$40 for a five-course degustation sounds too good to be true. A Fan’s Notes has proven otherwise with a degustation rivalling those of its more expensive competitors.
The degustation menu is offered weekly on Friday and Saturday nights and alternates between a vegan and omnivore menu. As a small venue, the sittings are staggered so you can make bookings starting between 6pm and 9pm. It’s a relaxed, laid-back venue without any pretension but the food is far from basic.
Expect attentive service and an amazing assortment of dishes. I really wish I could cook like A Fan’s Notes chef. The combination of flavours and textures were amazing, as was the presentation and we felt like we were on MasterChef.
Drinks are not included but there is an extensive and reasonably priced drinks menu.
On the vegan week, dishes included betel wrapped cucumber rice with coconut broth, snake beans and crispy pumpkin; black vinegar caramelised eggplant with shiitake, wilted snow peas and crispy black beans and whipped tofu. For dessert we ate blood orange and lychee sorbet with sticky black rice, banana brulee, kaffir lime leaf syrup and mango. I learnt that the secret to the dessert’s crunchy topping was dehydrated, crushed black sticky rice.
As you can see, there are no run-of the-mill ingredients in this degustation and you are guaranteed to try something different, cooked to perfection. No mushy eggplant served here.
If you want some fancy food without the fancy price, I highly recommend this degustation. Make your reservation before its booked out!
– Rachel
Celebrating 4 years living in Melbourne, Rachel is a fan of theatre, food, the outdoors and all things new and exciting.
A Fan’s Notes (787 Nicholson Street, Carlton) holds a weekly degustation on weekends. Call 9943 8373 to make a reservation.
The venue is accessible.
