La Luna (Nth Carlton) 04 2018

* Click on pic's to enlarge them.
It's almost ten years since we last came here but it has been on our mind to come back time and again. That's because we enjoyed it so much. See: https://1001dinners.blogspot.com.au/search?q=La+Luna 
It's different now. The meat room has been moved and the restaurant has been enlarged but it retains the sort of basic Bistro character. Plain bare wood tables, simple settings and not very comfortable chairs. 

Glassware is marked with this sort of cosmic symbol.

You still have to ask for it if you want bread and butter, no change there.

The menu is bigger. Set out as Small Goods, like prosciutto or salami, all about $15, Small dishes like house smoked salmon, crispy pig's ears or spinach and feta filo pastry pie all around $21, Main plates like fish, confit duck leg from $28 to $43 with slow cooked lamb shoulder $89, for two. There's a chef's feast for the table (Chef's choice) $107 pp. Then there are the Beef cuts $$41 to $58 the usual sides $9.5, Sweet treats about $17 and a mezza plate of desserts $32 and cheeses from $11 to $16.5/ 30 gm depending on how many you choose.
We got through a variety of dishes.
Freshly shucked oysters, champagne vinaigrette, $4 each

House smoked salmon, beetroot, horseradish cream.

Bull-Boar sausages, aoli, herbs.

Adrian Richardson, chef, meat and sausage officiando and TV host of Secret Meat Business, the proprietor of La luna has made his recipe for this spicy sausage available on the internet. Unfortunately I found the sausage rather dry and dull.
On to the mains.
Fish, rock flathead 

was delicate, sweet, moist unexpected in a meat specialty restaurant.

Scotch Fillet, spinach, mushroom,& roast garlic butter, (grass fed marble score 4) was cooked perfectly to my taste.

 A super dish.
Rib Eye, confit carrot, bearnaise sauce

was another perfectly cooked excellent dish. Unfortunately the jus was very reduced, heavy and salty.
 Fillet Mignon

came with the same jus and carrot.
The slow cooked lamb shoulder doesn't look as good as it should here. 

It's a substantial serve. 
Crushed potato with garlic and lemon (Kipfler) 

were great, as were the house fries.

Vanilla pannacotta, poached rhubarb, strawberries was pleasant

 but the vanilla bean creme brulee

was outstanding.
This is not a sophisticated venue but more a relaxed style bistro marked by really excellent meat cooked simply and really well. Service is friendly and not obtrusive. Fully licenced you can have BYO with $25 corkage.
We'll be back! 
Score: 15.5/20