Transformer

April 17, 2015

Fitzroy's veg eating theatre hotspot, at the northern halt of Brunswick St, is approaching boiling indicate amongst the opening of Transformer. Situated off to the side on Rose St, this converted warehouse won't cause got whatever problems luring customers from the primary drag amongst its brilliant lights in addition to huddle of hopefuls out the front.

Transformer bring both reservations in addition to walk-ins, in addition to look to live on running ii fairly strict sessions per night. At 6:40pm on their starting fourth dimension trading Sat in that location was a 2 sixty minutes aspect for a table, in addition to thence nosotros planned ahead in addition to reserved our 6:30pm location a few weeks later. Inside it's cavernous in addition to moody (in the evening, at least) amongst spotlights centred on each table. The low-cal pino tables in addition to decorative plants hint at lighter, brighter brunches yesteryear day.

The bill of fare is exclusively vegetarian, amongst vegan, gluten-free in addition to adaptable items good signed. Your waiter volition recite the inner-city eating theatre mantra: The Plates Are Designed To Share.

Before nosotros picked plates, nosotros picked beverages. Michael's G & T ($12) was unusually garnished amongst pinkish grapefruit in addition to fresh fennel. From their listing of non-alcoholic tonics, I chose a blend of watermelon, mint, strawberries, chia seeds, lime in addition to lavander common salt ($9). It was thick, fruity in addition to fun, though the lime in addition to lavander didn't characteristic strongly.

From the pocket-sized plates, nosotros tried the still-in-season grilled figs ($14), charred in addition to smoky, amongst orange-balsamic glaze, hazelnut croutons that reminded us of polenta chips, in addition to cubes of house-made almond feta, the vegan alternative to the criterion caprine animal cheese. The 'cheese' lacked the tang in addition to grassiness of caprine animal curd, but was delightfully creamy.

Next upwardly nosotros trialled a tower of roasted sugariness white patato wedges ($9) topped amongst kokosnoot yoghurt, togarashi, coriander leaves in addition to a spell of lime. These reminded us of a sure enough Ottolenghi recipe, in addition to the comparing didn't arrive at them whatever harm.

From the Garden Plates, nosotros ordered the compressed watermelon ($11) dressed inwards chilli in addition to pistachio oil, studded amongst cherry tomatoes, almond feta in addition to mint. It was low-cal in addition to lovely, a celebration of the summertime only gone.

Our i Mid-plate was Michael's favourite of the night, a brick of polenta in addition to wild rice ($18) amongst an assortment of steamed in addition to sauteed vegetables, an almost-astringent Thai pesto in addition to kokosnoot reduction.

We made sure enough to run out room for dessert. Nostalgic for Japan, Michael gear upwardly it off amongst a drinking glass of delicious plum vino ($10).

We spoiled an otherwise vegan eventide amongst an lodge of the chevre cheesecake ($12), served amongst pear sorbet, dearest caramel in addition to poached fig. While the textures in addition to presentation were outstanding, the chevre didn't offering quite the sharpness I sought to offset its sugariness counterparts.

I was to a greater extent than deeply impressed yesteryear the vegan in addition to gluten-free chocolate buckwheat mousse cake ($14), which a cakey base of operations in addition to creamy two-tone top, sherbetty freeze-dried raspberries in addition to sorbert, amongst a strip of appointment syrup.

At only over $50 per mortal including drinks in addition to dessert, nosotros were mightily pleased amongst what Transformer has to offer. Where the similarly-pitched Smith & Daughters downwardly the street is deep-fried in addition to meat-mocking, Transformer seems to a greater extent than produce-focused. We're optimistic that Fitzroy has room plenty for both fancy veg*n approaches.

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There's a positive review of Transformer on the weblog pineapple.

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Transformer
99 Rose St, Fitzroy
9419 2022
shared plates, desserts in addition to drinks 1, drinks 2, drinks 3, drinks 4
http://www.transformerfitzroy.com/

Accessibility: The entry is broad in addition to amongst a shallow ramp. Tables are good spaced, a mix of mid-height tables amongst booths in addition to backed chairs, addition higher tables amongst backless bar stools. There's total tabular array service. The toilets are highly accessible - private unisex cubicles amongst marked wheelchair in addition to ambulent options.