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

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

nostalgia aside, thefoodwas 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 fastfoodservice 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 thefoodwas 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.

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 scottishfoodpulled 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 thefood- 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!

fantastic food, service and atmosphere. the service was outstanding, thefoodwas 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. deliciousfoodand atmosphere made with love.

had dinner here sat night. we intended on eating in the dining room, but it was booked out (2 weeks before). so we ate in the bar area, which i'm told is the same menu. thefoodwas remarkably good and the service was very attentive, even to the point of shielding us from the eclectic mix of patrons who call the last jar their own. overall, a great (and interesting) experience at the jar. highly recommended, but you'll need to book 3-4 weeks in advance for the dining room or take your chances out in the bar. either way, it's enjoyable. the jar isn't a cheap night out, you can expect to part with $50 ph for 2 courses + drinks. if i had any criticism at all, it would be that the wine list is somewhat limited, would like to see some fine victorian shiraz feature (preferably heathcote)

hidden gem. a non discrete pub on the corner in the dead end of the city lies a hidden gem.

finding this place was a benefit of social media and the plethora offoodsites.

think irish tapas..
went with an english mate (it made him homesick) and had an array of starters...exceptionally tasty and no pulled pork on brioche or over priced pseudo wage hamburgers ~
tasty food, generous serves and exceptionally reasonably priced...tried an array of starters and nothing disappointed. great home made bread and tangy sauce sadly unable to purchase any for home.
friendly smiling irish young lady who made us feel very welcome.
open fire.

saw the sandwiches and steaks go past looked huge servings definitely coming back for lunch and dinner to try.

a great discovery that is now on 'list' !

the menu was small and wasn't really to our liking and because they had been busy, 2 of the few mains weren't available so all four of us stuck to steaks.steaks were really good, well cooked, melt in your mouth stuff! chips were... not chips. more like the largest thick cut spuds on the planet but well seasoned and a massive hit. salad consisted of onion and lettuce and was drowned in oil, wasn't touched by anyone on the table. a bit pricey but goodfoodand friendly staff so will come back again.

nice irish. was looking for a irish pub with traditional irish fare,think we have found it,a good pub when visiting the viccy market,the staff were more than helpful,explaining the menu to us,and thefoodwas delicious,as was the killkenny beer,had the musells and the irsh coddle,how good,as was the bread,and a good day was had by all

been twice now and have enjoyed both visits. very simple honestfoodpriced reasonably. great way to spend a day off

simply put, the most deliciousfoodwe've eaten in a long while. we travelled an hour to get here & i am so glad we did. the breads, entrees, steak, beers etc are fantastic. awesome, friendly service too. we will be back!!!!

the staff and venue were great. i recently booked a table for 18 friends post covid restrictions and they were very accommodating. they organised us to sit in a private dinning area and allowed us 2-3 tables.foodwas lovely and drinks were reasonably priced. highly recommend this pub to others and will be back again!

i have been coming to their sunday roast dinner twice. love the close proximity to home.foodis great and good value for money. guinness on tap is also handy.

yumfoodand wonderful atmosphere!! love the range offoodand drink options, great for groups or just popping in for a cheeky pint, easy to get to, central, what's not to love!!

completely over-priced and thefoodis terrible.
ordered the pie and it came out as a soup. pastry was soggy and meat was too tough. 

girlfriend ordered the sunday roast and it was more mediterranean. the worst one she's had..
for $25, there are much better places out there