the last jar

we arrived at 12:45 and unfortunately didn't receive the three sides we ordered until 1:32pm.
this was partly because they were busy but also because the group of people in front of us frigged around ordering separately in a crowded pub, so before we had even ordered were waiting probably 10 mins.
however, 45 minutes for 3 sides from a pub is not great.

waiting aside and the hour lunch break turning into 1 1/2 hour lunch break, we ordered the crumbed garlic mushrooms $9, the heirloom beetroot salad with cashel blue cheese $9, and the handcut chips $9 with their homemade curry sauce $1 to share.

when these three sides finally came out we were pretty hungry but also very impressed.

the handcut chips were fat and chunky and looked well cooked and generous. once they cooled down enough, very yummy. and the curry sauce was mmm mm mmm, took me back to ireland for sure.

the crumbed mushrooms came as three medium sized mushrooms with a garlic cheese inside, coated in crunchy panko crumb. again, once cooled down enough to eat, very delicious served with some freshly squeezed lemon also accompanied these delights as well.

the salad was surprisingly warm, i expected it would be cold but enjoyed it's warmth. the beets and beet leaves were nicely cooked. if anything i feel there wasn't enough cashel blue as there was only a couple of tiny strips for the whole salad. the pickled walnuts! what an interesting addition - they were black, sliced and a bit salty resembling a large slice of olive but with a softer texture. forgetting that they were mentioned in the menu we couldn't figure out what they were by taste, sort of like a mixture between olive and mushroom? interesting, but not in a bad way.

the sav blancs ordered were all on the stingy side, pouring in under the plimsoll line. at $8.50 each, at least fill the wineglass to the line!!

overall the food was very nice as far as deep fried sides go and the salad was a warm yummy addition, but the wait and wine could improve.

went with some friends. everybody enjoyed their meals. excellent service and a lively atmosphere.

excellent non-pretentious irish pub. the staff are very friendly and certainly know how to pour a pint. the decor is what you'd expect from an irish pub and there is a wood fire which really hits the ticket on cold winter nights. i had the irish coddle and although it needed some seasoning with salt and pepper, it was delicious and reminded me of when my mum would make it for me as a kid. at only $20 it was fantastic value and very filling. their house shiraz was very smooth and great value for happy hour at $7 when so many house wines in melbourne are barely drinkable.

just like being back in ireland!. i'm so so glad that i finally got around to booking a table at the last jar! it took me back to my travels through ireland last year and i felt right at home. it's a friendly atmosphere and you can either eat in the restaurant or in the bar. if you want a table in the restaurant make sure you book as it was really busy!

we shared the mussels as a starter and they were absolutely delicious - i will be going back to have a whole bowl to myself. served with crusty bread it is a must try. for main i had the 250g scotch fillet served with crunchy chips and a generous and well dressed salad. they also had hellman's mayo on the menu which i discovered in ireland and has been a staple with chips ever since. the complimentary soda bread and butter was a huge hit as well!

it's one of the better pub meals i've had in a long time and i will definitely be back - i just regret not going there sooner!

i went for dinner with my partner here on a friday evening and had a lovely time. basic interior and straight-forward menu (except for the gaelic!). the service was the outstanding point - won't rush back would recommend as a down to earth pub.

a little slice of home. nuggets of amazing reminders of growing up in ireland tossed throughout the restaurant and the menu.

nostalgia aside, the food was absolutely flawless. had the crab cake with baked egg and two battered sausages. the sausages were the closest thing to denny you will get in australia, and that in itself is a reason to go.

for mains i had the half chicken cooked to perfection with the most amazing salad.

topped off with the jaffa cake and barry's tea ice-cream, an absolute gem. tie in lightning fast food service as well as the nicest waitress ever and you have a winner. not only worth a visit, but worth a following.

the staff here are so friendly and the food was absolutely delicious! the portions are good for an empty stomach and i recommend the pigs ears for starters: they are delicious to snack on. definitely recommend the last jar for dinner and/or a few quiet drinks on the rooftop.

