Gasometer (closed)
Bro and I had been speaking about checking out Gasometer for a while. Located in Collingwood, they’re a pub that serves American style diner food. Bro loves American food, and I’m a food enabler, so ever we found out Gasometer serves chicken and waffles, it has been on our “to visit” list.
It was my birthday on Tuesday (thank you thank you) and I wanted to go somewhere casual and not too pricey. So I figured we may as well cross Gasometer off the list.
Gasometer is a beautifully refurbished pub – a big long polished wood bar, brick/stone walls and rather large wooden tables. You wouldn’t guess the direction of their menu just by looking at the environment.
It seems to be seat yourself and order at the bar, so we grabbed the big plastic menus and pondered our food choices. The menu is split up into starters, burgers and stuff, mains and sweet things.
In the starters section, there are items like fried pickles (!!), buffalo wings, poutine and chill fries. Burgers and stuff has several different burgers and hot dogs, while mains are along the lines of fried chicken, pulled pork and pork ribs.
There’re also many vegan choices that are clearly marked in their own separate sections, and they have a separate vegan deep fryer.
We ordered a serve of chilli fries ($14) to share. You can choose from “spicy” or “brutal” – not having eaten there before, we opted for “spicy”. Folks – just order brutal. Spicy wasn’t spicy at all. However, the fries were GOOD. Big fat cut chips, covered in a pile of meat chilli and bright yellow nacho cheese. Oh yeah.
I had a suspicion that servings might be on the large side, so Alastair and I shared a main – the Southern fried chicken ($22). Mains come with a choice of two sides, and I asked for greens while Alastair choose fries (yes, even tho we had a serve of chilli fries…).
We received two huge pieces of chicken that has been coated in a buttermilk batter and served with brown gravy. I was very glad we were sharing when I saw the size of the chicken. It was super crispy and very moist inside. Good, good, good.
Oh, and as Bro and others aptly pointed out – the “greens” were more “browns”. The sauteed “greens” (silverbeet?) had been cooked in a vinegary, smokey sauce.
Bro had the previously mentioned chicken and waffles ($25) with slaw and fries. It was pretty much the same as our meal, except he had a buttered waffle and maple syrup on the side. Heart attack city. He enjoyed it, but for the first time in a long time, couldn’t finish his meal.
Chicken and waffles: 1
Bro’s stomach: 0
Bro’s heart: A cheery “thank sweet jeebus he didn’t finish that waffle”
Gasometer – worth checking out if you’re into American diner food, though I suggest that you share with a friend as the portion sizes are quite large. Other bloggers have noted issues with food coming out very slowly, but we didn’t have any problems when we visited.
For more on Gasometer, check out these blogs:
Non-veg/vegan reviews:
Veg/Vegan reviews:
View Off the spork in a larger map
Gasometer
484 Smith Street (cnr Alexandra Parade)
Collingwood
Phone: 03 9417 5539
Web: Facebook page
Hannah
December 15, 2011 @ 2:29 pm
I DEFINITELY DID NOT MISS SAYING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. I sent you a present last year, so that counts for something, right?
*hides face*
Also, OMG vegan options! In an American food place! I’m so, so in. Theoretically. Because of the not-in-Melbourne thing.
Agnes
December 18, 2011 @ 8:50 pm
Oh I’m sure that your happy birthday message just got lost in the interwebs. π
If you come down to Melbs, then we can check it out. Pat might’ve recovered by then. :p
penny aka jeroxie
December 15, 2011 @ 10:12 pm
I love this place!! This is one of the last few places that I went before I left.
Agnes
December 18, 2011 @ 8:52 pm
It’s pretty cool π
Pigdog
December 16, 2011 @ 9:01 am
My heart still hurts from that place. I’m too scared to go back anytime soon even though the chicken and waffles was so good!
Agnes
December 18, 2011 @ 8:53 pm
Wuss. π
msihua
December 16, 2011 @ 6:53 pm
Ooo.. we should go! And share a plate! SOMEONE is on a blogging roll!
Agnes
December 18, 2011 @ 8:54 pm
Okay, let’s go! Fried pickles, here I come π
PS: so not on a roll. Big backlog. Gak!
Cindy
December 17, 2011 @ 10:36 pm
You know from all those posts we wrote that we love this place! Thanks for the linkfest.
That your bro couldn’t finish his chicken & waffles has me feeling a little better about my struggle through the vegan equivalent, even though they were delicious. And I loved his observation that the ‘greens’ are more ‘browns’ – dead on. π
Agnes
December 18, 2011 @ 9:06 pm
You are possibly Gasometer’s biggest fan. You should get a badge! π
April @ My Food Trail
December 18, 2011 @ 11:00 am
If it’s a true American diner, I would expect the portion sizes to be HUGE!
Love the quote from Bro – the βgreensβ were more βbrownsβ. Bahaha!!
Agnes
December 18, 2011 @ 9:06 pm
They were large, so large. I felt like such a pig afterwards. :p
Thanh
December 27, 2011 @ 8:33 pm
*gasp* P didn’t finish a meal. No way. Get outta here.