox Street, Richmond
Richmond’s home of the American sandwich has perfected the balance between good bread and super-flavoursome just-hold-together ingredients. Our favourite is the Big Dog ($15) with salami, prosciutto, ‘nduja, grated pecorino, pickled peppers and shredded iceberg lettuce.
SHAWCROSS
324 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
These New York style pizza slices are more like slabs, and they’re as big as your head (two for $10 on Mondays). Shawcross also encourages BYO, opening until the wee early hours on weekends.
Wendy writes online at fiveofthebest.com