With the slogan, ‘The burgers are better at Charlie Black,’ plastered across the side of the Manuka venue, we couldn’t help but be intrigued.
Perched on the corner of Furneaux and Franklin Streets, Charlie Black is perfect for drinks, dining and people watching.
The menu offers a selection of starters, pizzas, burgers, pastas and meat dishes. The meals are very reasonably priced, but the quality is still a notch above what you’d expect at a brasserie.
Dining with two friends on a week night, we selected to share two of the entrées. The tender Chicken Skewers were lightly coated in chilli oil and charcoaled, then served with mint yogurt. The lemon and pepper calamari was perfectly crisped and served with a delicious garlic aioli. The wide selection of entrees are the perfect size and and work well for sharing.
For mains we chose a pie dish, a pizza, and of course, one of the burgers.
The Rabbit Pie was the dish that really caught our eye on the menu. Served with creamy mashed potato, peas and gravy, the hearty dish is very satisfying and perfect for a cooler evening.
The chicken pizza came topped with chicken breast, olives, semi dried tomatoes and avocado, all atop a light crispy base.
After the promise on the front door, we were all keen to try the burger, but were unsure of quite how to share it when faced with the tower that is the Beef Burger. The menu claims that the burger boasts ‘everything but the kitchen sink’, and it wasn’t far off the mark, piled high with bacon, egg, lettuce, beetroot, tomato, onion, cheese, the succulent beef patty and a salsa sauce. The bread roll was enough to contain the monster amount of ingredients yet light enough to not detract from them. Served with a decent serve of crispy chips and sauce.
While a wide variety of beer a cider taps line the well-stocked bar, it’s the cocktails which truly take the cake. To finish off our meals, we tried the Blueberry Passionfruit Margarita on the Rocks, and the Choc Mint Martini. The Margarita was refreshing and very easy to drink, and is the perfect drop for Summer. If you’re a choc mint fan, there’s no going past the Choc Mint Martini. It was thick, creamy and pure indulgence, and would satisfy as a dessert for even the sweetest tooth.
Charlie Black is incredibly relaxed, with a wide range of diners from families, to couples and workmates having after work drinks. The contemporary interior is filled with character, while the large outdoor area offers the perfect place to relax during the long, balmy evenings.
Open every day from 11:30am until late.
Photography – Chris Whitfield
