Smith Street is like being handed a smoothie and never knowing its contents. Some elements are sweet and smooth, others a little crunchy and some; straw-blocking botches.
Agent 284 is of the cream-rises consortium. If it were a smoothie you would order a second round for yourself, and one for everyone in the office. You would tell your mates and make it your own before everyone gets wind of it.
Agent 284 is the epitome of Smith Street-sexy with a casual-perfection throughout and passion on each plate piled high. You could literally stay for the whole weekend sampling the stratums of this new comer. ‘The Birdcage’ up top takes you to NYC for the evening with chrome lights, couches and cocktails. The middle level makes your mouth water with a menu of must-haves. Then the basement for leather booths and beats.
Head Chef Rick Christie doesn’t go overboard on the trimmings and holds the smears and foams. It’s straight up comfort food for a cosy price, made from scratch and short on food miles. Try the big brekkie, homemade pasta and Jalapeno poppers. If you must know one must-have, it’s BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE. Even if you don’t like cheesecake this slab of blue baked heaven’ll enamor you.
Another nice touch; the presence of the person who started the joint. Owner Daniel Temura is on deck and he loves his bar, his food and his customers. Most of all, he loves Melbourne which is why his beer menu is homegrown.
It’s a bar, a great place to read the paper, get a bang-on coffee and get fed with friends.
