Newmarket Hotel, St Kilda
I have driven past the Newmarket Hotel in St Kilda many times and I have now been there for dinner twice in less than 2 weeks! This in itself tells you the food is amazing and so is the service, so I want to share my experience with you.
The Newmarket Hotel has been open for 18 months and Paul Wilson’s Latin American food is stunning.
It was a lovely, balmy Melbourne evening, so we met our friends in the outside bar for cocktails, which is always a great way to start the evening. I can definitely recommend both the Patos Locos (Tequila, earl grey and cucumber aperitif, watermelon, coriander, lime and cracked pepper) and the Tito Puente (white rum, ginger beer, basil, chilli, lime and passionfruit). No I didn’t drink them both!
While sipping our cocktails we were able to check out the food being served to other outdoor tables and also ask a few questions of the busy staff, as they were running backwards and forwards. We all made an instant decision that we would have to have the tamarind glazed Berkshire pork hock with fragrant green mole, which they serve as sung choi bao.
The dining area was buzzing with activity and chatter from everyone and the service we received was outstanding.
The food is all designed to share so we quickly selected a few dishes, ensuring we left enough room for dessert (yes, definitely worth leaving a little space). We had the soft tacos with prawns, lamb rib picadillo burrito, wood BBQ chorizo sausage, wood roasted chicken and the tamarind glazed Berkshire pork hock. Everything was mouth watering, but we all agreed the tacos and the wood roasted chicken were the stand out dishes.
Having planned ahead and left enough room, we moved to dessert. Visiting just the week prior, I knew there was no way I was leaving without the Latin style chocolate pot with dulce de leche and the chocolate and banana cazuela with salted caramel and almonds. The cazuela is definitely one of the best desserts I have ever had and no matter how full you think you are, I guarantee you will manage to fit it in!
posted by Pamela on January 21, 2013
Ooh, Rachel it sounds delicious. Will definitely aim to get there soon & try your recommendations!
posted by Anne on January 29, 2013
drool…. what are their prices like?
posted by Rachel on January 30, 2013
Pricey but worth it for a special occasion!
posted by Karen Gall on January 30, 2013
Had a great night here! The food is delicious and the cocktails superb. Well worth a visit!