LOCATIONMelbourne CBD.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAIf a friend hadn’t told me of this hidden gem, tucked away off Flinders Lane, I may never have found it and would have truly missed out. The sign out the front depicts a woman sailing, a pastime owner Susan Pockley is very familiar with, and ties up her theme of escaping the 9 to 5, even if it’s just for a lunch break.
Start with the soup of the day, served with toast or bread and butter, with options like organic Cajun seafood gumbo with John Dory, mussels, vegetables and rice, or organic Indian vegetable and pea with yoghurt and mint. Salad options are available, like the Royal Tasmanian smoked salmon, as well as light options like bruschetta with tomato, basil, salt and pepper, or King Oscar sardines and lemon. Alternatively choose a freshly made-to-order baguette or sourdough sandwich with either butter or brushed with olive oil, and fillings including traditional cucumber and lettuce, or smoked salmon with horseradish, capers, fresh dill and lemon juice or the less traditional sopressa salami, tomato, basil, cucumber and cos lettuce. Finish with cheese and biscuits with tempting choices like New Zealand cheddar and Wattle Valley brie, or the cake of the day with buttermilk vanilla ice-cream. Ally Oop is unlicensed but offers plenty of non-alcoholic options.
Veda Wickens