First Look: The Pinnacle Is Back In Fitzroy North

Beloved live music spot the Fitzroy Pinnacle closed in January 31. But the pointy corner pub’s last call wasn’t the end after all. Michael Bascetta – co-founder of Bar Liberty, Falco and Capitano, and current part of the Reed House team – has taken over the building with Arnold’s chef Scott Eddington. They’ve given it a light refresh.

“Good hospitality comes from getting a thousand of the small decisions right, as opposed to making sweeping changes,” Bascetta says. “The idea here was to tweak a few things, tidy the building up to show off how beautiful it is and revamp the menu.” One of these tweaks includes changing the name to, simply, The Pinnacle.

The new menu takes a less-is-more approach, with a focus on simple pub staples done well and without any unexpected twists. “Some pubs are just for drinking and the food is an afterthought, other venues are basically restaurants masquerading as pubs,” Eddington says. “We want to fall in the middle of that spectrum. The Pinnacle is so beloved in the community because it’s a pub for everyone and we’re making sure the menu reflects that in both its make-up and cost.”

“If it’s not for everyone, it’s not really a pub, right? So we’re conscious of keeping both the drinks and the food menu local, accessible and affordable,” adds Bascetta. 

The mains list is just six dishes long – there’s chicken schnitzel, eggplant lasagne, a cheeseburger, grilled fish of the day, piquillo pepper rigatoni, and a Caesar salad – all priced between $25 and $36. Weekly specials include $25 pot-and-parma nights on Mondays, $28 steak nights on Wednesdays, and $35 Sunday roasts.

“I’ve always worked in restaurants, so what I’m looking forward to most is stripping things back and focusing on some seasonal Sunday roasts,” Bascetta says. “I love the idea of getting some meat and veggies roasting, enjoying a pint and letting the world kind of find us – I hope this is a place people can socialise and slow down a bit.”

The local focus extends to the drinks, too. Expect Carlton Draught, Guinness and a tap rotation featuring Bodriggy, Stomping Ground and Molly Rose – as well as a wild-fermented beer from Tasmania’s Two Metre Tall. Bascetta says the wine list is “about 80 per cent” local, with a couple of international drops also available.

The main changes to the building include a fresh coat of paint, some street-side tables, dining in the courtyard (which was previously only for smokers) and the small stage being converted into a dining area. The pool table is staying put, a couple of TVs have been installed and live music fans can still get their fix, with performances now taking place in the courtyard. 

“It wasn’t an easy decision to remove the stage, but the reality is live music has become so expensive for venues to host,” Bascetta says. The choice was ultimately about The Pinnacle’s long-term sustainability. “We had to make changes to ensure the pub can stay open for the next 50 years.”

The Pinnacle
251 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North
No phone

Hours:
Mon to Thu 4pm–11pm
Fri & Sat midday–11pm
Sun midday–10pm

thepinnacle.melbourne
@thepinnaclemelbourne