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Comme

places|vic|melbourne|comme
Come to Comme – a sophisticated and rather grand Melbourne watering hole at the Paris end of town.

Editorial


A few steps in from the hustle of the Paris end of Collins Street you'll find, tucked into one of Melbourne's famous laneways, the Comme bar and restaurant. According to the website, Comme means 'socially obligatory', but according to my French/English dictionary Comme means 'how' or 'as'. But whatever it means, after a few glasses of classic French wine, I really don't care.

The Wine Room on the ground floor is an elegant setting for a fine wine with friends after work or for a pre-show tipple. On Friday nights it has a touch of the high-end, very stylish meet-market vibe - but only in the most elegant and subtle way of course; this is Melbourne high society after all, and certain standards must be adhered to.

As you'd expect for this end of town, the wine list is impeccable, with over 350 local and French varieties compiled for your wine-drinking pleasure by Comme's own sommelier. However, there's a lot for non-wine drinkers as well, with an extensive cocktail list and local and imported boutique beers.

The overall décor is fresh and white with a light airy feel you don't expect in such old-world Melbourne architecture. Grand arches, leather couches and a stunning marble bar make you feel like you're in a private gentleman's club, only much more friendly and welcoming. I found the staff to be incredibly polite and unpretentious - a rare treat. Overall, the crowd is older (over 30s) and mostly corporate, but also with a touch of the art and fashion crowd mingling in with the 'Melbourne black' wall of suits and skirts.

If you get peckish, the Comme Kitchen has a relaxed and informal dining atmosphere with reasonable prices, yet a delicious selection of Mediterranean-infused, tapas-style dishes from the French region. Try Burgundy snails stuffed with garlic, or help cut down on the rabbit population by ordering the Western Plains Rabbit with foie gras and prawns.

Meri Hari, February 2010

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