Review The Gem Bar - Collingwood

Came here for a drink and a bite and was an enjoyable experience. Decent beer selection, although the only lager available was the Sapporro at $14 but that's fairly common these days. We had the brisket and pork tacos which were really good, tasty and fresh. Was expecting more in the way of BBQ meat which wasn't available at all but the menu may have changed recently. Friendly staff and a good old fashioned pub feel to it.

Always a good time at our local Gem Bar. Chris, Lily Doggo and I love coming here for a knock off drink. Food is delicious too! 9th July big feast with Half rack Ribs, and 23rd July Lockdown take away Tacos & Marg. Staff always so kind and welcoming :-) Gave Lily some chicken on a busy night. Legends.

Great pub serving American style bbq complete with rock and roll songs. The place might look small from the outside but actually there's multiple rooms inside. The brisket and the chips are really good! The pork belly is soft but the sauce is a little too sweet for me. Food - 9 Service - 8 Vibe - 8 Price - $$$

We had our work Xmas party at The Gem. It’s a common theme in and around Collingwood to bring American smoked BBQ meat to a bar and these guys nailed it. It’s unpretentious and delicious. The lamb ribs were the stars by far but the brisket and pork butt had their moment of glory. With a trip across town.

On the recommendations of many before me, we came here to try out the American BBQ style pub meals. Those with a good appetite will find it hard to resist the Pitmasters' Plate, choosing from 4 meats and 3 sides. There's a good selection of individual meats, seafood and vegetarians are really well catered for here too. I started having eyes too big for stomach disease when my pork belly dish came out but was soon holding my own belly. Succulent, tasty pieces of fat belly paired with absolutely delicious green chile grits. My friends loved their Pitmasters' Plate, Mac 'n Cheese and grilled snapper. Downstairs doesn't look much different from the old school pubs but upstairs caters for the diners. We were lucky to have a room for our group of 10 and were so well looked after all evening by the friendly, helpful staff. Now I'll be adding to the many voices that recommend this place - it's definitely worth trying out.

Ace to see a great menu back at the Gem.The Gem is an awesome venue with friendly staff and good drinks specials with happy hours. The food from Melvins bbq is some of the best around Collingwood,highly recommend.

Expensive drinks and surly staff, but not in a good way. They nail the Americana vibe with the decor but you'd better not care about the sting to your hip pocket.

Came here on a Saturday night and had the Cape Grim beef rib. OMG! It was amazing. Tender and juicy and smokey loveliness. Came back the next day and had a burger. Was like a good home made big Mac if that makes sense.

Dropped in here for a pre dinner drink. The service was excellent from the barman. He was friendly and chatty.<br/><br/>We ordered a Pirate Life Cherry Sour beer which was delicious. It was one of the best sour beers I’ve had.<br/><br/>And we also had a Pirate Life Australian Pale which was equally as good. They have live bands and you may see the pic of it’s not moderated lol.

We recently went in a group of six. We booked for 7 but changed down as one person hadnt confirmed with me and the Gems confirmation said due to catering that unless full numbers attend $20 per head could be charged. Be aware if you book. <br/><br/>The staff member we had was an upbeat guy who was friendly and helpful. He was the only waiter on a not incredibly busy Thursday Halloween night though we occasionally had to wait to grab him. The back dining room is just one of the options where you can be served a meal in the hotel you can eat in the bar which has some big tables or l believe upstairs is an option too but the dining room is a comfortable size and each area is air conditioned so important for summer visits.<br/><br/>We all had the smoked brisket bun variations with gems or chips though l think we had one chicken burger order. All were about 16/17 bucks with $5 for added chips or gems. Not really cheap but not a terrible price as these are eat in prices. We also had a large mac and cheese to share $12. Absolutely nothing wrong with the sangas. Mine was great with the brisket being moist and tasty captured within a soft bun and l added jalapenos and cheese on mine. My gems were nice and crispy and the Mac and cheese was all the runny goodness of cheesy heaven youd expect. Our group concurred that they were all satisfied with their meal and nothing was left on the plates confirming it. I cant recall the beer on tap l had but it was good.<br/><br/>Though if youre coming here it really does have to be a special occasion to splash out $40/$50 a head on the meat platters but for casual eating out the brisket bun gets you some of their best meat for cheap. For what we had we were satisfied.<br/><br/>---------------------------------<br/>2016 review. 3 rating<br/><br/>We visited The Gem dining room recently. We ordered the 5 meats with 5 sides chefs choice tasting plate. Problem was when it came it turned out we had been served the 2 course taster. Fail badly lose points for not being able to take a simple order esp since it wasnt busy. We accepted the meal and had brisket and pulled pork with a bean dish and some slaw. We ordered corn bread as well as a side.<br/><br/>The bean dish was flavoursome and surprisingly good. The slaw was just fine. The brisket was the star of the show being soft and tasty. The pulled pork was too dry and was sub par. Avoid it for sure.<br/><br/>Overall a good meal and will be back to try some more meats.