stodgy fare. we thought this pub would be a lovely spot for a heart warming lunch on a bitterly cold melbourne day. sadly, we left quite underwhelmed, to the point that we drove to another place to have coffee and dessert. the fish and chips were stodgy and really not nice - probably 25% fish to 75% batter. the batter was crisp on the outside but so thick that it was mushy on the inside, as was the little strips of fish. actually the mushy peas were less mushy than the inside of the batter. the other dish (mullet) was better but nothing special. was also a little disappointed that we were told about the daily special, ordered within minutes, and then were told it was sold out a couple of minutes later. given there were only 9 other people in for lunch at 12.30 and no one had received their mains yet, i reckon there was about 2 pieces of duck on offer in the first place. and then i had to tell the waitress that they forgot charge me for my meal (even though i hardly ate it, i didn't want to be dishonest and it definitely wasn't a case of it being left off the bill because i was dissatisfied). oh well, others seem to like the place, maybe we just copped a bad day in the kitchen.

we've been past the last jar a ton of times on the tram not far from our place but never been in, so, naturally, when i read in time out about their annual oyster and guinness festival this past weekend, i pushed charlie and friends to partake. how could you pass up $2 oysters and $6 pints? (easily, anywhere besides freakin' melbourne, where those are actually decent prices. in nyc, it's not a deal until those little shuckers are $1.) this shindig celebrating the annual galway oyster festival involved live music and a shucking contest. luckily, charlie and i did not miss said contest while we were learning firsthand what traffic can be like on sydney road on a saturday. we arrived just in time to settle down and watch the bearded bald guy take the prize. bare-handedly, i might add. they laugh in the face of danger. we celebrated with three of each oyster on offer: battered, natural, and kilpatrick. i really don't know much about oysters besides that i like them and that you should only

a wintertime favourite!. last year we were looking on urbanspoon for a suitably warming cuisine on a freezing cold and rainy night (it is amazing how many of these such nights happen in melbourne, but i digress). neither of us felt like going further than one train journey and we wanted good, solid, hot winter comfort food. a search for english, irish and scottish food pulled up this option, and we both agreed it sounded perfect. the last jar is a wonderful pub - unpretentious and atmospheric in a homely and welcoming sort of way (code for it hasn't been spoilt by renovation). the guinness is wonderful - expertly poured and fresh. there is also a wonderful selection of irish whiskey. as for the food - it is a perfect balance between good old fashioned favourites, cooked to perfection, with enough modern twists to make them interesting, but without spoiling their essence. the irish stew and dublin coddle are both perfect for a cold winter's night. my partner has had both, and he assured me that the meat in the strew was tender and the vegetables flavoursome. i stick with the vegetarian menu, which also offers some choice with one staple (a baked spud) and one seasonal dish. my only comment here would be that mains tend to come with salads, whereas mash and / or baked vegetables would often be more appropriate in the colder months. we rarely get to sample the desserts because we are too full, but we did manage an irish cream butter pudding once that was heavenly. the last jar is one of the few nice things about winter in melbourne!

*updated april 2016. i've visited at least twice more since my first review and it just confirms what a sensational place this is. food, service, atmosphere. huge portions - you definitely won't leave hungry. very highly recommended.

lots to like. really great on many levels - the vibe, the service, the food, the number of beers on tap!

our waitress was lovely and efficient.

food was brilliant! i agonised over what to choose and decided on the irish stew which was a truly excellent representation of the classic dish, and my companion had the 1/2 roast duck with pickled peach, and rocket and hazelnut salad. mmm! both meals were excellent. the complimentary bread (two types: soda, and oat) was fantastic.

i'm keen to return as the waitress mentioned when she was explaining some of the dishes that the smallgoods were house-made.

price point was excellent for the quality of the food. highly recommended!

the last jar already has the reputation for serving up a quality pub meal, and they have once again smashed it with this parma. i highly recommend stopping in and checking them out (i'm sure there are a plethora of events planned for st. paddy's day next week!) and definitely - definitely - get the irish poutine ... you won't regret it.

fantastic food, service and atmosphere. the service was outstanding, the food was just perfect, i had the rabbit special with a celeriac mash that i could have had a whole bowl of. wine was a small choice but great selections. delicious food and atmosphere made with love.

overall, i think the last jar is a very casual, relaxed and fuss free place to come to in the cbd. few standout dishes with a few more that could be better. still, decent gastropub affair that is good value for money too.

best guiness in melbourne!
finally a bar that isn't overrun by hipsters and horrid wait staff.
the atmosphere is really great and the staff are amazing!
my favourite by far!!!