Gertie’s Bar and Lounge

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
Gertie’s has a prominent position on a Brunswick Street corner in New Farm. It’s the kind of place you head to when you’re in the mood for some good tapas washed down with a cocktail, wine or boutique beer. Though not occupying a huge floor space, the vaulted ceilings give the impression of a large area. The space immediately inside the front entrance is taken up with bar tables and tall stools, while the bar seating overlooks Brunswick Street traffic. The adjacent room offers a sunlit vista by afternoon, which turns into a dim lounge area by night with semi-private booths and ottomans squeezed around small tables.

The menu offers mainly tapas dishes available from 3pm, and lunch on weekends. More substantial options like pizza, burgers and pasta are available on weekends but the emphasis is on grazing. However, some of the choices are more in line with pub grub than Mediterranean cuisine, such as the beer-battered fries with roasted garlic aioli, and pork and prawn spring rolls. Then there are enticing warm marinated olives, za’atar crusted lamb cutlets served with hommus and fattoush, or crisp prawns on bean sprouts with pickled cucumber dipping sauce. Once the sun goes down, Gertie’s focus changes from food to liquid refreshments and fun.

Meagan Hepworth