Taxi Dining Room
Level 1, Transport Hotel
Federation Square, Melbourne
We walked through Fed Square on a rainy evening after a very disappointing meal at The Quarter in Degraves Street. I remembered a review I’d seen in The Age about the amazing cuisine at The Taxi Dining Room. I suggested we go in for dessert, and luckily my dining accomplice Angela agreed.
When we got out of the lift, we got out into another world. Well dressed waiters, an open kitchen of Chefs going about their business, a beautiful 360 degree view of the city of Melbourne all lit up and magical in the rain at night.
The waiters didn’t seem to mind that we were just there for dessert, they were helpful and friendly and knew the menu by heart.
Interestingly a venue that is mostly glass and metal did not seem cold due to the decor choices and the colorful blue and green lighting.
I will definitely return to sample the 7 course detestation menu ($120) and the week day 4 course Bento lunch special ($45). We perused the dinner menu whilst we waited for our desserts, an interesting combination of Japanese and French.
The desserts ranged from $11-$21 and were beautifully presented.
We settled on the beetroot, cherry & chocolate….and the….spiced pear and mousse
The dessert special for the evening – Beetroot Cherry and Chocolate
It was like a little edible garden-bed
And it was wonderful
Fresh Morello Cherries, Crunchy chocolate crumble and cocoa nibs. The beetroot chips tasted slightly salty and oily and were probably my least favorite contribution. The cherry and beetroot reduction was stunning. The chai cream disappeared into the dish – it would have been nice to have a bit more to identify it before it blended in to the other elements – but it didn’t matter because this dish was heavenly.
Toe curling-ly good.
Honey caramelized pear with Pedro Ximenez & pear sorbet
This was very interesting. The mousse tasted like malt and honey and had an unbelievably smooth texture. The chocolate touille was nice, but a curl of tempered chocolate would have been better. The pears were stunning. Spiced and sweet and luxurious. On it’s own the mousse was slightly bland, but when eaten on the same spoonful with some pear it made sense, it caused fireworks and happiness! The dish lacked something tart, there was a flavor element missing from the balance. The sorbet was so light for something so creamy, the flavor of honey and pears through a smooth smooth quinelle of sorbet with a sprinkling of crunch. If anything is was slightly too sweet, again begging for something sour and tart on the plate.
And absolutely beautiful experience.
I can’t wait to go for dinner.
And if I guy took me there on a date, well… I would certainly make it up to him!
