Public House (Richmond)
435 Church Street, Richmond
03 9421 0187
Modern Australian
$$$
Food
- Wagyu Beef Sliders
- Chicken Karage
- Quinoa Salad
- Soft Shell Crab Tacos
- Salt & Pepper Calamari
- Rainbow Trout Salad
- Deconstructed Cheesecake
- Nutella Doughnuts
The Good
We started off with the trio of Wagyu Beef Sliders. Sitting between two lightly toasted brioche, within was an exceptionally thick beef patty, as well as a lean cut of bacon accompanied by fresh salsa. With a good charring on the outer, the beef had a great aroma although was too well-done for our liking. The freshness of the salsa was a welcome addition and along with its juices, held the burger together rather well.
Another highlight of the evening was the Chicken Karage. The incredibly crispy and crunchy batter, which on this occasion wasn't overly thick, enclosed some perfectly cooked, chunky and juicy chicken protein within. With a good amount of spices on the batter, along with an abundance of mayonnaise served alongside, the fried chicken was absolutely bursting with flavour. It's no surprise this is one of the most popular dishes here!
We also enjoyed the Salt and Pepper Calamari. Lightly crumbed, each strand of calamari was soft and exceptionally tender. With a slight spring in feedback, this was perfectly juxtaposed by the crispiness of the lightly seasoned batter.
The Soft Shell Crab Tacos were surprisingly delicious. The still-warm and soft taco shell enclosed bits of perfectly fried soft shell crab. The delightfully crispy outer was paired with a bed of soft juicy salsa and melted cheese.
The Quinoa Salad was a healthy and refreshing dish, perfect to break up the meaty feast. Served warm, the bed of quinoa was abundant, with a pillowy soft and fluffy sensation. Piled on top were a variety of freshly roasted vegetables, including some baby Dutch carrots which were just soft enough yet still exhibited a slight crunch with each bite. A beautifully balanced dish that was tasty yet healthy.
We rounded off the evening with the Deconstructed Cheesecake. The cheese itself was beautifully rich and creamy. This was well accompanied by the crumbs, which on this occasion exhibited a strong gingerbread flavour. Also included was the beautifully refreshing and flavoursome and fruity gelato, perfectly tying together the creamy cheesecake and the gingery crumbs.
The Mediocre
We found the Rainbow Trout Salad to be rather unspectacular. The fish within was applied rather sparingly, and the bulk of the dish was made up of cabbage and Beetroot, with some cabbage being overly bitter for our palate.
The Nutella Filled Donuts weren't overly impressive either. Coated with an abundance of cinnamon sugar, the exceptionally hard outer gave way to an inner filled generously with Nutella. However the dough itself, not dissimilar to the outer shell, was unfortunately too hard and dense. We would've preferred an airier and spongey inner which would give it a much lighter sensation.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
It was overall a thoroughly enjoyable spread put on tonight by Public House. The highlight for us would undoubtedly be that amazing fried chicken and the deconstructed cheesecake.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
With a tasty and wide variety of dishes on offer, as well as a beer garden perfect for drinking and relaxing, we'd definitely be back for more!
We would like to thank @ShortxStout and Public House Richmond for inviting us to sample their menu.