Caribbean influences sit alongside flavours from Cuba and Southern America at Windsor’s recently opened Saint Lucia, which popped up on Chapel Street earlier this year. The tropical-minded BBQ and rum bar offers a soulful, colourful space to Melbourne’s famously dynamic hospitality scene, illustrated with eclectic trinkets and lush greenery.
With an inclusive dining experience (vegetarians as well as the gluten and dairy intolerant need not worry about their options), Saint Lucia features a menu that blends flavours of Africa, France, Netherlands and Spain, all of which are cornerstones for Caribbean food. Think jerk BBQ fried chicken (of course) served with slaw, charred corn, lime mayo, candied scotch bonnet and toasted coconut, all in a ‘sunset’ waffle cone, indulgent mac ‘n’ cheese mini donuts with chilli cheese dipping sauce, and share-style dishes like the Bajan pork ribs with house picked vegetables, and jumbo prawns with jerk or trini green sauce and escovitch. A staple for the kitchen includes plantain that’s fried with paprika salt and scotch bonnet mayo, and desserts like a “sweet dreams” banana sundae with hot buttered rum banana, vanilla bean ice-cream, ginger cookie crumb, pecans and coconut whipped cream.
The shelves have an unsurprising bias towards rum of all types, spanning white, gold, dark and spiced varities along with a worldly collection of tequila, all used in a range of cocktails or served neat. A wine list that represents Australia, Italy, Spain, France, Chile and Austria is also offered from the bar.
Saint Lucia
Address: 78 Chapel Street, Windsor
Hours: Tues-Fri 5pm-late; Sat-Sun 4pm-late
Website: http://www.saintluciawindsor.com.au/
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