NTH FITZ v TOFF IN TOWN

NORTH FITZROY ARMS
296 Rae Street, North Fitzroy
http://www.northfitzroyarms.com.au/


The North Fitzroy Arms is situated just across the road from a site where my ancestors, the Turners, owned a pub in the early 1900's, pre-prohibition. I'm not sure what it was called back then, but must remember to quiz my grandmother who once showed me an old photograph, and will know more. For now, i will just speculate that it was a more interesting watering hole than it might have been... perhaps a front for a brothel, where seedy characters would swill liquor and boast about their crimes over a game of poker, or snap, or backgammon.. something ridiculous comme ça.

Who'd have thought there'd be a publican branch in my family tree? However, since there's bars in my bloodline, perhaps i'll continue the tradition someday, should i first develop enough self-control not to drink all the takings...

So on Saturday night i joined my father, brother and sister-in-law for dinner at the North Fitzroy Arms. The occasion was to farewell my Dad, who’s off to meet my Mum overseas, and to salute-from-afar, my Mum, for Mother's Day in her absence. Asides from getting stuck into Goats Cheese & Veggie Lasagne, there was also business to be done. Embarassingly, we had the most cluttered table in the house, with mail, bills, and tax returns spread all over the table, leaving little room for our meals... Errr, isn't there some old proverb, A family who sorts mail together, stays together…?





THE TOFF IN TOWN
Level 2, Curtin House
252 Swanston Street, Melbourne


The newest bar from the Revolver/Cookie gang, The Toff In Town is pretty well as posh as its name might suggest. I've been there two weekends in a row now, and fear it might become a regular haunt, and send my purse-strings all loose when i'm desperate to tighten them. You certainly wont get a pot of Carlton in this joint - you'll be lucky if you've heard of/can pronounce the names of any of the beers they serve - but a bit of Toff is just what the doctor of Curtin House ordered, especially if you can't stomach the thought of all the suited-up mongs just below at Cookie.

We hit the Toff Band Room (more of a Cabaret Room) for a birthday party, but i also answered an sms invitation and crashed my friends cute date in one of the ornate train carriage booths over in the other bar. I loved the weave doors that could be folded closed for more privacy, and that there's even a service bell for those who consider themselves too toffee to stand up and order. The ladies were getting stuck into a cheese platter as I closed the carriage doors in and joined them. I didn't try the cheese, but some of them smelt so bad they must have been good.

On through the doors...