A brand new French-inspired restaurant is opening inside the historic Melbourne Stock Exchange and we are seriously impressed! Find out more about the building and the intended restaurant menu below.
A quick search on the National Museum of Australia’s homepage will show you a sepia-toned picture, dated 1833, of Collins Street looking east from Queen Street.
The Argus was an Australian daily morning newspaper in Melbourne from 1846 to 1957. One particular entry in The Argus, dated October 18, 1852, cites Edward Khull listing 14 companies where investors could buy shares.
"This was the first stock listing in Australia and led to the formation of the Melbourne Brokers Association, which traded from rented space in the Hall of Commerce on Collins Street from 1859 to 1880. It was Australia’s first stock exchange." cites the National Museum of Australia.
The Melbourne Brokers Association Exchange then moved to several different locations in Melbourne until the official Stock Exchange of Melbourne moved into its own purpose-built location at 380 Collins Street in 1891.
Fast forward to August 1, 2023, and the Melbourne Stock Exchange building will serve a new purpose, opening its doors to the public as a French-inspired restaurant and bar, Reine and La Rue (French for Queen and the Road).
Working closely with Heritage Victoria, RBA Heritage Architects and Akin Atelier, Al and Rebecca Yazbek of NOMAD Group have transformed the original 1890s neo-gothic building into a 150-seat dining experience, across three distinct spaces.
Executive Chef Jacqui Challinor and Head Chef, Brendan Katich have designed a menu inspired by French classics and allowing guests to choose the way they want to dine.
Jacqui says: "Whether it's walking in for snacks and Champagne at the bar; a cosy booth for a three-course meal; or a table full of plates to share; we would like our guests to create an experience that suits the way they want to eat.”
The snacks, ‘from the sea’ and entrées include Queen scallop with truffle butter; fruit de mer; roast leeks vinaigrette with hazelnuts; and Eastern Rock lobster cocktail with endive and rouille.
Main dishes selections: a hand-picked mud crab brandade; Corner Inlet calamari with café de Paris butter; and a mushroom pithivier with soubise and chestnut.
With the wood-fired hearth as the centre point of the kitchen, the menu is built around a large ‘from the grill’ section. Dishes include whole fish served with sea herbs and sauce verte; half Great Ocean duck with sugarloaf cabbage and jus gras; and a selection of Victorian beef from Blackmore and O’Connor, served with Bordelaise, au poivre, bearnaise, café de Paris, sauce verte or a selection of mustards.
Jacqui adds: "As has always been our approach, we source the best ingredients and let them do the talking; cooking over fire enhances this approach in the best way possible.”
We should take their word for it, given the NOMAD group have two other restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne (NOMAD) both awarded the prestigious Australian Good Food Guide top honour of a Chef Hat, with each restaurant coming in at 13.
Working closely with Jacqui and Brendan is Pastry Chef Vencenza Soto, whose opening dessert menu includes chocolate, espresso and caramel tart; tarte tatin; and Jersey milk soft serve from the in-house soft serve machine, with fresh hazelnut and Little Pier extra virgin olive oil.
The Reine & La Rue beverage program stays true to NOMAD Group’s ethos, showcasing the best Australian wines, focusing on Victorian producers. The list also includes a large selection of French and American wines on the 700-bin list, with more than 40 wines available by the glass.
Ruinart Brut and Krug Champagnes will also be available by the glass. The cocktail list is inspired by New York classics, including riffs on Martinis, Manhattans and Sazeracs.
To secure your spot in its epic month of grand opening, visit Reine and La Rue.
