We loved this place. It is or should be the main meeting place for Peruvians and Southamericans in general. Of course everything started w their amazing Pisco Sours and
the we went pretty much for a bit of everything of the menu, from cheviche, lomo saltado through to the picarones... And even got indulged w a bit of Ocopa sauce from the chef himself. We were enjoying the experience so much that we got checked again and again by the manager, chef and even the bar staff... which by the way was also beyond great!!!, they come from all overcthe world but they all speak spanish making the experience even more interesting and relaxing. Definitely coming back !!!
First time coming here. I love the atmosphere of the place. their pisco sour is legend! too bad our experience was spoiled with a slightly rude waiter who chased us after we left the bar for thinking that we hadn't paid the bill 🤦🏻♀️ while in fact my friend bringing me here is a regular and spent quite chatty time with the manager while paying the bill.
5/5 in first visit. Johnny was very hospitable and everyone else. Food was delicious and service was great. Would definitely come back to try more dishes.
Their range of pisco sours is a must. Loved every single flavour however coconut and orginal are my first to go. Food was great service was prompted and detailed even when the bar was busy. Me and bf always ordered Chef’s selection for $60 each of 5 course meal. It was plenty of yummy food ! Can’t wait to return.
The service was just perfect. Guys are very friendly and knowledgeable. Food was ahhmazing! Everything was just awesome.
Harley house... all I can say is.. yum!!!!
Went here with a couple of my girlfriends and ordered the chefs menu and so glad we went for this option because we were tossing between so many delicious picks.
Every dish was a hit!! You leave feeling full and satisfied. The food was flavoursome and well balanced. Cocktails were amazing too! No such thing as choosing the wrong cocktail there.
Customer service here is top notch!!! Can’t fault a thing. Witty and kept conversations light and fun. It’s nice to be served by people who genuinely enjoy what they do and show the same passion and confidence with the delicious food they serve.
Definitely will be back to try other goodies on the menu!!! 👍🏼
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When one talks about Peruvian Cuisine the two most fascinating things that come to our minds were the Piscos and Ceviche, and then, as you are walking towards the restaurant, it's difficult to miss their claim of Pisco consumption. We werent too sure about those claims but we had already forgotten about it as a very warm smile greets us, and this lady is charming. And then another charmer takes our order, and then a wonderful gentleman..... In short, from the time we are greeted at the reception until we left, not a single dull moment spent at this vibrant and loud (in a good way).
Of course, in between, when we were not too busy enjoying life, laughing and wondering how extensive their bar menu is , we were served our favoured booze and food, and the same goes for it. Barring one minus, everything was just beautifully done.
Ordered a Pisco based Cocktail (Sorry, we were too busy celebrating our moments spent here) a gin based drink and a passion fruit based Mocktail. They all were LOVELY.
Ordered a Traditional Ceviche, 2 Chicken Skewers, 1 Lamb Skewers and Papa Renella (Slow cooked Beef served with rice).
Barring the Lamb Skewer, which was slightly chewy and overdone, everything else was beautiful.
It was crowded, and attendants were so occupied but we wouldn't even care if they would arrive few minutes later than usual as we were just having a gala time.
This place and people working here are Full of Life, and adding to that the Delish serves they serve made every moment cherished worth every penny spent.
Vegans and Vegetarians would not have too many options to choose from but what the heck if you do not come here to experience another side of happiness. Looking forward to coming back.
