This new bar was published in Bartender Magazine’s October issue.
545 Church St, Richmond, Melbourne
03 9429 5277
www.royalsaxon.com
“We wanted to give people a quality everyday experience,” said Paul Olynk, owner of the completely overhauled Richmond pub, the Royal Saxon. And judging by the lines of eager guests queuing to get a seat inside it looks like the team is doing a few things right. Six Degrees Architects, the team behind the refurb, have blurred the old with the new, bringing life back to this old pub by creating a contemporary and comfortable feel.
Chefs Dave Maclean and Glen Laurie preside over the extensive 46 item menu that focuses on fresh produce – they make their house gnocchi from scratch twice daily – and an attention to purity of flavour and authentic Italian cuisine is crucial to their vision. Rustic pizzas could set you right over lunch or maybe try the Kingfish cooked in a bag with vermouth as a dinner main – it could be a tough choice however with pork belly braised in red wine vinegar and Chianti on there too.
The beer range is sure to satisfy and you can head round the world from the Chinese Tsing Tao to a Spanish Pale Ale and then finish up in picturesque New Zealand with a Mac’s Pilsener. If wine or a cocktail is your preferred Friday night tipple then you can ease into a French 75 or go for a hoon in a Sidecar and double park on a glass of Manzanilla Sherry. The best option, however, would be to rally the troops and pitch in for a couple of bottles from the smart wine list. A good start would be the Haymenn Lowenstein Mosel Riesling to tempt the palate and then move to the always food friendly Montepulciano from Abruzzo, Italy.
