Attica - WOW

[Cruiser Elite]

There was some discussion in another thread some time back about Attica - worlds 21st best restaurant - Attica Restaurant | Ripponlea, Melbourne, Australia | +61 3 9530 0111 - went along last night in a group of nine - some pics for you - you guys will work it out!



And:



And:



And:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

WOW this was fabulous:



And:



And:



And don't eat the bark!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Did I mention Attica was fabulous?



And:



And:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I hope I mentioned that Attica was fabulous!



And:



And:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

No wonder it was voted Worlds 21st Best Restaurant - IT WAS FABULOUS!



And:



And:

 

[boomy]

Absolutely amazing restaurant!
Their matching beer/sake/wines is a must.
The menu changes 4 times a year (every season) and it's the most creative I've ever seen.

 

[kpc]

Is it easy to get a reservation?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Midweek I don't think would be too difficult - we booked 2mths out but we did have 10 originally - 9 starters on the night.

 

[opusman]

To be honest I wasn't overly impressed by Attica when I went - most dishes were nice, but not outstanding. Matching wines were.. let's just say unusual.
The potato dish is vastly overrated imo. It's a potato, guys.

 

[LadyC]

I love Attica - but you definitely need to be into that whole foodie scene (arty food, foams, etc) so it is not for everyone - especially at that price point! I think ease of booking varies to the time of year, ie has there been a recent announcement of some sort of food award which always tends to increase bookings. They only take bookings three months in advance and you want to be on the buzzer if you want a weekend booking. I booked last month for my husbands birthday in February. Just the two of us. Called at 11.30 am and had to settle for a Wednesday evening as the first few weekends were already fully booked.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

The potato dish is vastly overrated imo. It's a potato, guys.

IMHO BEST spud I have ever eaten - good thing we don't all like the same girl huh?

 

[serfty]

If done well such a meal can be an amazing experience, otherwise you leave wondering what you actually paid for.

We went to Jacques Reymond late last decade and three hundred dollars later ordered pizza when we got to our room.

The most expensive meal I had was in La Pergola at the Cavilieri in Rome, was so-so (for the price) - somewhat ameliorated when the desert tower of drawers was presented.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I must admit we did get a little extra attention - there was 9 of us in the group - one having a bday which I pre-advised - we got special mini tour out back to the herb garden and a special mini dessert of ice-cream cones dipped in berries - they were coughic.

I think it also help if you drink like it was your last ever session - we took the $180 option - all up bill a tad shy of 3K for 9 - no-one went home thirsty.

 

[opusman]

IMHO BEST spud I have ever eaten - good thing we don't all like the same girl huh?

Even the best potato you've ever eaten is still just a potato

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Even the best potato you've ever eaten is still just a potato

No argument there - and the Snow Crab is only ever gunna be Snow Crab / the Cucumbers are only ever Cucumbers / King George Whiting don't turn into Barramundi either - but its kinda the way each dish is prepared / presented which kinda makes Attica special - but of course Attica aint gonna be everybody's dish

 

[Edge]

I have been to Attica four times in the last year-and-a-bit. Love it there. Tuesday night's is the "experimental" night - $95 for 5 courses (plus a bit more) and it's amazing value. If you aren't a wine-snob you can get away with a relatively inexpensive night. Even the sparkling water is $5 per person for unlimited amounts.

Difficult to get bookings but what can you expect. You end up paying more at a "standard" restaurant in Melbourne these days.

Some people go to these types of restaurants and expect to eat caviar, lobster and kobe beef for every course - that's not Attica. Their ingredients are more simple (they have their own garden) but they add value from how they combine them and how they prepare & cook them.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

TOTALLY OT - but I did seek permission from OP before posting.

Prior to fronting up to Attica our group met at The Grosvenor Hotel cnr Chapel St and Brighton Rd for a pre-dinner aperitif - The Grosvenor Hotel

The Grosvenor is owned by same interests as The Point Restaurant on Albert Park Lake and Tasman Meats - this group also previously owned Gilbertsons Meat interests incl King Island Abbs / Longford Meats - so meat their specialty.

I have not eaten at The Grosvenor but have heard glowing reports. Saw many wood fired pizzas being delivered to tables full of patrons and they looked and smelt sensational (pizzas that is not the patrons). There is a small chiller where some of their meat is hung and viewable by all patrons entering / leaving hotel - picture below:



See the little piggies in pic? They have 'Suckling Pig' on menu - advertised on menu on wall at $600 for 10 people - man that got the hunger juices flowing. We will be getting a group together past NY and will try it - report will follow.

 

[pauly7]

Grosvenor is a local haunt of mine.

Great food for pub / bistro.

 

[drron]

Thanks for posting-really looks good.The ability to turn something ordinary into a taste sensation is something I enjoy.
As a side note one our dinner at La Pergola was memorable for the food,position-we had the corner table with views both ways over Rome-and the chef coming and having a 10 minute chat with us.However when we went it was much higher up the top 100 list than now.

 

[froggerADL]

IMHO BEST spud I have ever eaten - good thing we don't all like the same girl huh?

Most of us probably do like the same girl, it's just that most of us have realisic expectations of our chances of success. Potatoes, not so much!