I got a call from Scott at The Spanish Acquisition when I was on way home last Wednesday: “We’re going to the New Movida, do you want to come along?” How could I say no? I quickly dived out of the car and made my way down to Hosier Lane to check out Movida Next Door, or Movida Dos as everyone seem to be calling it.
Its a fairly clean, but small space just down from the original Movida. Plenty of nice wood and white walls with a small bar just in front of the kitchen. There is a small list of tapas and raciones followed by a tight list of beers, sherries and wines. Being opening night, Frank was on the pans with bevy of Melbourne food and wine identities in the bar slurping and munching their way through the menu. The staff had a tough time working their way through the crowd, and you’d get plenty of opportunity to get to know the people next to you in the bar.
I had been expecting a more ‘cheap and cheerful’ version of the full restaurant, the kind of place you can go for a couple of drinks and a couple of snack for $20. It seems this isn’t quite the reality (although not too far off). It’s not a holding bar for Movida either, or just a sherry bar (although there is sherry on tap from a barrel, fresh from Jerez). It’s something else altogether.
The menu is full of Spanish classics. The jamon and mahon croquetas are some of the best I’ve tasted, fried fresh sardines that showed off the quality of the fish, and the best of all: braised beef cheek with marrow bone. This is an excellent dish and had me looking around just in case someone was stuipid enough to leave any unguarded on the plate. Liver pinchos were well done, as was the fried anchovy on goats cheese. The only thing that didn’t work was the eggplant ‘chips’, just not my thing really. A quick trip through the wine list saw us drinking a raft of styles: La Goya manzanilla (don’t even mention the new label to me), NPU amontillado, 2006 Castro Martin followed up by a bottle of Capçanes Lasandal.
Overall, its a fairly cool drop in type joint with plenty of atmosphere and charm. Just be prepared to pay similar prices to Movida. The food is up to it, so I can’t really complain too much. It’s open a bit later than Movida too.
My fault for going out of town. I can’t believe I’m going to be the last one in.
Make sure you get up to La Pena on Victoria St. Nth Melb. Excellent traditional Spanish food, all Spanish speakers etc. I’ll write it up in the next week or so.
You went to The Royal Mail though didn’t you Ed? I know which I’d choose.
Dave, what is the point of this place? Is it Flinders Street frontage BTW?
Well they use a different style of cooking for the most part, and have sherry on tap. I’m guessing that they are trying to show a different side of Spanish food, but that didn’t really come through when I went…
Being a bit cynical, its to get more punters through the door. They didn’t have any room to expand the existing joint.
Yep flinders street frontage.
Dave, is La Pena a relatively new place ..I think these guys used to run a food court outlet in the city which closed recently ?.
Yeah it is quite new, but I don’t know much about the guys who run it. I’m heading down there in a couple of weeks anyway…
Went to La Pena on Friday..I think I must have caught them on a…not as good as others day judging by your comments, will be interested in your write up when you get to it..MoVida tomorrow..am hoping I catch them on an on day
Hey Rudy,
Buggar, I thought it was great when I went a couple of months ago. La Pena is more traditional, i.e. the kind of food the average Spanard eats and thats what I enjoyed about it. But a lot can happen to a restaurant in a couple of months…
Movida seems to be really ‘on’ at the moment, Frank spent a month or so in Spain just before the opening of Next Door and lots of new things are popping up on the menu. Let us know how you go.
Dave, Movida was ‘on’ this time..haven’t really had a bad experience there although I know others that have.
Good to hear, I’m dropping in for a few snacks later in the week.
I think the main problem people have had is that you could go in one day and have a dish that what mind blowing, the next day the same dish would be ho-hum. They have obviously done something to fix this, as it seems to be all systems go now.
Dave..have you tried Anada on Gertrude St..am thinking of trying for Friday drinks ?
Yep sure have, a while ago now but I don’t think things have changed. If you are going in a largish group, book. It’s only a small joint, but the food is excellent. Great staff too.
I had a good, but mixed experience at Anada. Some food was excellent, but the quail baked in flatbread (from Moro) flopped badly. To give them credit, they didn’t charge me for it though, and the pintxos morunos were great. The sherry list is better than the list of other wines by the glass, and while the bottle list is good (stacked with Spanish Acquisition portfolio gear), they flat refused to open the recent Fefinanes albarino for me as a by the glass job, which is never something I’ve had trouble asking for at Movida. Then again, it was my first time at Anada, and I go to Movida a lot.
Thanks guys, will pop in for a sherry or two and some snacks tomorrow afternoon and let you know how it goes..it seems that so many of these places including Movida can be up and down in food and service standards.
I haven’t had a bad experience at Anada, but I have heard other have. Try it and see if it’s for you.
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with movida. The food is great in most cases, I find the wine list odd at times, but I’m not a fan of the atmosphere of the place. It’s a bit bit too cool for me.
I like places like Bar Lourinha and Anada, but that’s just my preference for bar type places. If someone was going to buy me lunch at any of them I’d be chuffed
Had a few sherrys and snacks sitting outside at Anada Friday evening..the wine list is okay and the food and service pretty good generally..not sure if it is just me but do find the waitstaff at these places (Movida included) to be a bit too cool and almost aloof, feel like they are wondering how I actually managed to get in the place..if only I were younger, more handsome and better dressed.
Thanks for the update. Are you on a one man quest to find the best tapas bar in melbourne? It’s a noble cause
I feel that a bit at movida at times, but haven’t found it else where. However I see a lot of the guys at tasting etc all the time so I’m a bit more familiar I guess.
Well no..and yes..was partly circumstantial and part my more recent minor obsession with sherry but am happy to take on the challenge for the good of all.
Movida next door last night for the first time on the way home after Phillip Glass, the food and service both excellent..coolish crowd..but didn’t concern me that much as had a table and was fairly insulated from the room. Expensive though..thought $8.00 a pop for the Gambas was a bit rich.
Someone needs to open an economy tapas bar in the inner city with a more basic wine and tapas list as more of an after work thing..you can easily spend a couple of pineapples at Movida in an hour for two people on food and drink without noticing.