Prohibition-era comes to Southbank

A cool glass of Flapper’s Fizz or a fruity Girl Next Door no doubt helped restore the fractious heat-influenced tempers of those who checked out Southbank’s latest venue, Next Door Kitchen and Bar last night as the city steamed.

The Arkhefield-designed space opened yesterday and boasts their signature moodiness, with lots of dark wood, mirrors, charcoal subway-tiled walls and copper lighting. It’s lightly themed as a ‘prohibition-era’ bar/eatery, mainly because of the classic cocktail list including some served to share in a ‘hooch’ bottle at the table.

Food continues the idea of conviviality with chef Dean Brewer’s wallet-friendly share plate menu coming in choices of smaller (beetroot and blue cheese arancini, black garlic aioli, baby chard), medium (duck liver parfait, dark ale jelly, truffled popcorn) and larger (whisky beef cheeks, creamed blue cheese polenta) plates.

I reckon all bets are off in the share plate stakes when it comes to desserts like dark chocolate marquis, salted caramel, or ice-cream sandwiches though.

Next Door Kitchen & Bar
Shop B11, Little Stanley Street, Southbank, 38466678 www.nextdoorkitchenbar.com.au