Ramblr, South Yarra by Rockstar

A long awaited girls weekend in Chapel Street and I was feeling the pressure of being responsible for choosing our dinner venue. So many options, so I chose two and booked them, making the final decision the day before.


Korean inspired fried lasagne square

I’d read lots of positive reviews of Ramblr, and I’d walked past many times. We chose an early dinner so we could come back and enjoy the hotel. We actually walked past the entrance as it’s a subtle doorway with no obvious signage. Inside it’s a dark and moody place - the food is modern with Korean, Japanese and Chinese influences.

I was very keen to try the salt and pepper bug sandwich with lettuce and tartare sauce was pleasant. I enjoyed it. But for $15 it kinda tasted like my memory of a nicer filet o' fish (acknowledging it’s been a very long time since I tried a filet o' fish and my expectations of it may be heightened).

The sticky eggplant with shiitake and black bean sauce, corn veloute and basil oil had a lovely flavour but the texture wasn’t right for me - but the other half of us loved it.

Inside the Korean lasagne

The special entree was the Korean inspired fried lasagne square (see first pic also) - the two who shared it absolutely loved it devoured it quickly!

The crab noodles with master stock garlic butter and bottarga was a stand out - silky, lush, rich and just delicious - I’d go back just for that.

The Xianjing cumin lamb skewer with pita pickles and burnt yoghurt was also beautiful - tender tasty lamb, soft pita, beautiful flavours. It was served with a side of charcoal BBQ vegetables with macadamia cream and chili oil.


The Chinese bolognese thick cut noodles and scallions was well liked - but I found it a bit chunky and the textures didn’t quite work for me either!

The cocktails were a hit! Loved the presentation of the Winter Negroni with the large ice cube and individual bottle poured at the table.

Our other cocktails included the Four Pillars Shiraz gin; Campari and berry; Sweet Thang with Four Pillars gin, lemon, egg white and pomegranate; and the Japanese Sour of whisky, yuzu, lemon, sugar and egg white.  They were all really nice.

Verdict

We liked it.

Mid value.

Overall

The serves weren’t big, and we ordered less than the waiter encouraged us to, however we walked up satisfied and happy.

I would return again and again for those crab noodles - the taste and texture are etched in my food memory. Fabulous flavours all round.

Find it at

Ramblr
363 Chapel Street
South Yarra VIC 3141
Phone: (03) 9827 0949