Last week Mr Eat Canberra and I went to the media launch for Hoi Polloi, the new restaurant at Old Parliament House. It was a fun night filled with delicious food and a #pollieburger competition. Everything about the night was unique! Ten other food bloggers and I entered the competition for our chance to have our burger featured on the menu with a possibility of it becoming a permanent item on the menu.
I followed the brief and created a burger inspired by my given politician, Malcolm Fraser – I actually met him when he was the speaker at an event I was coordinating a few years ago – and made something completely different to what I would usually eat. Unfortunately my ‘Holy Malckrel’ burger wasn’t a winner. I still had heaps of fun and enjoyed this clever introduction of the new addition to Canberra’s buzzing food scene. The Pavlova and burger bar were an added bonus!
So what can you expect from Hoi Polloi?
The restaurant is a celebration of Australian history and politics and the cocktails are even named after famous politicians!
Restaurant Associates Executive Chef, Andrew Collins said the menu is designed to bond people together and celebrate all things local.
“Fresh produce and local provenance is at the heart of the Hoi Polloi menu. Our approach is classic flavours reinvented with modern twists, and continually evolving with the seasons.
“From slow cooked lamb shoulder to our famous passionfruit pavlova, we have a little something for everyone.”
Housed in what was once the Non-Members Bar, an infamous haunt of staffers, media and service workers alike, Hoi Polloi encapsulates a casual bar area, large communal tables and views overlooking a gorgeous outdoor courtyard.
Hoi Polloi is open for lunch seven days a week from 11:30am to 2:30pm and is the perfect spot for a quick bite to eat or drink at the bar, a special celebration with friends or lunch before or after enjoying the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House exhibitions.
As the weather warms up there’s a line up of events that you can expect over the next few months from Sunday Jazz Sessions, Friday Night Drinks and a range of social and themed events.
Add this one to your list this summer!
Check out Hoi Polloi’s website for more info.
More photos on Facebook.
Amelia Bidgood
Amelia is the Founder and Editor of Eat Canberra and the Founder and Managing Director of Eat Canberra Food Tours. She's a qualified journalist, presenter, freelance writer and also runs a boutique communications agency working with small business owners on all things social media, content creation and marketing. She's taught cheesemaking classes, judged hospitality and tourism awards, completed the WSET Level 1 Award In Wines, loves to cook and has travelled to 23 countries. She's also passionate about mental health and has recently started studying to become a Counsellor.