The Rechabite’s ground level restaurant plays into the multi-floor venue’s ethos of going big, bold and its own way.
If there’s one venue that captures the artistic spirit and exuberance of Northbridge, The Rechabite is it. Across four storeys, there’s a live performance space, a basement club and a rooftop bar, each with its own draw, but the food is no afterthought. Occupying the ground level, Double Rainbow is impossible to miss. Flames leap from the open kitchen, the scent of soy charring in the woks permeates the air and plates are ferried from the bar to tables filled with (most often) groups, who pass wontons, edamame and kimchi between them.
Wontons are stuffed with prawn mousse and fried – a little like prawn-toast dumplings – then served in a deeply satisfying yuxiang sauce.
The menu roves around Asia, with Korea the biggest influence, but really, this is a launchpad for the kitchen to play with flavour and expectation. Those wontons are stuffed with prawn mousse and fried – a little like prawn-toast dumplings – then served in a deeply satisfying yuxiang sauce. Octopus gets charred, then tossed with funky kimchi XO and grilled cos hearts. Charred pork loin is cooked dwaeji bulgogi style, the spicy flesh covered with wok-tossed bean sprouts and spring onion and sharpened with mustard and gochujang.
Wine is fresh and well-priced, plates are metal, service is quick and cocktails are about good times more than finesse. That’s dinner, now the show.
