Overview
After much anticipation, Melbourne has landed a rebellious take on French dining at 1/15 Collins Street. Frenchie brings classic French flavours, techniques and dishes to the city, with one obvious difference — the price tag.
Frenchie's big drawcard is that everything on the menu is priced at $14. Yes, you read that correctly. All plates, cocktails, bubbles, and beers are $14. Those plates play into classic bistro dishes reimagined for a new generation. Share plates are bold and flavourful, and tableside service and roaming trolleys add a dramatic flair to the dining experience.
Channelling the spirit of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Frenchie takes social dining to a new level, being loud, playful and unapologetically fun. There is red velvet at every glance, mirrored staircases, an enviable marble bar, cinematic lighting and flirtatious energy. It's Moulin Rouge meets Melbourne.
The menu, created by co-owner Lucas Boucly and Head Chef Sylvain Bernard, is bold, enticing, and accessible, with each dish priced at just $14. Go for tuna steak with peppercorn sauce, confit duck leg with potato sarladaises, steak entrecote, or ratatouille tart. Of course, we expect many will start with the $14 caviar bump, for a taste of the good life, at an approachable price point.
The pair behind the new venue, Julian Diprose and Lucas Boucly, with many years of experience in the hospitality industry, were fed up with the dining experience often being overshadowed by formality. About Frenchie, Diprose says, "It's loud, social and a little chaotic. We wanted to create a space that takes the 'joie de vivre' of Paris without the price tag. A place where you can sip champagne in sneakers, maybe lose track of time and enjoy the night without having to worry too much about the rules."
The owners want Frenchie to be a fuss-free, feel-good, late-night venue that is approachable and accessible. With red velvet and mirrored lighting, the venue design leans into the romance of Paris, the allure of the Moulin Rouge, and the grit of Melbourne's street culture. "Taking a lot of inspiration from Parisian bistros and late-night wine bars, the menu celebrates all your favourite French classics served in a way that feels unpretentious and full of energy," says Boucly.
Images: Griffin Simm.
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