I never thought I’d fall in love with carrots, but I did. I’ve worked them into conversation ever since my meal last week at the opening of The Lumberyard. It’s the new restaurant from the guys behind Ironbark BBQ — and it’s inside a hidden room inside the Fitzroy bar The Workers Club. You simply must check it out (immediately after reading this review, of course.)

image via The Lumberyard

Theresa enjoys the decor

This is British comfort food combined with American comfort food. Sounds a little…stodgy, right? Not at all. You have a wide array of the best of both culinary traditions. Black pudding, lamb ribs with mint — even something called ‘dripping’, which turned out to be a salty, Marmite-style spread to put on bread (if Marmite were made of meat, that is). But vegetarians are equally as catered for: you could have an entire meal on the sides alone. The mac’n’cheese — which also featured in Ironbark BBQ’s pop-up restaurant, Trashed, earlier this year — is even better with the addition of shaved mushrooms.

And the carrots. Remember the carrots? Slow-roasted, it tasted like they were hydroponically grown over smoke. Each time I went back for more I was surprised by the taste. It was to die for. Well done to Dave and Paul from Ironbark! It was great how Dave stopped by throughout our meal on opening night and had a chat about what went into the menu.

See that empty table? That can be for you and your +1!

They’ve opened up the middle window so passersby can peek into the restaurant

Nature is inside with the addition of branches and twigs

Old tools and taxidermied animals hearken back to days of yore

Keep warm next to the fireplace — there’s plenty of wood

Delish wine, great menu

Mac’n’cheese, salad, and the divine carrots

Theresa enjoys her British/American feast

Halfway through dinner, I texted Ruki: “You HAVE to come on a date here!” It’s the perfect  spot — all candlelight, casting flatting shadows on the walls. The menu is different enough to be surprising without having to ask the waitress what every second dish is. Above all, it’s in a hidden room inside of a Fitzroy pub. This is my kinda place. I hope it’s yours, too.

-Theresa

The Lumberyard
inside The Workers Club
51 Brunswick St
Fitzroy VIC 3065
http://www.ironbarkbbq.com.au/
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Disclosure: The Plus Ones were invited guests of Ironbark BBQ.