Longrain

What an impressive performance at Longrain Restaurant and Bar, Melbourne.

It’s already dark at 5.50pm on a rainy Friday. Entering via the over sized but classy foyer entrance, we are in for an early dinner before a theatre show.

Upon arrival we are warmly greeted and asked to have a seat at the bar as the dining area opens at 6pm.  Enjoying a pre-dinner drink we watch more customers stream in seeking an experience that only Longrain is known for.

Just as we are finishing our drink the maître de - who in ten minutes has had as many requests for a table and surprisingly had not taken our name on arrival – takes us to our seats. I make the point of telling you all of this as Longrain doesn’t take reservations for groups under six people - there are only two of us.

We are seated at one of the large, wide, glossy wooden communal tables. The beauty of these big wide tables for communal dining is that you hardly notice the other diners at the same table and all that divides you are simple, elegant glass tea light candles.   By 6.20pm we are happily seated, water glasses filled, bottle of wine is served, food has been ordered and already started to arrive from the kitchen and the entire bar and dining space is full to capacity.  It feels a bit like ‘if you blink, you’ll miss it’ moment but at no stage do we feel rushed or the staff seem stressed.  The Longrain team is organised, professional, polite and knowledgeable.

The menu is of Asian influence.  We share the ‘Eggnet with pork, prawn, peanut and caramelised coconut with a cucumber relish’ ($29.50), the ‘Massaman Curry of Cape Grim Beef with kifler potatoes’ ($40), ‘Snow pea, tomato and sesame seed salad (from the specials list) and ‘Thai jasmine rice’ ($3 per person).  As divine as all the dishes were they were generous and it was honestly too much food for the two of us.

The eggnet was a cold dish.  For some reason I was expecting it to be warm, however it was fantastic.  There was a moment of – how do we tackle this? As the eggnet is so spectacular looking that you don’t want to ruin it.  I don’t think there is any other way but to simply just break through the net of egg!  The flavors of the prawn and pork with the fresh crisp bean shoots, sweetness of the caramelised coconut and the slight hint of chili were brilliant.  The cucumber relish was a clean and refreshing partner.

Eggnet

The massaman curry was my favourite dish of the night.  The beef literally melted in my mouth.  The pungent flavor was an even and subtle curry that left me wanting more.  The snow pea and tomato salad was sweet, earthy, crunchy and fresh.  A slick side dish to the curry.

Massaman Curry

Snow pea Salad

Throughout the entire meal the service was flawless, our glasses always full, staff were attentive and at no point did we ever feel anything but welcome and comfortable.  By 7pm it was politely suggested we finish our bottle of wine in the lounge area.  We observed the seats being constantly turned over as people continued to flow through the door.  Longrain is humming along at a perfect degree. 

We left Longrain for the theatre show and we returned afterwards for a night cap.  To our delight the staff remembered us.  This is outstanding considering the many faces they have served that evening. 

I am completely impressed by Longrain.  It’s a performance that deserves a standing ovation and well worth every single cent.  Bravo!  Bravo!

Food – 9/10

Service – 10/10
Ambiance – 10/10

Longrain Restaurant & Bar

44 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne.
(03) 9671 3151

www.longrain.com

Open – Dinner every night and lunch Friday only