Mr & Mrs P is the new restaurant and bar introducing an element of cool on Bay Street. Husband and wife team Greg and Georgia Poliwodzinski are behind it. The duo are also responsible for Treehouse Lounge in Balaclava.

Downstairs, the mood is warm and casual. The high tables and stools provide a cosy and intimate dining environment, or a place to enjoy their unique cocktails. Upstairs doubles as a function space with its own bar, and a courtyard out the back allows you to enjoy your food and drink outdoors.

The produce-driven Contemporary Australian menu is in the hands of Executive Chef Matthew Butcher (Morris Jones & Co) and features lots of fermentation and native ingredients like saltbush chips and muntrie berries. The XO Mussels with squid ink linguine, sweet fermented shallots and herb oil is a tad salty, but is packed with flavour. Kingfish comes with truffle soy, avocado, and fermented wakame. Crispy fish skin and bouncy wakame provide a variety of textures, and the fresh slices of fish is a great match with the subtle truffle flavour, and the touch of sweetness in the dish.

Tender Beef Short Rib comes pre-sliced and separated from the bone. The cold black bean and burnt carrot puree doesn’t have a particularly strong flavour, but adds extra moisture. The Pork Belly is a refined take on the pork, cabbage and mustard combination, with its fermented cabbage and mustard anglaise. Sadly one piece doesn’t have the fat rendered quite enough, but they all have moist meat and thin and crispy skin.

The highlight of the night is the Duck Breast with charred roast cabbage, orange verbena sauce and muntrie berries. The sauce is tangy with a hint of cheese, and the skin has been separated from the meat and turned into crispy shards of deliciousness.

Mr & Mrs P’s signature dish is a stunner too. Cubes of grilled Robbins Island Wagyu Beef sits on top of buttered and peppery risoni. The green goddess dressing is fresh and herbal, lifting the gentle cheesiness of the pasta.

We finish with the Chocolate and Orange dessert. Smooth blocks of chocolate are accompanied by an orange nitro crumble made at the table, with orange marmalade cutting through the richness.

With its great vibes and thoughtful flavour pairings, Mr & Mrs P is be a welcome addition to Brighton.

Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to Mr & Mrs P. Opinions expressed here are purely my own and are based on my experience at the time of the visit.

Mr & Mrs P
312 Bay St
Brighton, VIC, 3186
(03) 9596 4468
http://mrandmrsp.com.au/