rocadero, the new brasserie in the recently relaunched Hamer Hall complex officially opened its doors to the public last night. Owned by Frank and Sharon van Haandel, of the van Haandel group, the space stretches along the Yarra, taking in a completely different perspective of Flinders Street Station and the CBD aspect.

The room – with its enormous bar and dining room – is shifting the expectation of what the term brasserie means to a Melbourne dining audience. “It’s a modern take on the notion of a brasserie,” says van Haandel group general manager, Anthony Musarra. “The menu is about classic…flavours with sophistication.”

Chef Nick Bennett, who was most recently senior sous chef at Cecconi’s, has created a menu that covers appetisers and charcuterie with an emphasis on European technique and particular focus on French and Italian dishes – think garfish pie with fennel escabeche or buckwheat polenta with beef shin and parsley. There’s a nod to some broad Asian flavours too.

The room is stunning and nestled into the complex. Designed by Allan Powell, with artwork by Japanese graffiti artist Jun Inoue, Trocadero is a study of silvers and greys with statements of red and blacks. The space can seat up to 220 with a bar menu available all day and the brasserie menu for lunch and dinner.

Trocadero
Arts Centre Melbourne
Hamer Hall
100 St Kilda Road
(03) 8698 8888

Hours
Bar Menu, daily 11am–11pm
Brasserie Menu, daily 11.30am–3.30pm, 5.30pm–11pm