The Corner has made a name for itself as a pub and leading live music venue. Now marking 20 years under current ownership, it was time for a freshen up. Corner Hotel now sports a new wheelchair accessible rooftop, which comprises of a dining area and outdoor courtyard.

The menu has also been expanded by Head Chef Shannon Rice. One of the new dishes is a fresh appetiser of smoked trout with celeriac puree, white bean salsa and dill.

Pub classics are still here until the ‘counter meals’ section, but there are more shared dishes on the menu, and we partake in the whole smoked pork hock. It comes with a creamy apple and caraway slaw, pickles and mayo. Mini milk buns are warm and toasty and can be used to make sliders if you wish. The glaze on the hock is tasty and it breaks apart so easily that it causes our hearts to skip a beat. There isn’t that much meat in this piece and we find its portion perfect for two people once accounting for the other dishes, though it does also mean it’s a pricier plate.

We balance the protein-heavy dish with vegetables – a whole roasted eggplant. Topped with quark, lemon herb toasted almonds, pomegranate arils and pomegranate molasses, the eggplant is enjoyed with some house made flatbread. It’s tangy and could do with some extra sweetness, but the eggplant is soft and tender.

Burnt Honey Parfait is crowned with shards of almond nougatine and covers a sand-like coffee milk crumb. Burnt honey is squiggled on and around the parfait and is slightly smokey and bitter. It’s much like toffee and gets stuck in the teeth, though it does add flavour interest to the dessert.

We visit during a quiet weekday lunchtime so although I’m unsure of what the vibe is like during peak hours, I’m sure it will be pumping. The new menu might be a surprise for Corner Hotel regulars, but it does offer greater choice for people who want more than regular pub fare.

Disclaimer: I was invited to Corner Hotel as a guest, however, opinions expressed here are purely my own, and are based on my experience at the time

Corner Hotel
57 Swan St
Richmond, VIC, 3121
(03) 9427 7300
cornerhotel.com/