Charcoal Lane

Charcoal Lane Review

This young restaurant could be described as taking a leaf from celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's book, in that disadvantaged people are given an opportunity to transform their lives by gaining a traineeship in the restaurant business. Named after a song by acclaimed Aboriginal singer/songwriter Archie Roach, Charcoal Lane is a joint project between the charity Mission Australia and the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service. It is housed in the former health service community center, dubbed Charcoal Lane by the many Aboriginal people who for decades would drop in and swap stories and wisdom. The menu includes many Australian bushland ingredients, and the dishes have an Aboriginal influence. They might include starters of roasted marron (freshwater crayfish) fondue with angel hair, lemon myrtle and baby basil and hearty main courses such as kangaroo with broccoli puree, black trumpette (mushrooms), truffle gnocchi, and bitter chocolate.