Went here for Father’s Day and picked it due to some fantastic reviews, We opted for the Pitmaster platter and asked the waitress if it were enough for two which she replied yes. <br/>The platter was 3 meats 2 sides and pickles, we ended up with 2 strips of brisket, a quarter chicken, a very very small amount of lamb and the sides were 2 tiny bowls of Potato gems and meaty beans.<br/>The portion size was seriously small and the meat not smoked right through, very slightly smoky but not enough. Been to a few American BBQ places and I get that it can be a bit costly but for me the portions were way too small and the quality pretty average to be honest.

Place is cute but we waited half an hour for a small bowl of nachos, 3 meatballs and loaded fries. When we approached the waitress to ask how much longer our food will be she abruptly replied with “It’s only been 15 minutes! And it’s peak lunch hour” which is strange considering it was 3pm. <br/>Unhelpful and slow staff, but great food! <br/>Will not be returning because you can find plenty of great food in Melbourne that also comes with great service. Up your game guys.

Great pub in the heart of Collingwood. Cold winters night, but it was nice and warm inside!<br/><br/>Food was soooo good, beef brisket and lamb shoulder was delicious and so were all our sides. Price wise was good. The only thing, maybe the meals could be a bit bigger in size, that's if I'm being fussy.<br/>They have a great range of drinks, plenty to choose from and try!<br/><br/>Definitely recommend! Service from Bree was great!

Great pub serving American style bbq complete with rock and roll songs. The place might look small from the outside but actually there's multiple rooms inside. The brisket and the chips are really good! The pork belly is soft but the sauce is a little too sweet for me.<br/>

The Gem is one of the best spots in Collingwood! The meat was smoked beautifully and was also really tender. The sides were also delicious, particularly the cauliflower. Will be back soon!

I have tried a few things here BUT the Black Angus beef Brisket, beer battered pickles and slaw combination is what I recommend and will order every time I go back. absolutely delicious and consistent quality.

This place is great!! Its our favourite for American bbq. Great atmosphere and great drinks menu! Good value for money too. Friday nights are heaps of fun as they have live bands

Sigh... Read quite a few reviews that this place is great, the meats are good and everything. What a let down and a disappointment of a Sunday lunch. Booked this place with 18 people for a birthday lunch, the place asked for preorder meal as they need to prepare any of the smoked meats (totally understand about that, it does take quite a long time to smoked brisket etc).. so 12 out of 18 of us pre-ordered the set menu. That photo you saw in this review, we got 2 trays of it, plus 3 racks of ribs (we paid extra for them, well there is another issue there), along with Mac & Cheese, and Carolina Slaw. So let's me tell you the problem with the food. The brisket is dry and doesn't have much meat tastes inside. The pork belly is okay, think the chicken is the best of the lot. Ribs.. there are not enough to share and that's from 2.5 rack up to 3. It is not falling off the bone soft and quite stingy too. Guess the bit that really set me off with one star, they charged us extra 120 bux for that half a rack increased. Already paying 45 bux a head for the meal. The slaw later I found out, it was not mixed properly. The one I had, it has the celery, green apple and cabbage. But the bowl at the other end of the table, only cabbage. I don't know why people say this place is good. Service is horrible. There were only 2 staffs on for the Sunday and there are other customers there. Just no services... Oh have I mentioned this place charge 22 bux for a pint of Little Creatures ale? Seriously they know how to charge you but boy the meal and drinks are all disappointed. I don't know why anyone would come here while there are many better place around.

Great food, absolutely delicious. But the service was less than satisfactory. Our waitress really tried her hardest, but our orders were mixed up and they ran out of food. We waited for over an hour and a half and food came out in bits and pieces so some of us on the table were eating an hour before others got their food... and in the end the birthday boy in our group didn’t end up getting any meat as his order was mixed up.

The perfect comfort food on a cold, wet Sunday! We went the vegetable dish selection and everything we chose was perfect. The broccoli was perfect whilst the creamy cheesy cauliflower was delicious!

Loved the feel of this place. Friendly staff. We ate the veg taco from the specials list (cauliflower and bean), the battered eggplant and the cauliflower bake. Everything was delicious. Very impressed with the eggplant - the batter was crispy, yummy and not too oily. We shared the cauliflower bake between 3 which was lucky - it would be far too rich for one. I didn't leave this meal feeling gross, which I often too after a pub meal/American style.

American comfort food located within a cozy pub, you wouldn’t know this place existed without research and word of mouth recommendations. Service was fantastic all staff members were really friendly and knowledgeable about their menu and drinks. Their southern fried chicken is a must try, so juicy on the inside and batter was well flavoured and crumbed without that oily mess. Great to go with a group of friends so you can order extras to share.

Delicious smoked meat accompanied by a pumpkin salad. We had the brisket & pork belly, which was reasonably priced. Good selection of beers too. We came on a Sunday for lunch & sat outside. Some music would have been nice along with happier staff to put this review up to five stars. But all in all, would return again.

If you love smoked meats, then this place is for you! The Gem certainly reminded us of our time in the States when we were tucking into all the slow cooked meats. This place does have vegetarian options on offer, however it is certainly more suited to the carnivores out there! Enjoy a beer or two on tap and get stuck into their delicious meats!

