marion

we visited for lunch. unfortunately we were seated v. close to 2 other tables next to the door.i kept my coat on as it was very draughty. service was slow, started ok but hard to get their attention and lacked warmth. this is why, despite the food being tasty, i probably won't rush back and why we skipped dessert.i really liked the calamari and the prawn roll but the venison tartare had too much sweetness.

​i do like marion on a sunny day. there's something about sitting on the street side terrace enjoying a glass of wine. actually, it doesn't have to be sunny. i've enjoyed an evening drink at marion with a heater so she's not a weather dependent establishment. having said that, we were blessed with sunshine on saturday and we decided to call in for a glass of rose which became a bottle of rose and as we made our way through the bottle we decided to enjoy a coupe of plates of food. i've never eaten at marion - never been quite sure the small menu would provide enough choice for an indulgent lunch or dinner but let me say, having enjoyed this snack of a meal recently, i will return for more tasty goodness!

popped into marion for a quick brunch with a friend, was super pleased with the bloody mary which was nice and spicy. i chose a croissant so can't really comment on the restaurant cooking as it was a lune croissant. my friend had baked eggs with smoked eggplant which was quite nice. small menu with nothing that really stood out to me. the restaurant lacks a bit of ambience as it was cold and empty, but staff were quite attentive. i think it may be nicer in the evening. my coffee was unfortunately average and i didn't bother finishing it. i'd come back for drinks and the bloody mary.

we had long lunch on a weekday and managed to eat through most of the menu. the tables are quite small and more cafe style, the food fortunately is not. the duck fish with kombu and the beef tartare were favourites. the osso bucco wonderfully tender and fragrant with the white polenta being an absolute standout. the romanesco new broccoli with pistachio was interesting and so were a couple more plates that we had. great wines and service, we'll be back to taste the rest of the menu.

let me start with the bad. it's not a cozy restaurant, quite drafty and if you are within 3 meters to the door you won't be taking your jacket off. the tables are atrociously tiny. cafe style round tables that really doesn't work. but you will forgive all that.
firstly, the sommelier is friendly, unpretentious but professional. the wine collection is diverse and obviously meticulously chosen. it is a wine bar after all.
the service is attentive without being intrusive.
the food is a standout. we had some of the best oysters all year. the smoked eel was perfect. prawn buns unbelievably fresh and just delicious. the sea bream was the same. the modern take on steak tartare really hits the spot. the duck and pork belly divine. and the two desserts we ordered were sophisticated but satisfying.
look forward to coming back again.

while still abroad, in some derelict south east asian shack drinking some form of what the locals loosely referred to as ‘beer’ and with our melbourne arrival deadline looming ominously in the hazy future, i decided it would be a smart idea to do some research on the melbourne restaurant scene and drop some cv’s via email to employers of interest. of the 4 resumes i fired off into the ether that day, unknown to me at the time through either drunken stupidity, or just plain ignorance, 3 of them happened to be owned by chef andrew mcconnell. his ever-expanding empire of high profile eateries is a florescent bulb in the dark to young ambitious moths of every culinary background. it was only after landing a job at mcconnell’s then brand new ‘supernormal’, that i truly began to understand the scope of this empire, a well oiled hospitality machine seemingly churning out a new restaurant/bar/store/eatery every couple of years with consistent and unwavering popularity.

the best part of marion is the complimentary flatbread as they're served fresh and warm, with a generous portion of fromage blanc. although marion isn't my favourite andrew mcconnell establishment, this wine bar was lovely. the menu here is short and simple, and i enjoyed  the whole roasted flounder in burnt butter topped with capers most. true to the mcconnell approach, the dish was executed in a pure yet sophisticated manner. i also liked the house smoked eel served with herb butter, albeit the fish was on the salty side. the cute little prawn and nasturtium parker roll seemed like a great choice too, but it was nothing to shout about despite the fresh prawns and i didn't find them to be worth $10 a pop. my slight let down was also with the artichoke dish as i found the miso paste a bit too overpowering. however, i did find every item we ordered to have very interesting and unique elements.

service was efficient although the wait staff lacked warmth, which was disappointing. i'd revisit marion to explore more of their wine choices, and for the food when the menu changes.

had breakfast here this morning. if you like your coffee lukewarm, your eggs rubbery and over cooked and your bacon fatty then this is the place for you. very very dissatisfied.
lovely decor and friendly staff but food let it down for me.

marion is another andrew mcconnell institution and, so far for me, his best. the food is simple, well balanced and packed full of flavour, showcasing only one or two star ingredients. for two and a half hours, i felt like i was transported to a cabin somewhere in the alps, safe from the woes of the cold.

we started with the raw duckfish, served deceivingly simply with an oil and citrus dressing. it was an amazing balance of sweet, tangy and salty - a great comeback after having disappointing memories of duckfish from the deanery.

next were the prawn rolls, which were just cooked prawns on a brioche roll with a dollop of wasabi mayo. still, bloody good. the steak tartare followed closely and was buried under a pile of crunchy potato matchsticks and dotted with bits of creamy stuff. also bloody good.

for mains, we ordered the pasta (hand rolled and cooked simply with mushrooms) and the pork jowl with corned duck (served with a slice of braised cabbage and jus). as my friend said, these dishes were "winter on a plate" and exemplified the respectful use of seasonal ingredients.

for dessert, a pear and ginger pudding, a quince pudding and a baked chocolate. all delicious, and a perfect way to end the meal.

i applaud the staff at marion for delivering what was truly a memorable experience.

a much - welcome sibling to the mcconell enterprises and it surely lives up to the mcconnell name! superb european - leaning wine list and flavoursome dishes that are winebar - appropriate. the decor is relaxed with perfect lighting. it's amazing how much good stuff the tiny kitchen manages to churn out. the bulk of of the staff are courteous, relaxed and helpful.

no teething issues as far as i can see. brilliant job!

continuing with the seafood theme, we indulged in a plate of grilled calamari ($16). the curls of squid were beautifully cooked, with a smoky charred exterior, and a centre that was almost sticky in its pearly tenderness. dressed with a mixture of fromage blanc, herb paste, and a generous amount of coarse black pepper, this was bright and vivacious drinking food at its classiest.

amazing fit out with a great atmosphere. an excellent version of a wine bar. good wine list but not as wide ranging and varied as it could be. snack food is ok, not brilliant. cocktail list is minimal and the result is as expected (do not order cocktails from a wine bar)

love it. something effortless about this place in the best possible way. great staff, super tasty treats and brilliant wine list, all delivered with a simple charm. a new favourite.

the siamese twin of cutler and co,, restauranteur andrew mcconnell's wine bar means serious business. the fit out ticks the boxes of the fitzroy checklist and the wine list ensures marion will be a mainstay on gertrude street. doubling up as a bottle shop, the slick sommelier explains that the wines are also available to take away. you can literally continue drinking vintage wines until the wee hours of the morning in your own backyard. whilst a flexible food list also offers some real fine finger foods to accompany your beverage, this place primarily caters to the whims and fancies of a wine enthusiast.

raise your glass 👌🏾

a cute wine bar on gertrude st a few doors down from big brother cutler and co

well executed dishes kept simple.

avocado on toast with fennel pollen and parmesan cream for breakfast - yum

or whole roasted spatchcock for lunch, aged and as tender as it comes

they even have a wall of wine!!!