May 17, 2024
We popped down to the Astor to see the new Bluebottle Kiss documentary and needed some dinner on the way. The Happy Cow guide showed that Tyranny of Distance was close by and all-vegan so we booked ourselves a table.
It turns out that Tyranny of Distance has been operating for over a decade (see blog links at the bottom of the post), although it's more like five years since it went vegan. The atmosphere and menu reminded me of past days at the Gasometer, with rambling rooms, uneven and richly coloured walls, mismatched wooden furniture and a mostly fried, mock meat-heavy menu. Tyranny has an extended semi-outdoors area so I imagine it's much brighter in summer.
We got started with sober mojitos ($12).
For his main, Michael chose the Korean bao sliders ($21). The steamed buns were unexpectedly charcoal-coloured, then stuffed with a gochujang-marinated 'pork belly' that he liked a lot, plus shredded cabbage, peanuts and spicy mayo dripping everywhere. It was a smaller meal and thankfully he had the appetite to help me out with mine!
This is the enormous chicken ciabatta ($23). The bread is house-made and layered with a thick mock-chicken in a seasoned batter, lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, aioli, chipotle mayo and cheese. Both the bread and the chicken are very hearty specimens, a lot for me to take on all at once. The burger is also tall! I carefully used a serrated knife to halve it, and divide again to share with Michael. It was a mess, but a tasty one. The side of chips was great, albeit sauceless.
Across the menu there are more burgers, a couple of curries, nachos and roti rolls two ways (sweet soy duck and butter chicken!). Service was friendly and capable. While I might not cross town especially for Tyranny of Distance, I'd definitely book in a meal there any time I'm visiting the Astor.
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You can read old, positive reviews of Tyranny's pre-vegan menu on Eat & Be Merry and The Chommery. The more recent vegan menu has received praise from gastrology.
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Tyranny of Distance
147 Union St, Windsor
9525 1005
Accessibility: There are a couple steps up at the beer garden entry. Furniture is a mixture of high and low tables outside, and low tables inside with a corresponding mixture of backless benches, stools, backed chairs and booth seats. They're all arranged densely with meandering walkways and the odd step through the building. We ordered at our table and paid at a high counter. We didn't visit the toilets.
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