Patsy's

December 11, 2023

   

On my Monday birthday, I chose to have a quiet dinner with Michael at Patsy's. Patsy's is a vegetarian restaurant tucked away near the Queen Victoria Market. It's located in a charming old building and has a high-quality yet homely atmosphere, with sturdy and varied wooden furniture and double doors opening onto a leafy courtyard. The Patsy's team grow much of the produce they serve in their own country garden.

   

I was still feeling a bit delicate following a recent COVID infection and was glad to see non-alcoholic beer, wine and cocktails available in the drinks list. We both tried rhubarb-centred concoctions - on the right is Barb's Sober Now ($16) featuring rhubarb syrup, NON-75 and almond bitters ($16).

   

We shared as much as we could across the menu. The pâté of mushroom, butter and thyme was rich and plentiful for the serve of charred focaccia that we received ($23), and a some cornichons added a pickley contrast. Meanwhile, the chickpea panisse ($16) and black garlic aioli were golden-rich all the way through and not worse for it.

   

Amongst the mains I was most excited for the charred corn ravioli ($35) and, indeed, it became my favourite dish of the night. The corn was blended with scarmorza cheese and stuffed into the ravioli, but also charred as whole kernels and folded into the brown butter sauce; a few crispy sage leaves finished the dish.

   

The beige of the fregola sarda ($32) belied a full-flavoured broth; garlic shoots, capers, pine nuts and a green olive salsa added more variety in flavour and texture. For some extra veg, we added a side of green beans ($18) topped with a sweet Sicilian pine nut and currant agrodolce.

   

Unusually, we skipped out on the chocolate-based desserts to try two fruitier alternatives. The parfait ($23, pictured left) was made from ground macadamias and matched with tangy peach-based sauce, filling and a dehydrated wafer. Meanwhile, a crustless burnt cheesecake ($22) was baked in paper and topped with brandy-spiked cherry halves and crushed pistachios.

Patsy's had just the atmosphere I was seeking: special but quiet and comfortable, prioritising great produce over tricks and trends.

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Patsy's

213 Franklin St, Melbourne

9328 7667

entrees & mains, dessert

https://www.patsys.com.au/

Accessibility: The front door has a small lip and there is a little landing inside that requires a pivot and a step or two. Furniture is medium spaced, mostly sturdy, regular-height and wooden with backs on chairs; there are also cushioned benches, high bar seats and outdoor furniture in places. We didn't visit the toilets. We ordered and paid at our table.