Pub Of The Week: Tony Leonard reviews Brycees Tavern
Brycees Tavern
30-32 Brice Avenue, Mooroolbark.
9727 0600
When? February 3, 2023.
www.bryceestavern.com
VENUE
More inn than pub, Brycees Tavern is a small venue in the shadows of Mooroolbark station, which is best summed up as an all things, to all people, in the outer east.
Strikingly neat and sharp brick work, inside and out, the tavern is made up of two areas; the main being a compact corner bar with 3-4 rows of tables and chairs, (you can easily stand around and talk to the accommodating staff) fireplace as centerpiece, while the other half, painted brick walls and prints is for dining with the slightly exposed kitchen at rear.
Polished floorboards, sturdy steel chairs, table service, live music Fridays (the Incredible Cucumbers and the Geezers played recently), Brycees trades six days per week, (they don’t like Mondays) and offers Breakfast on the weekend.
The beer garden, aka Assassins (named after a local) is well shaded for those seeking the outdoors, with a plentiful amount of tables and chairs to catch the rays also.
But Brycees has a genuine pub heart. The food would sit comfortably on any pub menu, the servings are generous, happy hour end of week and a staff working flat stick to make sure you enjoy yourself.
No TAB/No pokies.
Brycees Tavern is a deceptively good place to spend a few dollars and enjoy yourself.
FOOD/DRINK
Two menus (lunch/dinner) with the earlier session slightly reduced in offer. The range of items found in pubs – Fish is Barramundi, Pasta is Mushroom Gnocchi/ Beef Lasagna (24), Roast (26) are here but there is an offer of Broccoli and Cauliflower Pie (25) which comes with C&S.
However the lunchtime burger is the signature dish. Choice of five at $24, all named after famous AFL footballers. It is anyone’s guess how they are attributed (suspect it is the staff’s preference), but the Patrick Cripps is the cheese, bacon, pickles, the Mason Cox is Southern fried chicken, maple bacon, chipotle, coleslaw, jack cheese, while the Lance Franklin is Grilled chicken, bacon, Brie, spinach.
Dusty and Danger are also honoured out here.
Draught beer is Carlton products – clean tasting pot of CD was $6; Wine list is predominantly DeBortoli and a stonkingly good bargain is the Rutherglen Estate Shiraz at 8.5/gl//29/btle.
And to top it off was Brycees Famous Chocolate Brownie (9.5). (just who is that person who bestows the imperious title of Famous in Melbourne hospitality?). It was very nice.
The average (bistro/lunch) prices are;
- Entrees – $12
- Mains – $24
- Desserts – $10
Tried was;
- Brycees Popcorn Chicken, chipotle mayo. $14. Big bowl of spicy chicken bits, hot, fleshy and tasty, all good.
- Arancini (4), pumpkin, feta, garlic aioli. $12.5. Big ricey balls, plenty of filling, cooked perfectly. Definite share this one.
- Roast Pork, roast vegetables. $26. (Came with a free drink). The story goes something like this. Doreen, running the bar, told me Tan (Tanya) does an excellent roast, and being a punter happy to cop the tip. Dor was right: Tan did a great roast, with a stack of vegetable – roast pumpkin, spuds, broccoli, carrot etc. thick gravy, plenty of meat, crackle and drink to top it off. Can’t say fairer than that.
SUMMARY
Brycess Tavern offers a fine alternative to the larger pubs/sports bars that dominate the outer suburbs.
And while not specifically a ‘ pub’, just the spirit in which it is run bears all the hallmarks of what a pub should be; a place of comfort, part of the community, generosity of service etc.
The menus cover all the bases of café/tavern/pub (they do vary from lunch to dinner) but all are reasonably priced and generously served.
Whatever the occasion, Brycees will meet and exceed expectations as being a very safe dining option. Well worth the visit.
Score: 13/20