Just had the cheeseburger with bacon and a side of potato gems and it was outstanding. My partner had the brisket with a side of slaw and it was also fantastic. The gem is a brilliant pub with a buzzing atmosphere, will be back for sure.

One of my locals! Very interesting place - the bartenders are extremely friendly... but can be rather eccentric. Don't let that put you off!<br/><br/>They have a happy hour 4-7 Tuesday to Fridays, with half price wings, tacos and vegetarian texas fries. I'm not sure about the wings - I prefer mine more buffalo style though they do supply a range of hot sauces. The tacos are to die for! The Texas Fries are recommended - a big serve, definitely more than enough for one. Covered in Cheese, Bacon and oh so much Jalapeno! Yum yum yum!<br/><br/>They also have a range of $6 craft beer pints during happy hour. Dangerous...<br/><br/>I love this place. I'm so lucky I can walk to it... The only time I had a problem was they had a gig which didn't see advertised so where packed to the rafters. I had to elbow my way to the bar, and sit out side drinking in the sun chatting to the friend locals. Terrible really (not!)<br/><br/>Edit<br/>Now $7 boags, furphy, coopers and $1 wings. $1 wings is good as 6 is often enough for most people. 12 is too many! But they haven’t put the prices up for the wings.

As if this isn’t the coolest little spot! Rocked up here for early evening drinks on one of the last warm Saturdays of the season and sat outside soaking up the atmosphere. Old school country/billy tunes to listen to and super friendly staff to top it off.<br/><br/>We ordered quite a lot of food, but given the price it’s easy to do, very reasonable and lots of options. BBQ share plates are always a win, we went with a couple for the table and were treated to some of the best pork belly I’ve had at a BBQ joint. Pulled pork, brisket and delicious potato and gravy all combined to make an amazing meal. Shout out to their corn bread which lasted about 90 seconds on my plate - I freakin’ love corn bread.<br/><br/>I’ll definitely be back.

I have been coming to the Gem for years. I am Vego but I always find something that will fill the void. I love the Mac and cheese. I had the BBQ Broccoli with buttermilk side on Saturday it was smokey, creamy and fresh and a big serve, along with the Mac n cheese I couldn't eat another thing. They do a vegetarian platter which I intend to try that sometime. The staff are always super friendly and helpful. They also do a killer Bloody Mary.... mmmmmm! I'm a fan

Bar and atmosphere are good but food is hit and miss.  The burgers were in the American style and pretty good, but the meat could have been better.  Very greasy and overly salty.  Not too bad but not the best.  Service was pretty rude, that alone would probably cause me not to come back since there are so many good places around, and this was the second visit where food and service were of the same standard.

Fun casual bar to go for drinks. Friendly staff. I wouldn’t eat the food again though. It is sold as American barbecue but doesn’t taste like American barbecue and didn’t taste all that nice either. Salty and dried out. The food was also extremely expensive for what it was.

Had the ‘Colonel Williams’ fried chicken which came in a bowl with three pieces of chicken (a drumstick, thigh and rib piece), some pickles with mustard seeds and a soured ranch dipping sauce. The chicken was soft and tender and the batter was nice and crunchy; quite salty in flavour so the vinegary pickles and the creamy ranch dip was definitely needed to help balance the saltiness of the chicken. The pickles themselves were pretty intense in flavour which was probably why there were only three slices. <br/><br/>Overall the meal was alright; the chicken was cooked perfectly, crunchy outside and tender and moist inside. However the flavour profile of the chicken was a bit lacking and was on the saltier side for me. Will need to come back one day for their BBQ meats.

I really couldn’t think of a better name for The Gem. At risk of sounding corny, this place is indeed a gem! After a bit of a wait, we got to tuck into a delicious meaty feast! We especially loved the beef brisket - it just melted in our mouth and it was so flavourful. The potato gems and mac n cheese were dangerously addictive. My friend kept popping the potato gems into his mouth while lamenting that he was so full, and his partner finished a third of the mac n cheese without realising it. <br/><br/>All four of us had our own favourite dishes and mine was the fried chicken. The crispy skin had the most delicious seasoning, and the meat was just so tender and juicy. And you can never go wrong with fried chicken and waffles!<br/><br/>The service added to the charm of this place. We had the most lovely chat with one of the staff there, exchanging our favourite foodie finds with him. Our waitress deserves a shout out for reminding us about the happy hour with 10 minutes left to spare and also for keeping our gluttony in check. If it weren’t for her, we would have most definitely over-ordered.

On the recommendations of many before me, we came here to try out the American BBQ style pub meals. Those with a good appetite will find it hard to resist the Pitmasters' Plate, choosing from 4 meats and 3 sides. There's a good selection of individual meats, seafood and vegetarians are really well catered for here too.<br/><br/>I started having eyes too big for stomach disease when my pork belly dish came out but was soon holding my own belly. Succulent, tasty pieces of fat belly paired with absolutely delicious green chile grits. My friends loved their Pitmasters' Plate, Mac 'n Cheese and grilled snapper.<br/><br/>Downstairs doesn't look much different from the old school pubs but upstairs caters for the diners. We were lucky to have a room for our group of 10 and were so well looked after all evening by the friendly, helpful staff. Now I'll be adding to the many voices that recommend this place - it's definitely worth trying out.

