The recently opened Knuckles BBQ and Sandwich Bar was only the beginning for Fancy Hanks as they push their American-style slow-cooked chops around Melbourne. The much loved, former Victoria Market staple has officially settled into a permanent location on Bourke Street, bringing hungry BBQ lovers a dedicated art-deco diner that’s bolstered by a forthcoming rooftop bar – Good Heavens – and a reworked menu powered with a two tonne custom-built smoker that was so big it had to be crane-lifted into the new venue.
The stylish fit-out of leather banquettes and shaker-inspired stools set the scene for a no-fuss, straight-forward celebration of all things slow-cooked. The kitchen has been steady pumping out the likes of beef brisket (with black pepper rub), sausage links, pulled pork shoulder from free-range black Berkshire pigs (as well as pork ribs of course), and sides like corn bread with jalapeno butter and backed mac’n’cheese.
Kentucky-style coleslaw and romaine salad with anchony dressing, house-cured bacon and candied peanuts round out the lighter options on the menu, while dessert comes as Cafe du Monde, doughnuts and coffee pudding, pie of the day with ice cream, and sweet potato casserole with vanilla marshmallow
It all sits below Good Heavens, the soon to be opened spot for night-time drinkers with a party-hard attitude and its own menu of bars snacks with options including southern-style chicken wings and chilli nachos in brisket mole. Cocktails are on the playful side with pina coladas, blue lagoons, and harvey wallbangers, but you’ll definitely want to take a closer look at the taps, 18 in total with a well curated list of craft.
Fancy Hanks
Address: LEvel 1, 79 Bourke St
Contact: 1900 BRISKET
Website: http://fancyhanks.com/
Hours 7 days; 12pm-11pm
Image: Fancy Hanks.
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