After only a couple of weeks, Marble & Grain at The Avenue Hotel in Braddon has already seen amazing success. We were wondering what it might be that is bringing the crowds to the new venue.
Is it just ‘the vibe of the thing’? Well, maybe… but here are a couple of other aspects that caught our eye when dining there last week.
1. The Bar
While Marble and Grain might be gaining lots of press for its food, it’s a place that is effectively divided into two spaces. Sure, there’s the restaurant side, but the bonus is the bar area that offers a comfortable atmosphere where you can simply hang out for a drink and a chat.
With a range of comfortable, low chairs or high tables with stools (or can easily be stood around), over the summer months you can relax in front of the cricket, take in the air conditioning and know that a range of cold craft beers are only a few steps away.
2. The Menu
Seems obvious, doesn’t it? But this is one of the most fun aspects of Marble & Grain. Walking into the space, the design really does hark to some of the great steak houses of the 70s and 80s – it’s all rather intentional, but certainly updated for a modern context.
So too, the menu.
All the classics are there, but almost unrecognisable in their modern form thanks to the skills of Executive Chef Matt Taylor. The Scallops hide a creamy dose of foie gras, while the Blood Pudding is deconstructed, reinvented and put together in a form that brings the very best flavours to the fore.
It’s all great fun as Matt and the team takes you on a surprising adventure of history crossed with modern plating and presentation.
3. Functions
With the festive season in full swing, we’ve wandered across a number of events that have been held in the hotel’s courtyard just behind Marble & Grain. They work brilliantly, with the pretty outdoor area largely protected from the elements, and offering a long, contained space that perfectly suits up to 100 guests with ease.
A bonus is the outdoor bar, which means your guests are unlikely to go without a tipple for too long. On our visit, the food was seemingly endless – with Sliders, mini-Fish & Chip and classic Arancini Balls keeping the punters well fed. In fact, it was difficult to stop going back for more!
Fun and flexibility – that’s what Marble & Grain brings you. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner all through the summer break, including Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Be sure to check it out and be delighted by what’s on offer (no matter what you need!).
