The newest outpost of the eponymous Earl Canteen on Bourke Street. Earl Collins Place has an identical menu, but downsizes to just a nook in the Collins Place Food Hall.
Normally I'm disparaging of both chains (they dilute) and food halls (just to expose the true depths of my snobbery). However, this is Earl and they've obviously been working their formula for some time. Given the volume they deliver, they obvious know something about scaling up production. Anyway. Suffice to say, the meals here are every bit as delicious as their counterparts down Bourke Street.
The pork belly sandwich is somewhat legendary. I'm also a fan of the harissa lamb sandwich. Basically the sandwiches are great. They've nailed it.
Unlike the original, Collins Place doesn't really have a cafe at all. But then again, the original was so busy you never really had a look-in to a seat anyway. Of course there is seating in the food court, but I can't imagine that being of much appeal. When the weather suits, it's much preferable is to take your order and walk over to Treasury Gardens.
Earl is expensive, but they know their crowd. The original is positioned under the NAB building, and this one is positioned under ANZ Collins Place (in addition to the abundance of law firms in the area). This is a crowd that doesn't mind paying a bit more for top quality. If you're price-sensitive this might not be your bag.
Both NAB and ANZ have head office down in Docklands. I'm sure the workers there will be making a number of lunchtime appointments with their city counterparts... read more