19 June 2018

A change in name and season brings a delicious new Monster menu

| Sophia Brady
Start the conversation
Coconut rice pudding with citrus and sesame. Image supplied

Coconut rice pudding with citrus and sesame. Photo: Supplied.

Since its inception, Monster Kitchen and Bar along with the Nishi building in which it is housed have always been a little different, pushing boundaries of Canberra hotel and restaurant norms and in the process helping to reshape the city.

Elegantly combining doses of art with inner-city chic and urban edge, the interior architecture is striking the moment you walk through the doors. Starting with the dramatic eco staircase and continuing with the quirky, moody styling of the different dining spaces. Filled with industrial artworks in all its nooks and crannies, the whole place is an avant-garde masterpiece without feeling stuffy, as it is all open to touch and explore.

Meandering through the building and the Hotel Hotel lobby, and cosying up with a drink and a snack from Monster Kitchen and Bar has always been a delight. Recently though, there has been a change in ownership and name, so now, Hotel Hotel is Ovolo Nishi. We paid a visit and chatted to Ovolo Nishi General Manager, Nicole Short about the changes and how that has impacted its restaurant Monster Kitchen and Bar.

Nicole said, “The ownership and name change occurred on 1st March 2018. The brand refresh has been a significant change for the hotel. A number of Ovolo brand signatures have been implemented including the Ovolo FREEBIES – free WIFI, breakfast, happy hour and mini bar when you book direct.”

As for changes to the restaurant, Nicole shared, “Monster has its own way of doing things, from the food and beverage offering down to the design and styling. This personality comes through in the menu, which combines fresh and surprising ingredients to create simple but sumptuous dishes with a modern Australian spin.”

Since opening Monster has had a menu that changes with the seasons. So the only change to the restaurant with the new ownership is that of a change in menu to celebrate the best of winter produce.

Ribbolita with slow cooked egg with Reggiano and charred sourdough. Image supplied

Ribbolita with slow cooked egg with Reggiano and charred sourdough. Photo: Supplied.

Open from 6:30 am till late every day there are winter warmers for all, from the early morning risers through to those grabbing a late night tipple! Highlights include breakfast items set to wake up the taste buds with dishes such as the Ribbolita with slow cooked egg with Reggiano and charred sourdough, or Coconut rice pudding with citrus and sesame.

Lunch and dinner time brings a choice of two options, there is the mix-and-match shared-plate menu, or you can also order from the bar menu. Standouts include Flinders Island wallaby with smoked beetroot and macadamia, and the Spiced lamb ribs with curry leaves, chilli and lime.

For our dinner visit, we stick to the shared plates menu and are guided by the knowledgeable staff to narrow down the choices. The first dish to hit the table is Cauliflower, farro, taleggio custard, hazelnuts and truffle described to us as a sophisticated version of your grandmothers’ cauliflower cheese bake. The dish is earthy and we have our first taste of local truffles for the season and are immediately reminded of all that is good about winter produce. The crunch of the hazelnuts paired with the charred cauliflower is extremely satisfying and has us going back for more and more.

Spring Bay mussels with fennel, nduja and prosecco. Photo by Sophia Brady

Spring Bay mussels with fennel, nduja and prosecco. Photo: Sophia Brady.

Roasted carrots, almond, cumin, shankleesh. Photo by Sophia Brady

Roasted carrots, almond, cumin, shankleesh. Photo: Sophia Brady.

Next to arrive is our favourite dish of the evening and perhaps it is, in fact, the best dish I have eaten in Canberra for a very long time. The Spring Bay mussels with fennel, nduja and prosecco brings winter comfort through the spicy broth permeated with the taste of the creamy, hearty nduja salumi. When you get a bite of all the elements together, including the mussels with fennel dripping in the cooking liquid, it is a touch of paradise.

We also try the Roasted carrots, almond, cumin, shankleesh and the Grilled wagyu intercostals, soubise, celery, bone marrow dish. To finish, we try the restaurants take on the popular American pumpkin pie dish featuring Roasted pumpkin puree, cardamom, smoked maple ice cream, candied pecan, chai. We are left feeling extremely satisfied and are further reminded why Monster Kitchen and Bar has been given one Good Food Guide Chef Hat in 2018.

Roasted pumpkin puree, cardamom, smoked maple ice cream, candied pecan, chai. Photo by Sophia Brady

Roasted pumpkin puree, cardamom, smoked maple ice cream, candied pecan, chai. Photo: Sophia Brady.

Monster Kitchen and Bar is located in Ovolo Nishi at 25 Edinburgh Ave, New Acton.

*Sophia enjoyed her meal as a guest of Ovolo Nishi.

Start the conversation

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.