In which I get to crank up my Food Wanker status by being literally the first person to eat at North Fitzroy’s newest restaurant.
Jorg, 203 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North. www.jorgrestaurant.com.au
I’ve just realised that I didn’t have a suburb tag for Fitzroy North yet! Which just goes to show: there really hasn’t been much in the way of restaurants there until now. (Except for the Moroccan Soup Kitchen, which I can’t stand, but that’s another story.)
Fitzroyals have been eagerly awaiting the opening of new restaurant Jorg, which is on St Georges Road, just before Scotchmer St (it used to be a Video Busters and then was a greengrocers for a while). And no wonder they’re excited – the chefs behind Jorg are Michael Smith, ex head chef at Jacques Reymond, and Bryce Bernhardt, ex sous chef at Church St Enoteca.
Mick and Maria live just across the road on Best St, and called me last night to tell me it was finally open. J and I met them there, to discover that we were the very first table of punters!
This is not going to be a proper review post, as I think it’s poor form to review a place on their opening night; but from our meal last night, I think it all looks really promising. I like the space, it’s minimal without being cavernous. Apparently there is a function space out the back for up to 100 people!
The food is loosely “European” – little bit Italian, little bit Spanish. The menu offers sharing-style entrees; the mains are less geared towards sharing, although we did anyway. I’d had a long and foul day at work and was not in the mood for decision making, so our lovely waitress suggested that perhaps the kitchen could just organise a menu for us. FABULOUS – I love not having to choose!
Among the starters, we particularly liked the chicken ribs; and for mains, the pork cutlet was DIVINE. We probably had a bit too much food, and with two bottles of wine it ended up being $320 for 4 people. Which is quite spendy for a impulsive Friday night, but we did have a good time.
I’m off to Spain on Monday (BOOYAH!!), but will do a proper review of Jorg when I get back. In the meantime, let me know if you go, and what you think of it!
KATE