The George on Collins

The George on Collins wears many hats. From sleek cocktail bar to Asian restaurant, from hip venue for a major celebration or corporate event to an intimate date night option. And amazingly, all those hats fit.

The George on Collins

Location: The Georges Building, 162-168 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Ph: (03) 9663 7226 

I don’t know about you, but to me, The George on Collins sounds like the name of a stuffy Gentlemen’s Club. How wrong could I be?!

Instead, it is a cavernous basement restaurant and bar serving an eclectic menu of Asian dishes, presented with the signature flair of ex-Masterchef Australia alumni Khanh Ong. With a vibe that channels a slick New York venue, The George on Collins offers a multitude of socialising options to its patrons.

You fancy a quick post-work Cocktail? Then grab a stool at the seemingly endless granite bar and chill.

Feel like catching up with with girls for an Asian-inspired Bottomless Brunch and a spot of live music? Kick back in a booth and enjoy the free-flowing Bubbles.

Looking to host an event? Give the delightful staff at The George a call and they’ll be happy to discuss arrangements with you.

Simply keen to meet for dinner with a group of friends? The kitchen’s Banquets Menu and A La Carte offerings are perfect for sharing and chatting over.

Whatever you reason for eating out, the team at The George on Collins will do their best to accommodate your needs. And we’re pretty sure you’ll leave well fed and content.

The Space

When I hear the phase ‘basement bar and restaurant’ I think of a small, intimate dive of a venue. Well, The George on Collins certainly isn’t that.

In contrast, as you descend the stairs from the Ground Floor of the famous Georges Building, you enter a surprisingly vast subterranean room.

The left side of the restaurant is dominated by a huge granite bar, moodily illuminated by a 20 or so pendant lights – it’s that long. A row of single and double tables mark the spine of the dining room and to their right, a line of scarlet, velvet booths curve lovingly around tables for 4. Keep moving to the right and you’re on a slightly raised mezzanine, with a further snake of chairs for customers happy to perch drinks and food on a counter top. Finally, lining the wall are a serious of discreet alcoves, perfect for diners wishing to to escape the buzz of the main restaurant floor.

On top of this, The George also has private dining rooms, if you really want to get away from the life of the venue proper.

All-in-all, it’s quite a set up. And pleasingly harmonious. The various dining zones prevent the room from becoming a cacophonous mess, along with being visually attractive. The warm, natural tones of open brickwork and mellow timber soften the industrial chic edge of the bar and kitchen area. A white-painted ceiling spots the space from feeling oppressive and the lighting adds drama in some places (the bar) and calms in others (the booths).

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The Food

There are 4 of us meeting a weeknight dinner when we slip into the George on Collins. Although it’s only a Thursday, most of the tables are taken and the atmosphere is fun. After a brief check of the menus, we decide on the $79 pp Banquet, order a cocktail each and sit back.

We open with as tasty a morsels as you are ever going to eat in the form of beautifully balanced Betel Leaf. Topped with Miso Cured Salmon, Apple, Kaffir Lime and a sprinkling of salty Tobiko Roe, it pops with enticing flavours and textures.

Similarly refreshing, the Kingfish Ceviche looks as light and fresh as it tastes. Accompanied by an Avocado & Watermelon Salsa, a punchy Green Talay and slightly chewy Black Sesame Cracker, it’s texturally brilliant.

Along side this we have an initially baffling dish of Burrata. Why baffling? Well, The George is ostensibly an Asian fusion restaurant and Burrata is – obviously – Italian. But if you’re gonna go fusion, we reckon you should do so fearlessly and this plate turns out to be a great case in point. Creamy, delicate Burrata is given a kick up the pants by a feisty Chilli Jam paired with Tomato and Capsicum. A touch of genius comes from the addition of an airy, crunchy Chinese Donut. We all love it.

For our guide to the finest Asian Fusion Restaurants in Melbourne, click here.

From there, the Prawn & Ginger Dumplings are wonderfully plump and all of their ingredients sing when doused in their XO Sauce dressing. Another sure-fire winner are the Sticky Mekhong Lambs Ribs. So good, in fact, that we devour then before I get a chance to take a photo.

As it is, I also have to intervene before my dining companions demolish the Lamb Shank. Slow-cooked to melting tenderness in a lush Red Curry Sauce and finished with a dash of Coconut Cream. It’s the kind of dish I wish I could whip up at home on a chilly winter’s evening.

As well as the textbook Lamb Shank, we have a Yellow Tofu Curry. Packed with Tofu, Eggplant and Sweet Potato and topped with Taro Crisps, the mildness of the curry allows the sweet flavours of the veggies to shine through. On the side, we have a simple bowl of Steamed Rice and the obligatory (for us) plate of Roti with Peanut Satay Sauce. Delish!

To round off our meal we have the Golden G. A wondrous Dessert comprising of a Vanilla & Salted Caramel Semifreddo, Cocoa Nibs, Hazelnut and Caramel Mousse. It’s a great palate cleanser.

The Drinks

As ever, we christen our meal with a round of cocktails.

Top marks go to the Thaigarita ($25) – a zesty blend of Herradura Tequila, Triple Sec, Lemon, Lime & Kaffir Lime Syrup. Meanwhile, the Dragon Empress ($25) – Vodka, Soho Lychee Liqueur, Purple Dragonfruit, Lime, Cranberry & Ginger Syrup – gets bonus points for looking gorgeous.

From there, the Devil’s Corner Pinot Noir Rose goes down treat.

Overall

All too often, a venue tries to be too many things to too many people. A bar, a restaurant, an event space, etc. And in doing so, becomes an incoherent mess. Similarly, in trying to juggle the intricacies of Japanese technique with Chinese and Vietnamese produce, so many Asian Fusion restaurants create nothing but confusion on the plate.

Thankfully, none of the above is true of The George on Collins.

Hugely capable staff know exactly what their customers want at all times. And the generous dimensions of the establishment mean that as we are completing our dinner, the team as setting up for a corporate event and it has no impact on us. In fact, we score an invite.

And food-wise, the dishes are distinct – in both their ingredients and origins.

Bustling, fun and flavoursome, the George on Collins has something for everyone.