What an unexpected 'gem'. Friend came to visit and wanted to eat steak in a pub. Well we got the steak and some other dishes including tender brisket, fantastic and friendly service, incredible live music from two surf instrumental bands and had a cracking night. My friend can't stop talking about it and is planning her next visit. Can't wait. Thanks for a great night, service, food and a great vibe.

The Gem was just DELICIOUS last night! And waitress was top notch, so attentive and lovely! 👍👍👍 if you're after great American BBQ, good atmosphere, bang for your buck and a big feed head to the Gem.

A great pub atmosphere at the front (indoors) with dark timber themes, and a separate warm, cosy dining area. Food was spot on, and as good as the photos - I'd definitely eat here again!

Great little place tucked away on Wellington st. Good service and food.. a little delayed but it was the food was worth the wait. Ordered Pork belly, brisket, Hot fried chicken, Tacos, Cheese burger.. They were all great :) .. very satisfied..<br/>not super expensive either..

I'm not sure why it took me so long to visit this place but it's now one of my faves. We went on a Friday night and it was vibrant and lively and packed full of people and made me feel like I was in a dive bar in the middle of NYC. Loved it! The dining room upstairs is a bit quieter but still had really cool tunes playing which gave it a great vibe. They serve traditional American fair like slow cooked meats, pickles, Mac & cheese, pork scratchings, potato gems (and we tried all of this). The food was nice, not quite as good as some other places in Melbourne doing the same sort of thing, but the ambience makes up for it. I loved it!

Last night a group of 14 of us went to The Gem as a last minute decision. The staff were very accommodating allowing our group to have a table last minute and letting us order from the regular instead of the set menu. <br/><br/>My boyfriend and I ordered lamb shoulder, the cheeseburger, and the Texas fries. My boyfriend also had a crushed cherry mojito.<br/><br/>THE GOOD: All of it! The lamb should wasn't fall apart good, but it was still pretty tasty. The cheeseburger was super good, at least an 8/10, it was simple and delicious! The Texas fries, if you're a loaded fry fan, they were damn good! Definitely would recommend the cheeseburger and the fries as the well as the cocktail, but the lamb shoulder could've been cooked a touch longer but was still tasty.<br/><br/>THE BAD: The owner seemed a little bit stressed at the size of our group and the situation at hand and was a bit unintentionally on the rude side, asking that we all order before 6 and be out by 8:30. Understandable but he could've been a bit nicer about it but considering the situation we are glad that we even got a table!<br/><br/>THE VERDICT: I would go back again, the food delicious, quick to be delivered, the entire menu was reasonably priced for quality and the entire restaurant had a chilled out BBQ vibe! Everyone on the table enjoyed their meal and it's great to see they had veg options for my boyfriends vegetarian sister! 4/5 from us!

After hearing so many good things about the Gem my wife and I finally got to check it out for ourselves when we visited Melbourne from interstate. We were very impressed with ambience and I was super happy to sample a few of the wide selection of beers available which included my all time fav Rogers so that was a nice bonus. Being from interstate and not sure when we'd return we wanted to try everything but finally settled on the meat platter. The slow cooked meats were superb, the brisket, the lamb the chicken and the ribs were all cooked to perfection and the sides complimented the meats to perfection. We will definitely be returning next time we visit Melbourne.

Downstairs is a typical bar, wasn't sure if there was enough dining space until we were lead upstairs where there is a large area dedicated for diners. It's apparent that it used to house customers/residents from the layout.<br/>We got the pit master's plate, a good selection of their bbq meats as well as sides. I was expecting to be over fed but it turned out to be just right. The food was good though I am finding it difficult to find an American barbecue restaurant in Melbourne that will blow my socks off.

Really cool vibe and as soon as you walk in you can smell that BBQ smoker out the back working away. Food it self was ok how ever they did run out of Brisket which was disappointing but I understand smoking the right amount of brisket can be hard.<br/><br/>Service was lacking and didn't really make you feel welcome. Worth checking out and recommend to sit in the bar area as there is plenty going on. I will be back to try the brisket if they have it.

Good spot to go with a group and share. The jalepeno hot links and beef brisket were favorites. Service was friendly. Actual menu is a bit smaller than the menu on here. Some items are slightly overpriced but the place is worth a visit

New chef?? The food has changed. No more shoe string fries or hand cut chips!!! Changed to crinkle cut? Why why why? <br/>The brisket is now served with a big piece of white bread?? And two thin slices of pickle? The in house pickles used to be a variety of yummy veggies. The slaw is now bland as well? The gem is one of my favourite places to eat! The changes are breaking my heart. Please don't change what was a good thing!! <br/>

After being really excited about visiting the Gem Bar we were all left pretty underwhelmed. <br/><br/>We were sat next to a doorway which was close to the toilets. After asking to move somewhere which you can't smell the toilets the waitress said "we are fully booked what am I supposed to do about it"<br/><br/>Placed our order but were told that they had sold out of Lamb so ordered brisket, then 15 minutes got told they had sold out of that too.<br/><br/>Food took about an hour to get to our table. <br/><br/>Cheeseburger was well undercooked (raw mince not even warm), a replacement was brought out and comped on our bill but our friend still got sick. <br/><br/>Burnt ends were closer to cremated ends, but may be some people's cup of tea<br/><br/>

If you want great music and superb food in a genuinely cool setting visit this old school pub. The Gem features an incredible Mexican inspired menu that is updated enough to keep a regular like me sated.<br/><br/>I am digging the Burnt brisket ends Tacos - order a few / the green salad and the pulled lamb - word is there is vegan fare on the horizon..great drinks are on offer too. The Bloody Mary is an experience to be had.<br/><br/>Looking for some smooth growling super cool tunes - check the line up. I tend to go on a Sunday and really love Dave Gray and Slim Rhythms resident DJs. Dog friendly, laid back and friendly. Check their gig guide and tell them I said hi...

