The reason I rate Ezard as my choice for a fine-dining restaurant in Melbourne (reflected by the standing as Tripadvisor #2) is a lovely combination of reasonably easy to get bookings in the last week, location in the middle of a quiet restaurant area of the city, lovely romantic dimlit setting, and most importantly the food is a superb modern take on South-East Asian cuisine.
I've been here twice before, once for the tasting menu and once for a la carte. I think in the end I preferred the a la carte as the many choices all beg to be tried.
- Parmesan-Infused Olive Oil with Three Dips (ground chilli & palm sugar, ground Szechuan pepper, nori & sesame seed salt) - gorgeous fluffy bread with lovely crust to soak the parmesan flavours & whichever combination of sweet, chilli or salty you fancy;
- Japanese-Inspired Oyster Shooters - amazing sweet mirin liquor with a slight wasabi kick before the oyster ocean trickles through. One of the greatest things you'll ever eat. This is served with a little soba nori roll which has a lovely chewiness and strong seaweed flavour;
- Char-Siu Quail (with Mandarin Pancake, Lime Cucumber Salad & Roasted Rice) - tasty alternative to Peking duck with a lighter and more tangy touch;
- Steamed Blue Swimmer Crab Dumplings (Yarra Valley Salmon Roe, Celery Cress & Tom Kha) - soft ravioli pasta filled with crab meat surrounded by a thin form of the classic Thai lemongrass & coconut broth and little gifts of salmon roe;
- Red-Roasted Barossa Chicken (with Zucchini & Mint Fritters, Chiang Kiang Caramel, Garlic Jam & Fried Sambal) - perfectly cooked chicken, an indistinguishing fritter, a sweet & salty sauce;
- Masterstock Fried Pork Hock (with Chilli Caramel & Spicy Thai Beanshoot Salad) - thin-crispy skin surrounded an oblong piece of succulent pork with delicately soft fat. Caramelised slices of chilli provide sweetness and a final surprise of heat. The salad is fresh and sits on top of a light sweet sauce;
- Green Beans, Korean Chilli & Roasted Peanuts
The greed within us was satisfied by the Dessert Tasting Plate comprising of smaller forms of each of the individual desserts:
- Espresso Chocolate Marquise, Soft Meringue (middle) - extremely strong coffee flavour;
- Fromage Frais Pannacotta, Poached Rhubarb, Strawberry Water, Saffron Fairy Floss (bottom) - really tasty and sweet fruit;
- Honeycrunch Icecream, Toasted Gingerbread & Sugar Swirl (bottom right) - nice icecream with gingerbread so strong to the point of being bitter;
- Pistachio Frangipane, Caramelised Strawberry, Tonka Bean Icecream (top right) - combination of bean-flavoured creamy icecream, squishy pistachio and sweet fruit;
- Sable of Apple & Pear, Earl Grey Tea Creme Brulee (top) - don't remember much of it;
- Salted Caramel Parfait, Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch (left) - heavy sweetness with more saltiness than I'd normally expect.
My favourite desserts were obviously the Pannacotta and Pistachio Frangipane but I'm quite biased towards ones with fruit and a soft textured core. Meanwhile partner liked the Espresso and Salted Caramel best. Each taste bud to their own.
Next time I would order a larger number of Oyster Shooters. It is the signature flavour from Ezard that you will remember above anything else. The Blue Swimmer Crab Dumpling is also very highly recommended and features in the degustation such is its popularity. I liked the Pork Hock but the heavy flavour of the Longrain version still remains my favourite. All the other dishes are great but much more optional. It still remains the most consistent restaurant for a memorable one-night meal in Melbourne.
