It’s not just your grandma that improves with age… red wine and cheese are two other things that come to mind. But dry-aged steak could be as luxurious as it gets.
Marble & Grain, offers all the best bits of a European Gastro Pub without the lengthy trip to another continent. With an elegant dining room, a more casual bar space and covered outdoor terrace, Marble & Grain have a space for any occasion.
The cavernous dining area is characterised by dark and moody interiors with the earthy colours of rich brown wooden panelling, textural leather chairs and polished brass highlights which bring the welcome pub-warmth to the restaurant.
The tables are neatly arranged and are adorned with rows of cutlery, tall glasses and folded cloth serviettes that imbue the bistro with a stately elegance – not to mention the impressive long marble bench that is the foreground to a large open kitchen.
Whether it be a humble bar meal or something a little fancier, Marble & Grain have menus to suit both occasions. The bar menu includes an array of burgers and other pub classics to be enjoyed alongside craft beers in the relaxed pub area of the restaurant.
A venture towards the dining room delivers a diverse menu of morish entrees such as oysters, arancini, pork belly or grilled halloumi, or mains either with a large selection of steaks from the grill or hearty meals like grilled QLD Moreton Bay bugs. With sides such as crispy and golden roasted duck fat potatoes, it’s hard to say no.
The Deli Tasting Board is a great way to start the meal or share amongst friends over drinks. Imagine a foodie was let loose in an artisan deli and chosen all of their favourite morsels for you to enjoy. Mouthfuls of marinated olives sit beside creamy triple ash brie, vintage peppercorn cheddar, a selection of cured meats and more unfamiliar items like venison terrine that deserve the spotlight more often. The conglomerate of artisan titbits that highlights produce at its best.
For a classic European gastro-pub experience choose the Barramundi. Soft and succulent flesh with a crispy seared skin provides a wonderful crunch and texture. The fish sits upon braised leeks and capsicum that are cooked slowly to release their sweetness and velvety texture, and whose flavour matches the delicateness of the barramundi. A traditional European butter sauce, incorporating tangy capers and rich buttery-ness, lathers each mouthful and brings the dish together.
It’s not often you find duck confit on a menu in Canberra so leap at the chance when you do – especially when it’s one as memorable as Marble & Grain. The Roast Duck shows how duck can be enjoyed in two ways – slow-braised duck leg super succulent and rich in gamey flavours, and a grilled duck breast, sliced to reveal a tender medium-rare flesh. Intense flavours are balanced by a tart rhubarb sauce and a bed of sauerkraut that brings a refreshing pickle flavour and crunchy texture.
The Butchers Board is not for the faint-hearted. An ideal platter for two or three people who are afraid of food envy. One butcher’s board gives you an almost dizzying selection of meaty goods. Juicy venison sausage sits beside black sausage stuffed capsicum whose sweetness is imparted on the rich filling. A whole slow roasted onion is soft onion filled with intensely spiced chorizo offset by the sweet onion.
A row of ribs slow braised for five hours are splayed across the board, and seared flat iron steak, grilled to perfection with a crunchy exterior and the medium-rare middle is wonderful smeared with marrow and a drizzle of red wine jus from the copper pot sitting in the centre of the board.
The team at Marble & Grain enrich the Canberra dining scene with their passion for paddock to plate dining imbued with a European flair.
If you can’t make it for dinner, drop in for the $15 lunch special in the Muster Room. Perfect for group bookings and special occasions.