Upstairs party of 12 tonight. <br/>Waitress a score of 5. Scored out of sympathy having to deal with irate customers due to an inept kitchen.<br/>Dont know whats going on in kitchen tonight, but almost 2 hrs for food to arrive from time of order? Maybe it needs more staff in the kitchen or new staff?<br/>The 250 gm O'Connor hanger sreak was something else. Not sure what,  but it was tougher than Mike Tyson on roids... Would rank as prob the worst steak ive ever had. Dont believe its the product. Go as far as to say the person that attempted to cook this has no idea.  And served sliced? Ordered a steak, not a stirfry... Only for hunger via a 2 hour wait, it would have been sent directly back to the kitchen!<br/>I reckon the chef owes me a properly cooked steak<br/>Disappointing

Slightly overrated , reasonable price but average quality, poor service , took them an hour to bring a few simple dishes even they were not busy !

In hindsight heading here on xmas eve wasnt the best time to go, being that the next few days also involve crazy amounts of meaty carb laden food. In saying that zero regrets to be had as this place in bloody great. Easy enough to miss on Wellington St (i live 10 mins walk away and still got a bit lost trying to picture where i had seen The Gem before. Staff were super friendly, we had a laugh over something stupid which is always fun, great selection of local beers on tap and a really welcoming homely setup (although it does get a bit weird when you head into the back dining rooms). So the food... Bloody outstanding! Ive paid ALOT more for similar or lower quality and tasting Southern style eats. The slow cooked meats were as good as anywhere in Melbourne and the sides were spot on (all the 5 of them we tried! - sides are small but also very good value meaning trying a bunch of them wasnt even up for debate) i would say the mac n cheese was the only one i didnt love- it was also the one my crew was left waiting for after a stuff up in the kitchen meant it came out as we finished, no big deal. Staff apologised, refunded the cost and shouted a round of drinks- now that is how its done! Will be back.

Been here a few times now and every time I'm simply blown away every visit. Tried a few of the BBQ joints in Melbourne and yet this is always the winner for me. Last visit we ordered the Feed Me package which gave us 5 meats and 5 sides. Only $42 pp. My favourites would have to be the beef brisket and hot links out of the lot. But they're all amazing. Anything less than a 5/5 is an insult for me. The service of this place is always great too as the guys behind the bar seem to be fairly passionate and knowledgeable about the processes and ingredients involved in the making of. Le Bon Ton is nearby and also good. But out of the two this wins my vote.

For my mother's birthday I wanted to pick something a cuisine she wouldn't usually go for. In fact the last time I took her to something similar was the incredible Pitt Cue Co in London (. Unfortunately it seems the BBQ jackfruit on the online menu was not available anymore (or seasonal - that may mean they use fresh rather than canned fruit which is great?) so had to make do without it.

Great American BBQ at affordable prices<br/><br/>Checked out this place the other week and I was really impressed with the quality and portion of the food provided.<br/><br/>We ordered the beef brisket, pulled lamb, some sauces to go with them and a bunch of sides. These sides were potatoes, beans, coleslaw and salad. The entire meal was delicious and only costed the two of us $50, so $25 each! We were both really full by the end of the meal.<br/><br/>Compared to other BBQ joints like Le Bon Ton, the gem is by far better based on the following 3 reasons. <br/>1. Meat quality was better, 2. Great portion sizes, 3. Affordable. Great example of this is the pot stop salad at the gem $4, Le Bon ton it's like double that for the same amount and quality. <br/><br/>If you are looking for some tasty and affordable satisfying American BBQ, go to The Gem. Definitely want to go back and try the other meats on offer 👌

I live local and give The Gem a fair chance. This place is on the line for me. Food is better than average, staff can be great or a little too much Fitzroy 'attitude'. Tried to make a $750 table booking for next week, the bar guy couldn't be bothered. We'll book at Le Bon Ton. They give a stuff. <br/> <br/>

The Gem never disappoints , they turned it up a notch last night , we hadn't been in a while .. Last nights cocktails and chefs five meat choice was the best and waffles for desert .. Highly recommend this for a great night out for date night or with lots of friends

Great atmosphere country music and rock and blues, amazingly good and moorish cocktails, fish croquettes, brisket tacos and whole baby snapper. The mulled wine was dessert for me. $104 for two with wine

Food took a little longer than usual... So the lovely bar staff gave us a free jug and then our money back. This obviously doesn't happen often. Will definitely be returning - these guys are great.

