Pub Of The Week review: Tony Leonard visits the Lomond Hotel
PUB: Lomond Hotel
WHERE? 225 Nicholson St., Brunswick East
PHONE: 9380 1752
SCORE: 13.5/20
WHEN? June 17, 2016
VENUE
Third review. (previous circa 2012, first around 2003).
If ever there was an award for most consistent Melbourne pub, the Lomond would be a perennial finalist and probably taken the gold on at least one occasion.
Cornered Blyth/Nicholson (across the road from my alma mater 3RRR), the old multi storied Victorian does a fine and steady line in food and drink, and always happy to see you.
It is old school as far as fixtures/fittings go in the PB, but the neat brick exposed dining room is positively diversionary for a quieter dining experience.
There are some nook/crannys, housing Melbourne’s most secretive Pub TAB (no pokies), and the pub does live music many times a week.
MENU
Nice mix of pub favorites and some clever pub grub.
The Lomond makes interesting offers in bistro of, say, Duck Breast, Plum sauce, bok choy, snow peas (26) or Grilled Fish, white bean puree, saffron mayo (26), or pub staples in bar of burgers, pastas etc, all priced $mid-high teens in bar.
It is down to earth, good pub grub. And yes, vienna bread and butter comes in a little basket to the table.
TRIED
Penne, Chilli Prawns. $16. Good. Commercial pasta came with a just right heast of prawns and tomato.
Good pub eating on a cold day.
Sausages, Mash, Gravy , Peas. Good.
Two good sized snags, excellent support cast, this is one of the world’s best pub dishes.
Done well, it is a great and here it was. Use the bread and butter to mop it up. Visualise the dish: yes you want a plate.
DRINKS
Sensible approach to wine pricing, encourages buying of a bottle.
Christmont Riesling, one of the best value wines in Australia, has many friends around the $30-34 mark, which in pubs nowadays, is rare.
Beer: Carlton D, some craft buddies, cider; it’s all good and well presented.
SERVICE AND STYLE
Genuine ‘country pub’ in town. Owner/operator of many years, everyone seems to know easy other. Easy going. Friendly. Warm.
SUMMARY
Nick Lowe’s great 70s pop classic, So it Goes, should be the pubs anthem. Year in/out, the Lomond just goes and goes; unfussed/unharried, and provides that refuge that pubs are meant to. Food/drink/offer all rolled into one.
So it goes.