Gil's Diner

21st May 2011

A last minute decision to catch up with a friend for lunch ended with me completing number 17 from my list with a visit to Gil's Diner. Down an obscure lane way entry, we entered an old bakery that had been fitted out with wooden chairs and tables and a kitchen but still kept the old feel and style of a converted factory. It maintain a cool funky vibe with classic music on vinyl playing and the vibe reminded me of Cumulus Inc. but with an old retro style rather than the clean lines of Cumulus.

After being seated we were handed a drinks menu that had a good selection of regional hip Australian beers. As it turned out the beer selection was wider than the food selection would be. After selecting a Three Troupers Pilsner our attention was turned to a school chalkboard located behind us featuring 6 or 7 dishes and we were told about 6 specials and that was the extent of the menu.

I chose the Beef Burgundy pie with chips and salad. Not exactly the description you would expect from a hat restaurant but the quality of the food more than made up for the limited choice and simplicity of the cuisine. Succulent tender large pieces of beef in a beautiful pasty casing. The chips were large and thick cut but still had a crisp outside. Combined with a mixed salad of greens and capsicum and tiny round croutons it was a step above the pie and chip fare normally eaten.

Following the main course, the desert choice was also limited with a selection of pastries, churros and cheese. My love of churros won me over and i have deliciously crispy piping hot churros generously coated in cinnamon and sugar. Accompanied by a rich dark chocolate with a hint of orange, these were truly amazing and my favourite churros i have had in Melbourne and anywhere outside of Spain.

A limited selection and simplistic menu but what was available was extremely well cooked and well worth sampling. The quality of the food was well worthy of the hat but it didn't attempt to push boundaries or go outside its comfort zone. It was also the cheapest meal on the list so far coming in at about $40.