We went to The Gem on a cold Thursday night in August for dinner. We had been here many times before for drinks on the tables outside in the summer but had never tasted much on the menu except for a few snacks. We booked a table - which I would recommend as they were all taken by 7.00pm. We ordered drinks and fried chicken to start. I have always found the gem has a great range of wines and my partner likes the beer range too.  The Fried chicken was four pieces and very nice - with a light fresh crunchy coating.<br/><br/>I ordered the brisket cobbler, 1 ordered the cheeseburger and two people shared the $40pp meat platter which included 5 meats and 5 sides.  The brisket cobbler and burger were both very good. But it was the meat platter that was outstanding - Its chefs selection and the chef chose a great mix of meat and sides - also there was so much. They got beef brisket, pulled pork, lamb ribs, chicken and sausage and the sides were brioche rolls, mac and cheese, potato salad, pit smoked beans and coleslaw. The brisket was beautiful and so were the lamb ribs. The Mac and cheese was a favorite, but all the sides were great. Very happy with our dinner and will definitely return.

I really love this pub for the atmosphere, look, music and quiffs. There's a lot about it that feels right. So I was pretty excited to discover they'd integrated with another love of mine; sloppy BBQ meats.<br/><br/>We got the chef selection here, and sadly it was just dismal. Dry, disappointing and not something I'd feel compelled to take a second bite of when there are hot fries on the table. Against all logical advice my partner insisted on ordering an absurdly overpriced cocktail and struggled not to laugh when he tasted it. We had fun.<br/><br/>I'd still come back because I like the front bar a lot (but would avoid the dining room is all).

Half of the menu was unavailable when we ate there. The 'Selection of 5 Meats' felt more like 'A selection of meats leftover from lunch service that should really be retired but we'd like to make some money off of regardless' menu. FYI don't choose that option. That's a bad option.

What a Gem of a place!  Not only did the staff deal with my many phone calls attempting to make a reservation with a smile, they were super attentive when we were actually there and hooked us up with sparklers and a lighter for the birthday cake.  The food was delicious and reasonably priced, the venue wasn't overcrowded and the patrons were just as chill.  Thanks so much for a great night! Your venue is fantastic and your staff are an asset!

This place is great! Super accommodating staff! They're all about good service, keeping customers happy and big food servings! Amazing place to celebrate a birthday with a big group of people, affordable set menu and the vibe is great!!!

Lovely staff, great atmosphere. Were helpful with group booking and dietary requirements which is refreshing. Food tasty and beers plentiful. Winner.

To die for food, I attended along with 8 other friends for a special occasion and we all loved it. Great food topped by great service. My fav was the deep friend pickles and the mac & cheese! We cant wait to go back

Serving a sumptuous range of slow cooked Texan style BBQ dishes & pub classics, this cosy local pub is a meat lovers best kept secret in the backstreets of Collingwood. As you walk into the front bar area, don't be fooled into thinking 'Is this it?' The Gem Bar & Dining Room actually also has a dining room at the back & a brand new bar & dining area upstairs..... Read full details on melbourniancritic.com.au/the-gem-bar-dining-room-collingwood

If you don't come for the hearty pub meals, then you will for the great live music and good vibes. Sunday evenings are my personal favourite but they do gigs Fridays and Saturdays as well.

Beyond amazing service, food and tunes!<br/>The staff at the this little gem (especially the manager) were so lovely, apologetic and generous after I had the tiniest issue with my chicken, that I will most certainly be back week after week.<br/> What an awesome vibe and place. 5 stars isn't enough. <br/>:)

Average American eatery. Smoked meats were ok, cornbread was a big disappointment, other sides were underwhelming. The Aussie pub food (such as the parma, etc) appear like they are worth having and probably the strong points of eating here, though we didn't have any of those dishes so can't really comment. Service was friendly though.

Whether you're looking for some Texas inspired BBQ or traditional Aussie bar grub, look no further. I've had their Smoked Brisket, Hamburger, Wallaby Corn Dog, ostrich corn dog, Blackened Salmon, Pulled Pork quesadilla, bourbon chicken wings,pulled land sandwich with chipotle slaw, and it's all been delicious. Very friendly staff & nice beer selection. They have weekly specials, and Sunday roasts. Definitely a place worth checking out, and it's right off Smith Street. The Wings & Pulled lamb have been my favorite so far, brisket was pretty good too.

Fantastic pub with great vibes, beer and food. If you can put the beef brisket sandwich/banh mi back on the menu my friends and I will be in even more often!!! :) it's very much missed!

Like a warm hug on a cold winter's day, the Gem provides all them good feels in one handy location. The burnt end sandwich is the duck's nuts; the perfect combo of tasty meat, sauce and amazing chips. Their take on Mexican fare is similarly outstanding. I've spent far too much time here with friends and on awkward first dates, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks for all the good times, past and what's to come.

This place has some mad ambience! Upstairs dining is like you are in someones house, good tunes playing and some really different art work about the place. The staff are all super friendly and helpful and our waitress took the time to answer all our questions about the place and food and made helpful suggestions for picking from the menu. I got the feed me, the meat and sides were awesome and perfect amount for what you pay for. My vegetarian friend even highly rates their vege burger! So in all if you are thinking about going then YES just YES, DO IT!

