On the corner of Kent Street, in the middle of the city, Mr.Tipply’s white neon sign shines bright. The illusive mascot, a gentlemen of the highest order, is the main character in an entirely fictional tale behind the restaurant-bar. You get the impression that they are going for a mysterious and stylish, Great Gatsby-esque narrative.
Unfortunately this narrative is somewhat lost in the transformation of an old city hotel to a slick new drinking spot. To start off with the space is extremely large, which may be the reason for a lack of a cohesive feel and fit out. The main ground level is scattered with private booths and a lavish bar, to the backdrop of internationally themed and vibrant murals.
Continue through the massive bar-scape and dining area, complete with white wood and communal tables, until you peter out into the outdoor area with pockets of timber seating. Upstairs you will find an ‘exclusive’ bar with dark walls and little atmosphere. On the night of their reopening, hostesses were dazzled in diamante lingerie and feathers and waitresses were dressed as french maids and air hostesses. When the smoke and mirrors clear, all that is left is a large, mismatched space.
Fortunately the food and drinks are unique and delicious. Try the raspberry vodka to start the night off with a fanciful and sweet feel. This classic cocktail is a mix of Van Gogh Vodka, fresh berries, mint and sugar syrup. The China Doll is a signature creation from the Mr.Tipply’s bar and is a perfectly balanced act of vodka, lemon, monk pear tea and lychees. The most interesting cocktail on the menu is a KimChi Mary, with an Asian twist of kimchi, chilli, tomato juice and spice.
The menu like the venue is a fusion of the globe with a range of hearty meals, share plates and bar food. The crunchy, sweet sesame tempura rock prawns with chilli mayo are a massive crowd pleaser. On this occasion the miso grilled eggplant was a little flat and soggy but the char siu beef short ribs are a must-try. They were mouthwatering and moreish and couldn’t make it out 5 metres past the kitchen without being devoured in a flash! The other stand out would be the crispy fried salmon on betel leaf with chilli, ginger, peanuts and tamarind dressing.
The sizeable location is well suited for the after work drinks crowd. If you’re looking for a good feed and some notable cocktails, you should most definitely pop in to Mr. Tipply’s.
Mr Tipply’s is open Monday – Sunday from 10am – 12am
mrtipplys.com