Vanessa: Sometimes you stumble across somewhere that you know just feels good from the minute you turn up. That is how I felt when Bianca and turned up to Acre Eatery last Friday for a lunch with baby V in tow.
The team behind Acre have created a farm-to-table experience right in the heart of Camperdown. This sustainably focussed eatery features a number of eating spaces including a casual outdoor garden terrace, a main dining room, kids activity area and private function space. Not to mention the rows of fresh produce growing to the right of the restaurant and the chickens to the left. A venue that caters and occupies children is a winner in my mind, especially when it offers a sophisticated menu to boot.
We had made a reservation via OpenTable earlier that week which is super-efficient for time-poor people such as ourselves. We booked for lunch in the dining room and I immediately fell in love with the décor which creates a very homely feel through the use of wooden furniture and greenery.
They have a very enticing array of starters to choose that had us salivating at the description alone. Knowing the penchant Baby V has for hummus, we thoughtfully chose the mashed spring pea & mint hummus with pine nut and lavosh ($11) . This is super fresh and bursting with vibrance from the peas. The lavosh is crispy and the perfect pairing.
The Cauliflower fritti ($15) are a very clever way to get you to eat this not so loved vegetable. The extra crispy batter scattered with chia seeds and toasted almonds engulfs the cauliflower and is accompanied by a spiced fruit marmalade. The marmalade has a flavor that is synonymous with Indian food and overall this is a solid option to share. 
The Burrata ($18), our beloved cheese, was unfortunately a disappointment. The cheese itself was perfect and bursting when cut, but sitting on top of the cime di rapa pesto it was completely overpowered by bitterness. Perhaps if there was less of it this wouldn’t be the case, but it was a miss.
Moving on to mains, we were conservative in our choice..well by our usual standard anyway. The Gnocchi primavera ($29) is bursting with baby spring vegetables, mint and sitting atop a bed of ricotta. The dish is beautifully presented and certainly has a wow factor. The flavor however was a little bland but nothing a bit of extra seasoning wouldn’t fix.
The pepper crusted wagyu rump cap ($39) was an outstanding dish. Served with caramelised onions and a unique blue cheese butter, the meat was tender, succulent and down right delicious. Slightly rarer than we would have liked, but it is a go-to dish that will be sure to please a crowd.
The farmhouse chips with herb mayo ($10) are a no-brainer. Crispy, chunky and well seasoned with rosemary and salt, these will keep everyone happy. Baby V definitely approved and probably ate the lion share.
Of course no meal is complete without a sweet finish, of which we chose the butter shortbread with macerated strawberries and mascarpone cream ($14) . This is perfectly plated, bursting with colour and has the balance of sweetness just right. Paired with a coffee, it was the ideal way to round off a lovely afternoon spent at Acre.
With so many dining options, things to keep the children interested as well as a farm-fresh menu with ethically sustainable produce, everything about Acre Eatery has me wanting to return. Be sure to reserve your table via OpenTable for a smooth, easy and efficient booking process, I know I will be next time.
Enjoy!
Vanessa
Photos by Bianca
*For Foods Sake dined in partnership with OpenTable
One thought