Essence Restaurant, Melbourne Marriott Hotel
Editorial
It isn’t only hotel guests who may wish to take advantage of The Marriott’s Essence Restaurant. With the kitchen open from 6.30am till late, this light, airy space with 180-degree views onto the street is a pleasant spot to take early morning coffee or pop in for lunch between shopping or before a matinee. The contemporary dining area makes the most of its floor-to-ceiling windows, polished floorboards and open kitchen to create a warm and welcoming ambience that is often lacking in hotel restaurants. The menu varies from inspired modern creations to traditional favourites, and focuses on seasonality and on showcasing fine Victorian produce. A very decent, predominantly Australian, wine list is designed to complement the menu.
You might be tempted by the Wagyu beef burger, lamb and green pea risotto or fig and goat’s cheese tart with rocket, pumpkin oil and toasted hazelnuts. Mains include seared Tasmanian salmon on panzanella salad or slow-roasted lamb, or try something from the grill such as Gippsland beef fillet on horseradish roesti with blistered vine tomatoes and porcini mushroom sauce. Essence is ideally placed for pre-theatre dining with a two- or three-course express menu. The restaurant is so close to the Comedy and Her Majesty’s Theatres that you can keep an eye on the admission queues while you finish off a dessert of pear and ginger pudding with coconut ice-cream and rosewater syrup or soft-centred jaffa cake with vanilla bean ice-cream.
Angela Costanzo, July 2009
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