The previous incarnation of The Gasometer, which we loved enough to blog ten times, closed unceremoniously late last year. It reopened last week under new management, boasting some minor renovations, a new menu and a couple of bands that piqued our interest.
The front bar hasn't changed much at all, until you take a close look at that menu. It's got vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free labelling that starts strong in the starters and mains but peters out confusingly as the list moves on to sides, desserts and kids' options. There's none of the mock meat Americana we knew and loved, with vegans apparently restricted to the mushroom and walnut tacos (and presumably the green salad and chips). There are a number of other vegetarian items, including potato and leek pierogi ($12/22), eggplant croquettes ($12), a lentil burger ($18), and lentils with roti ($18).
Michael had a shot at the Double Sandwich ($17), a tiny and inexplicably named brioche bun stuffed with a nice chickpea curry and yoghurt sauce. (P.S. the name has been made explicable by Hannah in the comments.) The portion of crunchy crinkle-cut fries was more generous.
Meanwhile I tested out the cauliflower hotdog ($14): another brioche bun, this time stacked with caramelised onion, cauliflower in a creamy sauce, cheese, hot sauce and parsley. It was an excellent combination of flavours, but didn't evoke a hotdog at all.
Finally, Michael and I shared a pair of the vegan mushroom and walnut tacos ($12). These ingredients had the potential to form a satisfyingly savoury mince-like texture but were taken to almost the puree stage, to my mild disappointment. The tacos were under-seasoned too: a little more salt and lime juice would have really livened these up.
So it seems that the Gasometer is no longer the punky, vegan haven of yore. As a vegetarian I'd try more of the menu, but it'll take another really good dish or two for this venue to climb its way back into our favourite pub shortlist. Scheduling a few more gigs like this one wouldn't hurt their cause either.
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The Gasometer Hotel
484 Smith St, Collingwood
9417 2725
menu
facebook page
Accessibility: The Gasometer has a small step on entry. The tables are crowded in
some areas but the booths and tables closest to the entry are relatively
spacious. Ordering and payment occurs at a high counter. Male and
female toilets are on the same level as everything else but are not
particularly spacious.
I once would've thought Michael's burger was oddly named too, but then I moved somewhere with an awesome Jamaican bakery nearby, and: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doubles_%28food%29
ReplyDeleteI'm so sad about the disappearance of vegan American junk food. I'd been looking forward to trying it when I got home.
Well, that is illuminating! Thanks for introducing me to doubles, Hannah. :-)
DeleteWhat a shame they've reopened without all the vegan fare that they were so loved for! Hopefully someone else might fill the gap in the area!
ReplyDeleteLiz - indeed! The original vegan menu developer, Shannon, is now wowing us all at Smith & Daughters so that's a big bonus. We've got some alternative vegan Americana coming up in another post too. ;-)
DeleteGreat that they are open again, but sounds like the food needs some work.
ReplyDeleteHi Em! Yes, they've offered us some nice vegetarian options but could afford to lift their vegan game. We'll give 'em the chance.
DeleteWhat a shame about the vegan menu - I really loved it on the one visit I managed and the meals you blog about don't seem that amazing - though at least they aren't the standard pub grub and there is something a bit more interesting than a vegie burger and fries and the same old vegie lasagne.
ReplyDeleteHi Johanna - we are so spoiled for good vegetarian pub food in the inner north. I'm sure if I was living back in Brisbane I'd be thrilled with this set of options!
DeleteHi guys, love this blog. Just thought I'd mention that about a year ago I had the worst meal of my life at the Gaso. It was a stringy eggplant-quinoa thing and it actually tasted like dirt. I sincerely hope they've upped their game since then.
ReplyDelete