Next Door Diner - Northcote

Date: Sunday 28th November 2010

Restaurant: Next Door Diner

Address: 204 St Georges Road, Northcote

Phone: 03 9939 1350

Commentary : Sarah Andrew

Sunday night was not my first visit to Next Door Diner, but it was the first visit since I have started supplying wine to this restaurant. Like the venue, the wine list and menu is small but perfectly formed. The venue is zoned with a bar section and window seats at the front and raised back section scattered with a wall-counter and stools; communal table and selection of ‘by two’ and ‘by four’ tables.

I consider Next Door Diner a ‘local’ as it ticks many boxes:

1. It is possible to walk home - 3km door to door (yes I have clocked the distance)

2. There is a tram stop outside heading north (my direction) or back into the city

3. It happens to be on my way home

4. A local in my opinion offers a welcoming space that allows for casual drop in diners and is an option last minute when one is already home and does not want to cook but does not fancy ‘take-away’.

The drinks menu is brief but covers a nice selection of beverages, in which ‘boutique’ is the theme: beer, cider and wine. All wine is available by the glass (4 white, 1 rose and 4 red) and an additional section features a single winery with a number of options by the bottle). Strong support for Rutherglen Sherry, Muscat and Tokay is evident, along with a dessert wine from Tasmania.

Food is offered as a mixture of small plates and larger plates, with a hint towards shared plates. The selection of vegetarian, seafood and meat is in balance and the three main options were:

  • Fillet of fish (monk fish) with spring vegetables, butter lettuce and crispy onion rings
  • Plains paddock lamb, smokey eggplant, white anchovy and new season garlic
  • Roasted free range chicken, soft polenta, Diable gravy and sweetcorn

My dining companion and I selected the first two mains along with a side of slow roasted pumpkin, pinenuts, local honey & yoghurt. We both opted to drink from a local winery and selected one glass each of Toolern Vale Hills Merlot 2005 and Chardonnay 2004 (Sunbury).

Despite being content with our mains, we opted for the dessert special which consisted of Yarra Valley strawberries and cherries, shortbread and Tasmanian clotted cream and glass of 2006 Pressing Matters Riesling Dessert Wine (Coal River, Tasmania). Such an indulgent way to finish an evening, but it had to be done!

Service was attentive yet relaxed and the majority of tables were full which was encouraging given that we arrived fairly late on a Sunday evening. Next Door Diner is open Wednesday to Saturday 5:30pm - 11pm and Sunday 3pm - 11pm. I would recommend booking and if you happen to live in Northcote, Thornbury or Preston you need to embrace this restaurant as it is on your doorstep and worth a visit.