Palinka Bar

Move over Spanish tapas, hello Eastern European tapas.  For anyone familiar with Eastern European cuisine, you'd know that many of the dishes aren't calorie friendly - we're talking hearty goulashes, sizzling schnitzels, gooey cheeses and plump kransky sausages. Whilst also offering lighter options, Palinka Bar's new Eastern European inspired tapas menu in this regard definitely doesn't disappoint.

Situated on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, the venue itself is just oozing with character. Offering both outdoor and indoor seating options, the couches situated outside are the perfect date spot if you're looking for a drinking hole with a causal but trendy vibe.

In terms of the food on offer, the tapas menu is divided into 2 sections - the 'Yummy' dishes being smaller dishes and the 'Fancy' being on the larger side.

The dish of the night was the pork belly which came from the 'Fancy' side of the menu.  Having being cooked for 12 hours, it was tender, sticky and just bursting with flavour.  Keeping with the trend of cooking their meats well - the meat in the goulash was also cooked perfectly. 

From the 'smaller' side of the menu came the crispy camembert and the home-style baby chicken schnitzels. Unfortunately both dishes came out cold (I was hoping that the crispy camembert would ooze out when cut open) and both dishes needed more seasoning.  However, the homemade sauces which accompanied the dishes (a Csiki beetroot apple mayo for the schnitzel and a raspberry cumberland sauce with the cheese) were packed full of flavour. 

The Somloi galuska was another highlight of the night - house made sponge layered with walnut, Belgian cocoa and creme anglais - delicious! The apple strudel however, whilst promising to come out piping hot from the oven, came out cold (it must have been a cold night in that kitchen!) and having the walnuts ground instead of whole gave the dish a unique taste and texture which may not be to everyone's pallet.

The highlight of the night, however, was trying the traditional fruit brandy Palinka for the first time - easily a drink I could sip on all night and definitely a drink you must try if visiting Palinka Bar.  

With its great vibe, outdoor seating and incredible drinks menu, I would definitely recommend heading down to Palinka Bar for a drink of Palinka on a hots summer night. 

Food: 2.5 / 5 

Service: 4/5

Venue: 3.5/5

Total: 10/15

The New Fave dined courtesy of Palinka Bar