I have been wanting to return to this place for some time and was happy that I did last night. It's a packed venue and there are plenty of staff on; so easy to order drinks and food. Staff are friendly which is wonderful! They always have a smile for their patrons. Had the cheeseburger- it had quite a nice flavour. Bonus points for being such a cool looking place!

Had an impromptu lunch here today. Ordered the beef brisket and pork belly ribs with a side of buttermilk dressed salad and classic Mac & cheese. We have been eying this place off for some time and so glad we have now had the experience. Service was fantastic, the cheerful and confident staff made us feel very welcome. The meat was to die for. Will be back very soon to try more. Thanks team.<br/>

The beef brisket stole the show. Extremely tender, succulent and melts in the mouth full of flavour. Decent portion size too. Texas fries were also amazing. All fries were nice and crispy with good crunch. Went very well with the soft melted cheese and bacon bits. This was a huge ‘starter’ though.

Went to the Gen with my daughter and some friends for some smoked meat. it was fab. the meat was tasty the sides perfect and lots of it for good value.. we will be back.. the burgers looked great and the parma was big... good local reinvented pub

Found the brisket dry but otherwise was seasoned well accompanying green were nice.<br/>Staff were happy to converse amongst themselves not really focused on customers.<br/>

Personally I found the meat to be dry and everything lacked seasoning. I would of liked the brisket to be more moist and juicyThe coleslaw needed some zing. Pickles were nice. Mac and cheese was bland as well. I felt everything needed a bit more flavour! <br/>Service and venue is excellent!

Have been to The Gem a few times now, and each time really enjoyed it! The service is always friendly and attentive and food delicious! Last night my boyfriend and I got the tasting plate for two; we picked the lamb ribs, beef brisket with sides of beans, green salad and chipotle coleslaw and we also added the fried chicken, which was especially amazing. We left very full.

This used to be my favourite American BBQ place in Melbourne, up until my last visit. The food wasn't as amazing as it usually is, and we had to wait an hour and 45 minutes after we ordered for our food. There was a large booking upstairs, but we weren't told about this until we had been waiting for our food for over an hour. We had a booking, so it may have been better if they had suggested a different dining time for us. We were a table of 3, and a larger table who ordered their food after us got their food well before us, and had finished before we got ours. During our wait the waiter came over about 3 times (and not until we had waited for more than an hour), and the most she offered us was another drink.

The best American BBQ in town hands down. A spit and sawdust joint, but you'll be glad you came. Try and sit upstairs as downstairs in the bar can get a bit rowdy.

Friday night dinner with booking; they lost me as soon as they made us walk past the main area and into someone's living room for the meal. <br/>Drinks list was so so. <br/>Toilets stank. <br/>And when we asked if we could move to the front, the waitress asked us to keep a lookout. So walk up and down 20 metres to look for a table. <br/>Sorry, but after all the amazing reviews; this was a massive letdown.

Had my first dining experience at The Gem on Saturday night and boy did we leave happy with full tummies! Our group opted for the $38pp Chefs Selection - which comprised of 5 different meats and 5 sides. The meats were OMG amazing - slow cooked brisket, pulled pork, lamb ribs, Angus beef sausage, and chicken. Served with a variety of sauces including an incredible BBQ one which I think they make in house (not going to lie, I was pretty tempted to ask them if they would sell me a bottle!) Sides were also delicious and incredibly generous portions - mac & cheese, coleslaw, fat chippies, beans and corn bread. All washed down with a couple of jugs of sangria and we were almost rolling out the door by the end! On our way out the waitress told me that the owner and head chef and currently in Texas doing research on Southern BBQ cuisine - so I can only imagine that the food will get better and better. Can't wait to return!

Fantastic food, wonderful service, cheap happy hour drinks - this place really is a Gem! It's a project of passion, not just a business, and you can taste that with every bite.<br/>Get the tasting plate - just do it.

Lovely food, very generous when doing the bbq banquet. Wine list could be more extensive but there were some nice options.<br/>Lucy & Megan - great service - thanks for looking after our big group well. 👍

Nestled in a quiet spot on Wellington Street, The Gem is one of Collingwood’s more established pubs. The venue, like a number of other pubs in the inner north, reinvented itself a few years ago and started to smoke meat ‘low and slow’. Given our obsession with American barbecue we decided it was long past time that we sampled the food at The Gem and made a trip there one Sunday afternoon.

Lovely Collingwood local with a relaxed ambiance and good laid back service. Food and drinks are affordable. Small little pub so make sure you get there early! Great local gem.

Pulled pork ($15.00) and beef brisket ($18.00) to be exact. They were deceptively big servings for the cost, and oh so good… The pulled pork was absolutely phenomenal, slow cooked to perfection and falling apart with ease.Bonus points for the pile of house pickles that came with the pork – they were fantastic.

Best parma in Melbourne! Fully recommend this place. Go there if you're reeeealy hungry. The girls got the meat platter and it was humungus. There was soo much food and all of it was very yummy and very good quality. The only bad thing I'd say is that the music was VERY loud. I had to shout to be heard and couldn't hear what my friends were saying sitting right next to me on the table - and I usually like loud noisy places and for me it was to much. Service was excellent.

