Gramercy Social
162 Commercial Road, Prahran
03 9098 1155
American, Burger, Cafe
$$
Food
- Beef Brisket Tacos
- Buffalo Wings With Blue Cheese Dip
- Pretzel Dusted Calamari
- Diy Brisket Tacos
- The Bronx With Double Chicken
- Meat Packer
- New York Strip Steak
- Banana Split With Peanut Butter Ice Cream
- New York Cheesecake
- Warm Brownie Sundae
- Yankees Spiked Shake
- Moon Dog Pale Ale
The Good
It was a great beginning, starting off with the Beef Brisket Tacos. The beef brisket was exceedingly tender and bursting with flavour. The marinade used to slow cook the brisket was exceptional, and the brisket was roasted to perfection. Combined with the fresh salsa, slaw and the warm tortilla, this was one flavourful taco.
I also rather enjoyed the Buffalo Wings. With just the perfect amount of crumbling, these wings were cooked just right, with a crunchy outer and soft juicy inner. Drenching each wing in their divine Blue Cheese Dip added an extra depth in flavour, which is most welcome as the wings themselves were definitely light on spice. However, given the plethora of hot sauces (originating from all over the world), I surely spiced it up to my own liking.
The Calamari was the highlight of the starters. With a beautifully light crumbling comprising of pretzel crumbs, this rather unconventional fried calamari dish was anything but ordinary. The protein was exceptionally soft and flavourful, and combined with the mustard aioli, this dish quickly became one of my favourite calamari dish ever.
The Bronx Burger didn't disappoint either. Doubling up on the buttermilk fried chicken was definitely a good choice. With a nice crunchy and flavourful outer crumbling, the chicken enclosed within was succulent and juicy, albeit a bit too thin. The old bay spice, coupled with an abundance of chipotle mayo, gave the burger an extremely juicy and spicy kick. All sandwiched between a lightly toasted brioche, I thoroughly enjoyed the flavour combination of this burger.
We also enjoyed the Meat Packer. Sporting double patties, the beef was cooked to a perfect medium and remained slightly red. Despite lacking in depth of flavour, the protein paired rather well with the delicious maple bacon and caramelised onions. All in all quite enjoyable, especially with the melted cheddar amongst this huge tower of meat.
Polishing off the meal, we shared a trio of desserts with the highlight being the Banana Split with Peanut Butter Ice Cream. Their house made ice cream was heavenly, with just the right amount of peanut butter, adding great flavour and crunch without being overly rich. All this on top of the still-warm fried banana, this dessert was simply unstoppable.
The Mediocre
Despite being cooked to a medium, with the protein still remaining rather red within, the New York Strip Steak was unexpectedly chewy. The beef flavour was subtle, though this was helped by the bearnaise butter sauce on top. The thick, hand cut chips were fantastic though, and can be best deceived as a cross between roast potatoes and wedges.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
There's no doubt that the highlight at Gramercy Social were the burgers. With a strong American influence, the flavour combination of the burgers were flawless and their perfect execution definitely left me wanting for more. The sides and desserts didn't disappoint either and I'd gladly smash some more of those beef brisket tacos.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Definitely. With the relaunch of Gramercy Social, formerly known as Gramercy Bistro, the venue provides a relaxed yet excitable atmosphere for casual dining, with plenty of open space and natural light.
With a great variety of American inspired dishes on the menu at an affordable price point that offers a delicious dining experience coupled with attentive service, I would undoubtedly return for more.
I'd like to thank Gramercy Social and Greenpoint Media for inviting us to the relaunch of their venue.