I’m going to start at the end when I’m writing about Trocadero.  I know it’s a little backwards of me but the desserts are really so brilliant at this new brasserie style restaurant that they deserve top billing.  Whatever you do make sure you don’t over order and run out of room or run out of time for dessert as it is so good it should be compulsory at Trocadero.

Chocolate pudding with milk toffee ice-cream at Trocadero

Trocadero has serious names behind it in the form of the Van Haandel’s (who own The Stokehouse) and  is leading the way in the move to establish the Arts Centre as a food destination as well as a place to see a show or concert.  I went there with MTV and my friend Lucy who was visiting from London on a balmy Saturday night when it was the perfect temperature to sit outside on the terrace and take in the views of the Yarra river and Melbourne skyline.  Keep it in mind if you have out of town visitors.

Triple cooked chips at Trocadero

For a cheeky snack to start the triple cooked chips at Trocadero ($11) are brilliant.  To make them even more decadent they are served with a truffle alioli and topped with shaved pecorino.  From the bar snacks menu  the lamb toastie is the perfect pre-theatre snack in the form of tender, slow cooked lamb sandwiched between two crisp pieces of toasted bread.

Tuna at Trocadero

The mains at Trocadero don’t have the same wow factor.  The tuna ($38) served rare on the inside and crusted with sesame seeds and miso crumbs was fresh and perfectly cooked.  It was teamed well with slices of eggplant and a citrus mayonnaise but the portion size was pretty miserly for the price.   While Trocadero’s minute steak ($28) was thin and flavoursome it wasn’t as tender as I expected and it was served as a single piece of meat with a garnish without sides or even an accompanying lone vegetable.

Trocadero’s minute steak

But it is when you get to the sweet end of the meal that Trocadero really shines.  The chocolate pudding ($18) is delicious with a gooey chocolate centre that spills open when you cut into the pudding.  It’s served with a seriously addictive  milk toffee ice-cream.  Even more spectacular was the caramel cooked cream ($18) which is layered in a glass with pear and chocolate and topped with a popcorn crumble.  It’s a taste sensation with that winning combination of salted caramel with chocolate and different textures on display as you delve into the dish.

Caramel cooked cream at Trocadero

The bar snacks and desserts at Trocadero are real winners.  The mains we tried didn’t reach the same heights but you could concoct yourself a pretty perfect pre or post theatre meal by sharing a couple of the snacks and then filling up on the sensational desserts.  It’s a welcome addition to the Arts Centre.

Essentials
Details: Trocadero, Hamer Hall, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne City 3000 (Ph 03 8698 8888) Open – 11am -11pm.
Damage: Pricey.
7/10