Ricky and Pinky - Shredded cumin lamb, crispy chilli, cucumber pickle and steamed bao

Ricky & Pinky, Fitzroy

Ricky and Pinky

In 2016, Andrew McConnell’s Builders Arms Hotel said goodbye to Moon Under Water and hello to Ricky & Pinky. The public bar survived the switch and still serves up some good ol’ pub grub, but step into the restaurant and you’ll experience Ricky & Pinky’s Hong Kong and Sichuan-style Chinese food.

Ricky and Pinky

Sibling Architects created an interior with a bit of old and new with green carpet, marble lazy susans, live-seafood tanks, and gold piping across the ceiling.

Ricky and Pinky - Smashed cucumber and radish, fragrant chilli oil, peanuts and wombok
Smashed cucumber and radish, fragrant chilli oil, peanuts and wombok
Ricky and Pinky - Raw cobia, sweet ginger dressing, scud chilli
Raw cobia, sweet ginger dressing, scud chilli

Archan Chan is in charge of the kitchen, after having worked for McConnell at Cutler & Co and Supernormal. Smashed cucumber and radish with fragrant chilli oil kicks things off, followed by the raw cobia with sweet ginger dressing and a fair hit from the scud chilli. It’s a firm and delectable fatty fish.

Ricky and Pinky - Fried salt and pepper squid
Fried salt and pepper squid
Ricky and Pinky - Sichuan chicken salad, mala dressing, peanuts
Ricky and Pinky - Sichuan chicken salad, mala dressing, peanuts
Sichuan chicken salad, mala dressing, peanuts

There’s plenty of Sichuan pepper going on in the dishes tonight. The Sichuan chicken salad features the numbing pepper in its mala dressing. Fortunately there’s some cooling cucumber on the plate, and they also give the dish some crunch that’s complemented by the crunchy peanuts

Ricky and Pinky - Peking duck spring roll
Peking duck spring roll
Ricky and Pinky - Sichuan pork dumpling, garlic chive and chilli oil
Sichuan pork dumpling, garlic chive and chilli oil

Peking duck spring rolls arrive partly-assembled. Take a bite out of one end, push a baton of cucumber through, and dip it in the sauce. Sichuan pork dumplings have silky smooth skins, and come bathed in a tangy garlic, chive and chilli oil.

Ricky and Pinky - rispy rice cake, homemade Chinese sausage
Ricky and Pinky - rispy rice cake, homemade Chinese sausage
Crispy rice cake, homemade Chinese sausage
Ricky and Pinky - an-fried whole snapper, Gui Lin chilli sauce, pickled ginger and coriander
an-fried whole snapper, Gui Lin chilli sauce, pickled ginger and coriander
Ricky and Pinky - Shredded cumin lamb, crispy chilli, cucumber pickle and steamed bao
Ricky and Pinky - Shredded cumin lamb, crispy chilli, cucumber pickle and steamed bao
Shredded cumin lamb, crispy chilli, cucumber pickle and steamed bao

I rather enjoy the texture of the chewy and slightly crispy Rice Cakes, which are topped with pork floss. There’s a slight sweetness from the lap cheong, which made by McConnell’s Meatsmith. Shredded Cumin Lamb with more of that Sichuan pepper is soon loaded into super fluffy bao. There are crispy bits in it too, making it even more exciting.

Ricky and Pinky - Coconut, passionfruit granita and pomelo
Coconut, passionfruit granita and pomelo
Ricky and Pinky - esame balls with chocolate custard
Ricky and Pinky - esame balls with chocolate custard
Sesame balls with chocolate custard

After all that spice, the Coconut, Passionfruit Granita and Pomelo is the perfect sweet to end the meal. It’s refreshing and tangy, and cooling and cleansing for the palate. After that we jump into the much richer Sesame Balls with chocolate custard filling.

For a different dining experience, Ricky and Pinky also hold yum cha sessions on Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 12pm.

Ricky and Pinky
Ricky and Pinky

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

Ricky & Pinky
211 Gertrude St
Fitzroy, VIC, 3065
(03) 9417 7700
buildersarmshotel.com.au/bar-bistro
Ricky & Pinky Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

No Comments

Post A Comment

error: