March

Sibling and neighbour to the acclaimed IDES, this intimate eating and drinking den pairs contemporary Japanese-inspired bites with an expert range of tipples.
Libby Curran
October 05, 2022

Overview

Gracing the intimate space next door to Peter Gunn's Collingwood fine diner IDES, is the star chef's genre-bending wining and dining venture, March. Embracing various elements of a wine bar, a pub and an izakaya, it's not about to be locked into just one box — just know that it's moving in a very different direction than its sibling.

The 26-seater is your go-to for clever small bites with contemporary flair, matched to a broad-ranging curation of sake, wine and cocktails. Expect a moody space rocking deep charcoal tones throughout, and with a low, marble-topped statement counter allowing plenty of interaction between those with front-row seats and staff behind the bar.

As you'd expect given Gunn's culinary street cred, the drinking snack game here is strong. While the two venues share a kitchen and a flair for creativity, March's menu walks its own path with a concise, oft-changing lineup rooted in Japanese flavours and technique.

Venture in for plates like edamame coated in some kind of umami magic ($9), green chilli pickled mussels with crispy garlic ($15), sake-steamed pippies finished in a yuzu parsley butter ($25) and braised pork belly with a spicy nori glaze ($25). Plus, a crispy sweet and sour quail ($28) that'll have you making fast use of the supplied hot towel.

IDES sommelier Hayley McCarthy heads up the drinks offering, with Victorian and South Australian drops ruling the by-the-glass lineup, and next door's wine list and cellar selection delivering even more gems. Expect interesting pours that'll shake a few preconceptions (perhaps a Dilworth & Allain pinot noir blend, or the Konpira Maru Pan Opticon riesling out of the King Valley) alongside signature cocktails and a solid crop of sake.

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