Belleville Melbourne

While Melbourne may have recently lost its title as the world’s most liveable city, it is undoubtedly still one of the world’s most beautiful, ever changing and ever evolving. Like the city it inhabits, after 3 years Belleville has also undergone a transformation, reflecting the changing landscape of Melbourne’s dining scene. Having built its reputation via their acclaimed rotisserie chicken and accompanying share dishes, the bohemian first floor venue at the corner of Swanston and Little Bourke Streets overlooking the entrance to Chinatown has decided it’s time for a lick of paint and a facelift. Whilst undergoing several cosmetic changes, the venue still retains the buzz of its mid city location with executive chef Jarrod Moore and head chef Slash Vala’s seasonal, produce-driven casual dining menu shining a light on the provenance of locally sourced ingredients with a selection of dishes sure to satisfy the eclectic and electric faces that make Melbourne home. (Don’t worry the chicken is staying!) To start try the local chargrilled calamari with ‘nduja emulsion, sautéed black cabbage and mussels, house cured duck ham with Tallegio, blackberry and confit duck crisps, or the roast baby beetroots, Meredith goats curd, pomegranate and hazelnut a go to for vegetarians. Classic mains are headlined by a flame kissed Cape Grim hanger steak with roast onion caramel and Café de Paris butter (amazing when paired with our beef fat roast sweet potato and aged gouda), while kingfish with pistachio, green beans and shellfish emulsion is another winner. Belleville’s famous miso butter glazed rotisserie chicken retains its place as an in-house classic, utilising free range Bannockburn chickens served with roast chicken gravy, as does Melbourne’s most loved poutine with hot sauce. The crispy vegan fried chicken, previously talked about in hushed tones with an almost mythical reverence by those in the know, receives a promotion to full time feature in mouths and blogs city wide. Finish the night with some freshly baked triple chocolate brownie and pretzel cookies, accompanied with a boozy buffalo trace bourbon & malt milkshake, or a rotating cheese selection with a glass of local wine. An all day bar menu has also been added which includes the new Belleville organic beef cheeseburger, a wild mushroom toastie with mozzarella and caramelised leek, and fried chicken ribs with blue cheese ranch for good measure, served until 1am Thursday to Saturday. The modern wine list continues its commitment to locally sourced selections, with Victoria representing upwards of 90% of the list, a couple of Tasmanian selections and of course a hint of French as a nod to the old world as well as Belleville’s Parisian namesake. The list has been selected as a perfect accompaniment to the updated menu and ticks all the boxes providing a choice for everyone from the casual wine drinker to enthusiast-level boffins. Similarly, the house cocktail list covers all the bases from tall to short, dark to light, fun to fruity, sweet and sour and everything in between, with classics and customs also available. Craft beers come packaged and on tap, while the fully stocked back bar can cater to the most discerning palate. When in doubt the warm and attentive staff are more than happy to help narrow down the selection or offer their own suggestion upon request. On the entertainment front, live music of all genres still hits the stage on Friday and Saturday nights while local and international DJs continue to grace the decks on a regular basis, and the acclaimed Visitor Gallery hosts emerging local artists on a rotating basis.