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OK in all seriousness everyone on here knows by now that whilst I'm very honest with my reviews I'm generally very positive with my outlook. So in this scenario in order for this review to stand out I'm actually going to mention that if I could give this place a six star review I would. But unfortunately the app only allows five stars so five it is! OK so starting off with the food, wow, the food was amazing, so much flavour and everything we ate was cooked to perfection. Delightfully presented and tastefully marinated, the food here is a winner. But what's even more of a standout for me is the absolutely genuine service. Everyone that saw us, from the waiters and waitresses to the bar staff and manager were all just so very happy and wanted to do the best they could to make sure we were happy. This is what I call service! From now on this bar is what I will use as an example to compare the service of any other restaurant I go to. Brilliant work by the team and I made sure the manager knew. Congratulations on creating a team of professionals who all know what it means to be in hospitality. You are all amazing and should be proud of what you have created. I will be back and make sure that everyone I know will hear about this experience ❤️
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It was my friend's birthday and I wanted to organise dinner at a place that is different! So I picked Harley House because they specialise in Peruvian food and I know the atmosphere on a Friday night is fun! I booked a table via Zomato and left a comment that I'm allergic to chilli :)
🔆LOCATION🔆
Very well hidden in a side alley named "Strachen Lane" which is off Elizabeth Street, close to corner of Collins St. The Lane itself is full of amazing grafitti art which fits perfectly to the location of Harley House. You walk down a flight of stairs and as you open the door, the reception is right in front.
🔆SERVICE🔆
I was greet very warmly by a lovely lady with short blonde hair. She knew my booking straight away and even laughed and said who doesn't eat chilli these days?! Loved her fun banter and conversation starter! She showed me to the table, and within seconds a waiter was at my table giving me a drinks menu.The service at Harley House cannot be faulted. Even when my friend wasn't sure what to order, the waiter was very patient in describing some of the food and his recommendations.Throughout the night we were well looked after and our dishes were cleared promptly once finished.
🔆MENU/PRICE🔆
Drinks:
Orange Juice
Rasperry Mojito (Mocktail): Raspberries, Lime, Lemonade, Mint
Food:
Ceviche Nikkei - Yarra Valley Trout roe, ponzu, avocado, radish, cassavo crisp, $22.00
Pan Con Pollo - Buttermilk fried chicken, avocardo, panco mayo, huancaina sauce, butter lettuce, milk bun, $9.00
Pan Con Chicharron - Candied sweet potato, crisp pork belly, criolla,amarillo mayo, milk bun, $9.00
Champignon Mushroom Skewers, $10.00Carne-Wagyu MB-4 Skewers, $10.00
Papas Fritas, $12.00
🔆VERDICT🔆
My friend and I absolutely enjoyed our night at Harley House. The warm hospitality, lovely atmosphere with music and the food was delicious my favourite in particular is the Ceviche Nikkei - its soo delicious, packed with flavour! Love!
Highly recommended venue and will definitely be back!
Thank you for a wonderful evening!
Came here to celebrate my partner’s birthday. The ambiance was amazing, staffs were very accommodating and friendly, the ceviche was the best I’ve ever had, the other dishes recommended by the staff were the fried chicken bao, pork belly and empanadas was delicious! The only con I would say is the drinks are little bit pricey. We ended up paying more for drinks than what we actually ate. But overall experience was great 👍🏻
A Melbourne favourite, off the beaten path of exhibition street just before Collins street. Service is always impeccable and the ambience lively, whilst still being able to hear those you are having a drink with. Highly recommend the pisco sour as their signature drink which they do for a good happy hour price.
This place is amazing! I came during happy hour and tried to exhaust all the drinks within their scheduled times. All the drinks had some much work and shakes put into them. My personal favourite was the Passionfruit Chilcano because it was a little sour and sweet. In terms of food, all the dishes were enjoyable. My favourites were the salmon ceviche, empanadas and pork belly arepa. All dishes were presented well and the flavours were rich. The experience was even better because the staff were extremely attentive and friendly. Would recommend this place to others.
It was nice but not brilliant... I ordered empanadas they were a little bit over cooked (looks brown) , the anticuchos was okay (I think the price is high for the portion), lomo saltado nothing like in Peru but good, the wagyu meat was good... I'd come back only for the pisco Berry! That was my fav one.
To try:
- pisco sour, they're shaken twice for maximum foam and smoothness!
