Auction Rooms - Going, Going, Gone

The old WB Ellis auction house on Errol Street in North Melbourne has been converted into a very attractive restaurant and coffee merchant which is now known as the Auction Rooms.

A little foresight and a fair amount of planning has transformed the space into a very organised working area where floors are separated by tiers and there are virtual sections. Whether you demand a table outside, at the coffee bar, in the nook overlooking Errol Street, are a large group or even the wayward couple looking for a single origin blend of coffee that is also flogged in bags and for sale to the public, everyone seems to be seamlessly catered for.

There are sections of the warehouse ceilings that are exposed allowing for ample natural light to enter and you are transfixed by both the exposed brick and faux artwork mimicking chimes that hang from the ceiling in places which avert your eyes from the multiple ceiling fans. Despite it being a hot day, the warehouse restaurant was not overtly hot and remained comfortable for the lunch that I enjoyed because of the sliding windows that allowed from cross ventilation from the front to the back of the business. As the day progresses the menu evolves and instead of being focused on the all-day breakfast dishes and coffees, more substantial plates and alcohol are on offer as the restaurant will continue trading into the evening on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Unlike at St Ali, Three Bags Full and Dukes, you are not relegated to a communal table which I liked. There is a pleasant buzz and the service is very tuned and they all have specific roles and responsibilities which made the ultimate delivery of a long black and iced coffee a quick. The kitchen prepared my salmon rosti efficiently exercised some skill in presenting it. The long black single origin coffee was far from something to write home about but I enjoyed it despite the sour flavour. The poached egg that balanced on top of the salmon on my rosti was a bit overcooked but still very enjoyable.

Overall it was a pleasant experience. Afterwards I enjoyed exploring the neighbourhood and the architecture on display as it was an area that I was previously unfamiliar with. I would return for the quirkiness and chilled vibe, the easy street parking and the lack of pretension.

Auction Rooms

Link to review

103-107 Errol St. North Melbourne VIC 3051
(03) 9326 7749

http://www.auctionroomscafe.net

My Rating: 12.25/20

Service: 3/5

Ambiance: 3.25/5

Quality: 3/5

Value For Money: 3/5

Twitter: @epicurean3006

e-mail: epicureanofsouthbank (at) gmail (dot) com

web: www.epicureanofsouthbank.com

At the time of this post, 79% of the reviewers on Urbanspoon also like the Auction Rooms.