Overview
Freshly shucked from the minds that brought us Pinchy's, comes yet another haven of seafood and wine. Pearl Chablis & Oyster Bar has opened in the Bourke Street space right next door to its pretty-in-pink sibling.
While Pinchy's has made a name for its plump lobster rolls and champagne menu, Pearl's focus is firmly on primo Aussie oysters and quality French chablis — a crisp, dry white wine crafted on chardonnay grapes.
Just like its hero drop, the new bar is a sophisticated affair, with chic interiors offering a modern spin on Art Deco sensibilities. Expect plenty of soft green velvet, metallic-edged curves and some striking marble countertops reminiscent of the layered markings of an oyster shell.
The bivalve is further celebrated via Pearl's impressive menu of top-quality oysters sourced from around Australia. Atop the bar, a centrepiece cabinet displays the day's selection on ice, before they're shucked theatrically on demand and delivered to your table. There's a broad range on offer; from Rock Oysters, to the deep-water Angasi variety, to Pacifics out of Coffin Bay.
Non-oyster goodies might include the likes of poached Murray Cod with warm horseradish tartare and a lemon pepper crumb; the duck liver parfait; beef tartare; and mussels in a vadouvan and white wine sauce.
If you're feeling a little fancy, a range of caviar is available by both the gram and the jar. Or, you can go all out and pre-order the signature Pearl Caviar Experience — a nice little feast of butter-poached Southern Rock Lobster, Russian osetra caviar and Siberian caviar, for a cool $1450.
By Jana Langhorst
To grace your glass, try a drop from Pearl's eye-popping chablis selection, which they're calling the largest in the country. This particular wine varietal is a famously good match to oysters, with an acidity that's primed at cutting through the molluscs' creaminess. What's more, the minerality of the soil throughout the Chablis wine region is attributed to the ancient oyster shells fossilised beneath the earth.
In addition to the everyday wine lineup, Pearl is also set to shine the spotlight on a different chablis producer each month, offering tastings of rare pours and specially curated food pairings. Otherwise, you can quench your thirst with options from the 500-strong collection of Burgundy wine.
Find Pearl Chablis & Oyster Bar at Level 1, 108/200 Bourke Street, Melbourne. It's open for walk-ins only, 5pm–12am Wednesday–Sunday.
Images: Jana Langhorst and Pearl Chablis & Oyster Bar