Loved the vibe of this local. Like visiting a big family home with all the upstairs rooms. Service was friendly and efficient on a really busy Saturday night (Elvis night). Meat platter was ok. No pork ribs and lamb a bit fatty but that is being a bit fussy cos the 4 of us had a great night. Downstairs was very crowded but lots of fun.

The Gem lives up to its name. Headed there for dinner with a few cheeky beers to get started. Was pleasantly surprised with the happy hour $3 pots, $6 pints and $12 jugs cant ask for much more. And you're not talking Carlton Draught as the only happy hour option either!. <br/><br/>We had dinner in the The Gem Dining Room. It was cosy but a little bit loud. Our group of 4 opted for the chef's selection of 5 BBQ'd meats and 5 x Sides. We got an epic selection of meat. Pork Belly Ribs, Brisket, Beer Can Chicken, Lamb Ribs and Sausage, All were great examples of Low n Slow BBQ. Sides were good but not mind blowing Mac n Cheese, Potato Salad Slaw etc... <br/><br/>I will be sure to return though even be it for Happy Hour.

This place was a real surprise. Its American BBQ done with finesse. We had a table of 6, and had a 1pm booking (there were many groups behind us with bookings too). They seemed to sit everyone in different areas, which I loved, as we felt like we were having a private lunch. Service was polite and swift. Must haves: croquettes, beef brisket (best I've ever had), beer can chicken, lamb ribs and the sweet corn and haloumi sliders which were a last minute add-on and our biggest surprise. The mulled apple cider just added to the meal, it was a freezing Sunday afternoon and this meal was just what the day ordered. Recommend going in big groups - the menu is perfect for sharing!

Great BBQ place with properly slow cooked meats. Good selection of beers on tap and nice bar to hang out as well. I came with a large group of friends and were seated on a private dining room, which felt like having dinner at home with friends (very cool). Staff was friendly and were there when we needed them.

Veggie burger with chips, $22. Most expensive I've seen in Melbourne and not the best, the Fox's is better. Bit stingy on the chips as well.

First time last night and it won't be the last! We had a great night ! Staff were friendly and accommodating !!! The food was great tasting , unique and fun !! <br/>

My absolute favourite pub in Melbourne. Your visit will be supervised by various incarnations of Elvis looking down on you from on high, but forgive them for the indulgence. Fantastic food. It's hard to go past the BBQ options here - brisket, beer can chicken, smoked sausages, sides, sides, and more sides. Great value. You can get a $10 plate of sausages and a $4 side and be VERY happy. Add a dash of friendly, fun service and a pinch of live music and you have a rollicking combo.

Great americana BBQ food. Just the wait let it down. the wait on a table, the wait on the food (2 hours after ordering, on two seperate occasions). It's lucky the food is so good & the excellent beer selection. I really like the gem & will quite happily return. I just hope next time the food arrives a little quicker.

Fun bar & Great restaurant. Drinks in the bar with hand cut crunchy chips. Then dinner time - Pork belly ribs, lamb ribs, pomegranate slaw, mash and gravy. We left very very happy! I definitely look forward to going back.

A much loved Melbourne pub that's usually packed with friendly young locals. Has a warm and relaxed atmosphere... The perfect place for a winter drink, hearty and inventive southern food and rockabilly jams

Happy Times. I love eating and drinking here. We usually come here after soccer and have worked up a hunger! I enjoy the vibe, the random cowboy aesthetic and the music. Mostly I like the food - it's good, honest fare. The last few times I have ordered the gumbo, which is delicious.

Woot woot. Thoroughly enjoyed the American BBQ here and particularly liked the side dishes and accompaniments. It's soooo tasty and great value. Thanks for the trouble of getting the smoker here from the US. It sure beats most around.

Casual atmosphere, average service, unexceptional food. I’d probably go elsewhere for American BBQ...

The Gem is a great little local pub with a busy front bar and then some separate (small) dining areas. The staff were great and despite it being very busy were able to find us a spot that was crutches-appropriate and then were friendly and attentive all night.

I’m always up for eating copious amounts of meat. The standard menu is available week round, but they only run their Texan bbq on weekends.   A group of about 8 of us rocked up and took a corner booth on Sunday afternoon, it was still relatively early and the place was quite empty. I was last to arrive due to a miscommunication as to what time lunch would start. As usual, I’d done my research on the menu, but still needed to secure one – as well as three people willing to share it all with me   Enter my friend Andy, who is always willing to trust my judgment on food, and handed me his menu saying “Order what you will.” I don’t know if you could really say I didn’t get carried away, but to me what I ordered was within reason of a sane man.

The Gem is one of those local pubs that make you want to move house so you’re around the corner from it – timber floors, country and rockabilly bands in the front bar, Elvis memorabilia on the walls and a collection of cowboy boots and Mexican Day of the Dead ephemera.

American BBQ is all the rage right now, and The Gem arguably does one of Melbourne’s best. It’s my third visit tonight and it has become apparent they do things consistently well here.