“Met zijn neus in de boter vallen”, ‘To fall with your nose in butter’, or rather, ‘to be in the right place at the right time’, is exactly how Lekker! came to be.
Lekker! is a residency. A part Australian, part Dutch neo bistro that fell into place when Rob Kabboord decided to open up in the big smoke after a several-month hiatus. As it so happened, The Windsor had a spot, and the casual arrangement that is Lekker! was pieced together over a coffee between Rob & Adi (The Windsor, Sunda _ ). Open on November 27, Lekker! is a place here for summer, and then some.
Lekker! came about after a big European adventure to Amsterdam, London and Paris, where Rob frequented many a mod-bistro (or neo bistro as he calls it). The neo bistro combines the cozy, familiar charms of the classic bistrot with a much sharper jacket and a sense of debonair. Its smart tailored menus and convivial atmosphere are the very essence Rob seeks to encapsulate with Lekker!.
The sharply dressed tasting menu ($85) is littered with Rob’s humour and fun attitude plus a healthy smattering of Dutch. There’s dishes such as “Which came first?” (chicken or egg) and “dat is Kaas voor ieder”, ‘that’s cheese for everyone’ – an optional cheese course (a nod to those who remember the infamous cheese trolley at Merricote). The set menu isn’t strictly prescribed. The entrée and main come with a choice.
The team is headed up by “Wine Slinger” Carl Schroeder, fresh off the boat from Amsterdam. Matched drinks are at $65 per person with some cheeky ‘off-list’ wines. Expect playful dishes that are lekker a.k.a. tasty in every sense of the word and some great things to imbibe.
The deeds:
Address: 1 Bourke Street, Melbourne (The Parliament end of town just across tram stop 9)
Web: www.lekker.melbourne
Call: 03 9633 6065
Opening Hours:
Dinner. Wednesday to Saturday, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Lunch. Friday 11.30am – 3.00pm
Bar snacks & a good wine. All-day Friday and from 5.30pm, Wednesday to Saturday
Reservations: Recommended, though walk-ins are welcome
Menu:
Bar snacks from $4 with a good glass from the well crafted winelist
Lunch & dinner. Set menu with choice at $85. Matched drinks for $65
A stellar & secret “off list” wine. Ask.
Socials: @lekker.melbourne (Instagram)
Rob Kabboord a.k.a. The Chef
Rob was born in Amsterdam, and despite spending the last 20 years trying to become Australian, still can’t shake off his Dutch roots. Hence his general fun attitude towards food and a penchant for Dutch stuff.
Up until recently, you’d find him tending his gardens, chickens and sheep in rural Victoria, where he would cook dinner for his much better half, Brownwyn, every night.
A hiatus post-Quay and a European adventure to Amsterdam, London and Paris later, Rob was lured back to the ‘big smoke’, the European end of the city (naturally) – inspired and ready to once again subject himself to the art of wrangling tiny tweezers, working in small spaces, and braving the combined summer and kitchen heat.
Lekker! embodies all that is Rob – fun, finesse and generosity.
The team
Rob is backed by Carl Schroeder, the zealous “Wine Slinger”, born and raised in Germany, but who calls Amsterdam home. Carl worked in a brewery and owned a bottle shop, the natural stuff being his gateway to the world of fine wine. Carl has a soft spot for Pinot Noir and will sell his grandmother for a bottle of vintage champagne.
.jpg){kind=tracking}
