Melbourne rooftop terrace restaurant Blacksmith Bar & Grill has rebranded and recreated its menu to feature the best of Victorian produce in contemporary Australian dishes.

Located in the CBD’s newest laneway at 30 Timothy Lane (off Lonsdale Street) inside voco Melbourne Central, the stylish restaurant on the hotel’s seventh floor showcases a unique 180-degree perspective of the city for guests.

Fire-cooked steak is the main event at Blacksmith Bar & Grill with high-quality cuts sourced from Melbourne-owned meat and game specialists Gamekeepers.

A reimagined dining experience

The à la carte menu includes a mighty 1.2kg tomahawk steak served with two sides to perfectly complement the showstopper; succulent herb-crusted bone-marrow served with sourdough; a tender porterhouse steak served with an array of six sauces; as well as eye fillet, Angus T-bone and Angus bone-in rib eye steaks aged for 130 days.

Satisfying all the senses, guests can savour Blacksmith’s dishes among luxurious interiors and million-dollar views of Melbourne’s cityscape framed by floor-to-ceiling windows. With generous-sized tables and a swathe of textural soft furnishings, the Blacksmith team anticipates the venue will be popular for business lunches and after-work drinks over at the poolside bar. While al fresco rooftop terrace wining and dining is the ultimate city dining experience for foodies.

The Australian produce on the menu also includes Queensland’s rich and juicy banana prawns, local vegetables from Victorian grocers, and herbs from the restaurant’s very own rooftop terrace garden.

The vegetable Wellington is a mouth-watering twist on the famed classic, served with a soft blue cheese sauce and quince puree, while the vegan-friendly wild mushroom risotto is as rich in flavour as it is in texture.

An impressive selection of wines from the best Victoria has to offer, to France’s Champagne and Bordeaux regions and New Zealander award-winning vineyards bring the world’s best whites, reds and rosés to the table.

Blacksmith Bar & Grill Executive Chef Ian Lee says this new menu has been created to be enjoyed together in good company.

Blacksmith’s ‘JUST FEED US’ set sharing menu does all the heavy lifting – serving five delicious dishes, from Blacksmith house-made baker’s bread to a delicious grain-fed porterhouse steak with fries and broccolini, and a dark chocolate delice to top it off.

The dessert menu features a decadent house-made cheesecake with Oreo cookies, cream and strawberries that will hit the spot after a long catchup with friends, while the ginger waffle split with banana peanut butter ice cream, caramel and nuts is perfect to be shared with someone special.

The driving forces behind Blacksmith

Overseeing the restaurant, voco Melbourne Central General Manager Celeste Clarke says Blacksmith’s new direction puts the spotlight on the best of local produce in the gastronomic hub of Melbourne’s city centre.

She says the restaurant’s offering has been strengthened by its partnerships with local Victorian businesses such as Gamekeepers, Ocean Made Seafood, and a curation of harmonious wines such as Dal Zotto Wines in King Valley and Payten & Jones from the Yarra Valley.

“While the menu has inspiration from France and the Mediterranean, the result is hearty, contemporary Australian dishes where the produce shines,” Clarke says.

Clarke and Chef Lee collaborated with restaurateur and newly appointed Blacksmith Bar & Grill Dining Room Director Jason Lau, formerly of Lau’s Family Kitchen, to recreate the menu, utilising his extensive background, knowledge and connections in Melbourne’s food scene amassed over his long career in hospitality.

Lau says Blacksmith Bar & Grill represents modern Australian cuisine, based on fresh, local produce, from the farm to table, sea to fork.

“This reimagined menu pairs together exquisite Victorian produce with Melbourne’s breath-taking city views,” Mr Lau said.

A nod to a historic location

The restaurant’s name ‘Blacksmith’ is a nod to its historic location, which was once the home of the Cobb & Co stables during Victoria’s gold rush period in the 1800s.

Its interiors transport guests to a place of indulgence, and two private dining spaces are available at Blacksmith Grill, aptly named Hammer and Tongs – one with its own private terrace.

Bottomless Brunch on Saturdays

Blacksmith Bar & Grill is also making Saturdays a little more special with its Bottomless Brunch offering with king fish crudo, Korean fried chicken, pulled pork cigar rolls, beef brisket wraps and a decadent house-made waffle on this menu.

For $75 per person, enjoy a selection of free-flowing HomeGrown Spritz curated by the team at Worksmith, local wines, bubbles and beer along with the expertly matched Bottomless Brunch menu, designed to complement the two-hour unlimited beverage offerings.

And for a luxe brunch, upgrade to the premium Taittinger Champagne package at $145 p.p., for an extra special affair.

After brunch, head across to the rooftop terrace to enjoy the city views by the pool; the perfect time to socialise with friends and soak in a great view of Melbourne.

For further media information:

Anuja Nadkarni

CK PR

e: anuja@ckpr.com.au