Loading Zone has been causing a lot of buzz since it opened last month in the middle of the Melbourne Building. (Odgers Lane to be specific)
Barcham and I tried to have lunch there a couple of weeks ago but they were all full up.
We made a point of getting in at noon today and it was already busy but we got the last spare table.
They also have shared bars and trestle tables which filled up soon after we got there.
For $15 they do a two pasta lunch which sounded like a good plan to us.
We also tried out the Menabrea from Italy which was quite brilliant if you’re into heavily malted continental beers (which I am).
Pasta bowls were placed on our table and in due course a waiter came by with a big stainless steel bowl which he scooped the first of our serves out from.
First up was the brocolli penne which looked pretty good!
And tasted just as good.
We scarfed it down pretty quickly, sat back to swig our beers, watched the varied crowd almost all trying out the new cafe, and waited.
At an appropriate time our lamb ragu came by in another big stainless steel bowl and we were again served a portion.
Needless to say it too was delicious. The lamb had been cooked very slowly and was superbly tender. The ragu had a lot of flavours going on with taragon and chili working well in the tomato.
Without naming names there are a few places around town serving very similar food for much, much greater prices.
Lunch is from 12-2.30 but their facebook page suggests they’re open from 6.30am to 4pm.
They also do takeaway and had a range of sandwiches for sale; so a $10 review is coming up soon.
I really like the idea of a place doing one sort of meal and doing it well, if you want something different go next door. (That said there are variations in the menu, we just went with the two pasta option)
The prices are very reasonable and the food is a real treat.
Get into it but get there early.
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