So a catch up with Miss Pear and the K sisters (Miss Candy and Miss cute height) was due and I decided to check out The Town Mouse since they got 1 hat in the age good food guide 2015. Booked it for 6pm (Yep, senior citizen dinner time) on a Saturday night and it was a 2h session (clearly I didn’t include all the giggle-ness that was going to happen so that was actually not enough time at all).
Setting was casual and really chillax environment. Very darkish and romantic (wink wink or unwink, whatever). It did get a bit noisy but then who wouldn’t be when you’re at the bar hohoho!
Hungry? Well of course I am coz I’m here!
I ordered a Shiraz for drinks and the wine glass came out and it has a MOUSE on it because….the town MOUSE! What a coinkidink (not really, it was all INTENTIONAL!).
Mousey wine glass
Bread came out with a sesame butter thingy…didn’t tickle my fancy but the bread was sooooo YUMMOOO (may I have some moreeeee please?).
Bread with Sesame Butter
So we ordered and all the dishes are designed to be shared. First up the entrees came out! We got the cured meat platter to share and my gosh, it was pretty good. One of the meat (the big, round one) was pretty spicy (a heads up would be nice but luckily I had wineeeee).
Cured Meat Platter – $17
It was ladies choice and Miss Pear got the veal tartare which was hidden underneath the leaves. So I just tried tartare not long ago and I thought to myself, pffft easy peasy. This was okay, nothing outstanding and the meat was big and chunky. Didn’t enjoy the sour cream, horseradish, ginger & celery mixture.
Veal Tartare with Sour Cream, Horseradish, Ginger and Celery – $14
Miss Candy got herself an oyster with chardonnay vinegar sorbet & lemon. She said the sorbet was fresh and the oyster was okay. But look how prettily it came out (was on ice like an ice king!).
Oyster with Chardonnay Vinegar Sorbet and Lemon – $4
Mr D and myself got the duck liver parfait (I LOVEEEE DUCK LIVER!!) and was super excited. When it came out,sure it looked pretty but it was way too rich. I think they need some bread or more of that crisp potato. Disappointed (dun dun dunnnn!).
Smoked Duck Liver Parfait, pickled cucumber & crisp potato – $3.50
So the K sisters and myself got the Smoked bonito (found out it was FISH), baby turnip & sourdough miso. It was so cute, like it was shy in a flower and it was so delish with a Capital D!
Smoked bonito, baby turnip & sourdough miso – $12
Now, for the big guns, the mains came out! First up the Albacore (another type of tuna), rosemary, baby brussels sprouts, mussel & fennel. The Albacore was amazing, so soft, so delish, sooooo GOOOD!!!
Albacore, rosemary, baby brussels sprouts, mussel & fennel – $20
The Duck breast, jerusalem artichoke, porcini, horseradish & winter leaves came out and this was so good, my favourite savoury dish out of the whole night (but then I really like, like duck though). The duck was cooked perfectly and still pink and so soft!
Duck breast, jerusalem artichoke, porcini, horseradish & winter leaves – $23
The Braised lamb, globe artichoke, lemon, cardoons & charred kale was alright, nothing spectular. When they say charred kale, they mean charred, so you’ll most likely get it on your face when you eat it…(wipe yo’self guys).
Braised lamb, globe artichoke, lemon, cardoons & charred kale – $24
Another fish dish!
Snapper, wood grilled broccoli, clam, capers & olive oil. This too I found was okay. Yep, like all the other dishes, it was hiding underneath all those leafy greens…
Snapper, wood grilled broccoli, clam, capers & olive oil – $34
Finally our last savoury dish, Black angus intercostals (500g), watercress & green chilli. I found the Angus to be well cooked (medium rare) but it was sooooo fatty (was hoping to keep my cholesterol in the normal range thanks). But when I did eat it, it was yummo. However, I didn’t like the sauce/dip it came with, wayyyy too herby!! I mean we had veggies already, the Fried chat potatoes, yuzu mayonnaise (potato is a veggie…). I didn’t really like the potatos or the yuzu mayo either….sighhhhh
Black angus intercostals (500g), watercress & green chilli – $39
Fried chat potatoes, yuzu mayonnaise – $10
Sure we were stuffed but like every girl knows, the dessert stomach comes out to play. I got the Cidered pear, chocolate, pumpkin seed, licorice & brown bread ice cream. It sounded so yummy but I didn’t like it at all. However, Miss cute height really liked it (guess who ate it all hohoho)
Cidered pear, chocolate, pumpkin seed, licorice & brown bread ice cream – $15
The K sisters got the Charred rhubarb, sorrel, chamomile & white chocolate sherbet. This was pretty good. So found out I like rhubarb and the sherbet was soooooo good and sweet (icing on top yo! – yep totes gangster).
Charred rhubarb, sorrel, chamomile & white chocolate sherbet – $15
Now Miss Pear ordered the Lime posset, green apple, dill & matcha. This was amazing! it was so fresh, so sweet, soooooooooooo YUMMMMMMOOO (Wish I chose this…).
Lime posset, green apple, dill & matcha – $15
Sure it got a hat this year but I was a little disappointed since there were a lot of hit and misses. But if you do give it a try, the smoked duck, bonita and the Lime posset is the way to go. I probably won’t come back but I did love the ambiance!
312 Drummond St, Carlton VIC 3053
Tel: (03) 9347 3312
Website: www.thetownmouse.com.au