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Love to eat out but watching your wallet? Then it'll be welcome news that a nifty new haunt in Melbourne is serving up fabulous French-inspired dishes at just $14 a pop – yes, really. Say bonjour to Frenchie, a red velvet-draped bistro and bar in the CBD channelling the lively spirit of famous Parisian neighbourhoods like Saint-Germain and Pigalle.
So if late-night supper club vibes are your thing, then you'll want a seat at this freshly polished table.
Guests enter the space through a fun mirrored staircase – and though caviar bumps may make the rounds and classic French techniques reign supreme in the kitchen, you can leave any stiffness or formality at the door. Here is a spot for letting your hair down, with late-night service every night of the week (except Sunday). Frenchie also swears like a sailor, too, dropping both the F-bomb on its website in phrases like “c'est la f*cking vie” and“f*ck le chic”.
Oh, and the restaurant's mascot is a cute illustration of a French bulldog.
Perhaps now more than ever, there's something rather enticing about an unfussy Euro-style restaurant with a flat fixed-price menu. Perennially busy joints that follow this brief (such as Republic Economica, Good Times and the latter's little sibling Times New Roman) prove it's a game-changer for drawing in a crowd – particularly when $9 bowls of surprisingly delicious spaghetti are concerned.
Except at Frenchie, think old-school Gallic bistro classics designed for sharing instead of Italian eats. The menu has been carefully devised by co-owner Lucas Boucly and head chef Sylvain Bernard (Chez Olivier Le Bistro).
Guests may choose from dainty platefuls of cordon bleu meatballs with pea velouté, fork-tender beef cheek in a bourguignonne sauce with Parisian mash, steak entrecôte or a ratatouille tart. What's even more miraculeux is that the drinks, too, come in at just $14. That means you can pair your potatoes and confit duck leg with sophisticated sips like Martinis, Cognac Highballs, European beer or Champagne.
And since Melbourne's obsession with roving dessert trolleys was never over (“It still isn't over!” we cry like Noah from The Notebook), Frenchie supplies this, too – pick from dark chocolate mousse, creme brûlée or red wine-poached pear with crumble and vanilla ice cream.
Enchantée, Frenchie – we're very pleased to meet you.
Frenchie is open 5pm-late from Monday to Saturday at 1/15 Collins Street, Melbourne. Visit the website here or make a booking.
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