Popular St Kilda Vietnamese restaurant Uncle has brought its magic to the city with a newly opened Collins Street home. Located on the first level of an renovated office building next to also popular Mamasita, Uncle adds modern culinary creativity to some classic Vietnamese dishes combined with tree level views of the inner city.
The space, unlike the St Kilda location, is an intimate single level with a series of small tables, booths, larger benches and a couple of window alcove small tables if you’re lucky. The interior has a neo-industrial design with dim lighting, exposed pipes and timber and concrete beams. Lighting provided by strategically placed table spot lights and some ambient hanging wicker lamps.
In contrast to many restaurants that have multiple locations, only the top favourites from Uncle’s St Kilda restaurant appear on the menu. The classic lime-cured hapuka betel leaf, pigs ear banh mi and selection of pho make an appeareance, but the remainder of the menu consists of new and exciting dishes. The menu is divided into a few sections; Little Guys, Banh Mi and Bao, Pho, Big Guys, sides and desserts.
Highlights include the burrata that features Uncle’s experimental barrel aged fish sauce, the grilled Sher wagyu brisket that literally melts in your mouth and the set Vietnamese coffee dessert with coconut ice cream and sesame crisp.
Although it’s not the largest menu, choosing between the dishes can be difficult. The Uncle Knows Best tasting menu option for $59 per person features all the favourite dishes.
A full bar is available with a range of cocktails, wine, beer and spirits. There is a Vietnamese sangria on offer which is made from red wine, black vermouth, cognac, citrus, herbs, lychee and lemonade. The experimental fish sauce also makes an appearance, combined with Tromba tequila in the See You Bye cocktail.
Uncle breaks the trend of the mass of Asian Fusion venues in the city with a focus on a single cuisine, and does it well with a fun, entertaining but also, if needed, intimate atmosphere.
Uncle
Level 1, 15 Collins Street, Melbourne
03 9654 0829
http://www.unclerestaurants.com.au