Lots of people told me I couldn’t leave Melbourne without having a good lobster roll.

I took this advice very seriously and researched thoroughly into where we could enjoy a good lobster roll. We had a ton of options, but ended up shortlisting Pinchy’s Lobster & Champagne Bar based on our day’s itinerary.

I was a bit surprised to find it in the throes of Chinatown, as I had (wrongly) assumed that the neighbourhood would be filled with Asian restaurants and eateries. Just in case you also get the same surprise as I do while finding Pinchy’s!

What to order and eat at Pinchy’s

We went to Punchy’s on a weekday night, so it wasn’t crowded. The service was extremely friendly and fast, with no hesitation to share the day’s recommended menu.

For our starters, we ordered the Scalloped Potato, scallop ceviche, yuzu kosho & sorre (AUD 18).

These were a tad pricey considering there were only 3 pieces, but they ended up being so delightfully delicious! The ingredients meshed very well together, especially the potato and fresh scallop ceviche, topped with zesty yuzu chili paste.

For our mains, we went with the Fish Pie (Snapper & Blue Eye, Jerusalem artichoke, leek, caper & tomato chutney) as well as the Pinchy’s Lobster Roll (comes with salt bush fries & béarnaise sauce).

Unfortunately I couldn’t try their alcohol, but my husband ordered an Australian wine to pair with the Fish Pie as it was part of the day’s promotional offer.

The Lobster Roll (AUD 40) is the fine dining restaurant’s signature dish, and for good reason. Described by Pinchy’s as ‘mouth-watering Maine Red Lobster on a fresh, crunchy roll’, it tasted refreshingly good.

I had expected the lobster to taste a little more ‘fishy’, which is unfortunately what happens sometimes with seafood. It was a bad experience I had with the street food version in Korea, which unfortunately cost me almost USD 10.

Pinchy’s crunchy roll was, true enough, very crispy and buttery. The crunchy & explosive flavours layered together very nicely with the slippery lobster meat and made for a truly gastronomical experience.

I also appreciated the serving of béarnaise sauce (a herby, buttery concoction) that they served in the glass. It’s probably meant for your lobster roll – the staff didn’t really explain this – but I loved dipping the salt bush fries in the sauce so much!

I was initially a bit concerned about Pinchy’s portions being a tad too small, but everything ended up being just nice. Which I guess is the beauty of fine dining!

The Fish Pie, for instance, looks deceivingly like a tea break portion. However, it can be quite filling though as they really stuff quite a fair bit of fish in it. You may consider ordering it if you’re feeling peckish!

Is it worth eating at Pinchy’s?

We didn’t do fine dining often in Melbourne – actually, if you read my other food reviews, you’ll realise that I don’t do it often anyway!

However, we really enjoyed our dinner at Pinchy’s! There’s nothing to pick on regarding the food, the ambience was lovely, and the prices fairly reasonable for the quality & taste served. It gets even more affordable if you’re thinking of getting the day’s promotional offer, which is surprisingly quite a nice deal.

I do regret not being able to try their alcohol, which I think would have paired nicely with my lobster roll. Their extensive alcohol menu and attention to pairing with the food is also worth reviewing in the future.

I can’t recommend Pinchy’s enough if you’re looking for a quality and romantic meal in Melbourne. That’s especially if you’re on the hunt for a lobster roll that’s worth your stomach space!

P.S. do try to come on a weekday night instead, as I believe it tends tog et crowded on the weekends!

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INDIVIDUAL RATING

• Menu: ✮✮✮✮✮
• Taste: ✮✮✮✮✮
• Price: ✮✮✮✮
• Ambience: ✮✮✮✮✮
• Customer Service: ✮✮✮✮✮

OVERALL RATING

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DIRECTIONS

Address: Level 1/200 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

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