Stuffed full of knick-knacks, this bar has the student-flat feel down pat. However, though the atmosphere is light-hearted, this place is deadly serious about wine.
Gerald's Bar is a welcome addition to the North Carlton strip, proving to be a home away from home for locals. Stepping into this bar is like sliding into the owner's lounge room; it's an immediately welcoming space that beckons, 'c'mon in and relax awhile'. The scattered knick-knacks, memorabilia and Jenga-style shelving give this bar a kitsch and comfy feel.
Pull up a stool at the long curved bar and flip through a wine list that rides the highs and lows of the price range and features some rippers from both home and overseas. One of the nice quirks about Gerald's is that the first wines that are ordered then become the wines by the glass for the evening. This offers all the more reason to be a regular so one can take potluck at what is on offer for that day.
Top shelf spirits loll idly on display, waiting for non-wine drinkers to arrive. Beer drinkers aren't left out either, with such unusual brews as the rare Whitstable Bay organic ale from England, an Erdinger Weissbier from Germany or a Tasmanian Moo Brew wheat beer. Hungry sippers can much on one of the cheese, meat or fish platters that are always on offer, while listening to crooning tunes chosen from Gerald's vinyl collection.
What a shame! I visited with friends on a quiet weeknight about a month ago and it was wonderful. Gerald was a magnificent host. Revisited on Friday 4 June and the place was packed out. Three of us sat at the bar and told the staff we would like a table if one came up - because we were planning on staying for a meal. A table became free, and someone else walked in and was shown directly to it. I asked "what about us" to one of the staff we had spoken to earlier and was told "you already have a seat" - he may as well have said GET STUFFED. They obviously don't care about hanging onto their customers, because there are plenty more to grab a seat when someone leaves. Needless to say, we didn't hang around for a meal - finished our drinks and left.
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Visit: Thu 10 June 2010
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