- corn & fetta empanadas
- chargrilled octopus, really tender and flavourfull
- ceviche
- wagyu scotch fillet, the night we came they had a special wagyu steak on top of an arepa with a sort of chutney and it was AMAZING.
To skip:
- yuca con chorizo, good as a carb filler dish, but there are so many other delicious things to try!
Really lovely venue, great music and staff. Definitely a place that you can keep coming back to.
Such welcoming and friendly and there's a wonderful vibe from the guys there. The food is delicious and my personal favorite is the ceviche! Service was great and attentive. I'll definitely come back for drinks.
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Down Strachan La (off Exhibition St) is some great street art and a bike and sign teasing you in with promises of some great Pisco sour. As you descend down some stairs and are welcomed to a spacious restaurant/bar, the cuisine is predominantly modern Peruvian and also plays off its neighbours.
We miss out on happy hour (aka Pisco hour) which cuts off at 6:30pm. Shame but it wasn't going to stop us from having one (or two) to add to their Pisco tally sheets. It's their most sought after cocktail and rightfully so, I fell in love with it when I was abroad and their adaptions to it keeps you coming back. I get their coconut Pisco sour with the addition of coconut puree, bloody delicious and thankfully not that frothy. They also had a Brazilian theme for this particular weekend only so I grab myself a caipirinha (Brazil's national cocktail), sour, sweet and very strong. That got me going.
The menu wasn't what I expected, I assume they change it up quite often as I didn't see a couple of items from an older menu. Nevertheless the whole menu looked interesting. For starters we get scallops with watermelon, passion fruit mayonnaise and squid ink. Unlikely combination but it worked, just difficult to incorporate all the elements and just like that, it's gone in one bite.
The white fish was mixed with tiger's milk (i.e. a combination of lime and other ingredients) and voila you have ceviche. Very zippy (maybe too sour), very fresh and the addition of cancha (toasted corn) gave the dish a crunchy texture.
The pork belly patacones were flattened fried plantains, pork belly, amarillo mayo and criolla (onion garnish). The plantains were starchy with little sweetness and the criolla helped cut through the grease. It all just worked well together.
The chargrilled octopus had a lot happening with all these dollops of sauces but the mango jam salsa really stood out and was outstanding, sweet and vibrant. The octopus leg was firm but not chewy.
One of the Brazilian items was the escondidinho, pretty much a croquette made of yuca and mozzarella. Not as creamy as a potato based version but still enjoyable. It sat on top of some braised beef which was very juicy, the molho apimentado (hot sauce) gave it a very delightful peppery heat.
Looking back I'm regretting not ordering a couple more dishes as there were some exciting things on that menu, we definitely had room for it still. We did however try a couple of their desserts on offer, house made ice-cream with the classic dulce de leche and the other chocolate which wasn't as smooth. These were served with an alfajor crumble. The Pisco cheesecake with lemon curd was creamy and the addition of puffed rice gave it some crispiness. Throw in some summer fruits for some freshness.
This is the kind of dining I get excited about, unfamiliar ingredients and combinations. Although I have spent a lot of time in that region, Peruvian/South American cuisine goes deeper than one can imagine and I've barely scratched the surface. I was itching for some good lomo saltado (I had some pretty bad ones last couple of times) and nikkei so hopefully they'd make a comeback one day!
Outstanding food, friendly service, and ice cold beer. I was impressed. Empanadas were tasty too. The main meat dish was a little dry and seemed like it was sitting in the warmer for too long. The menu is quite unique and while it's a little tough for a vegetarian diet, the meat and produce is of top quality. A great feel and a cool place to visit.
I love Harley House. Every time I've dined there or had a cheeky drink, I've enjoyed myself thoroughly. Last night was no exception. I arrived late but the staff were extremely accommodating, with the bartender Z making the delightful and delicious pisco sour they are famous for while we waited for our table. The food is so tasty and the service is second to none. I will always come back and bring friends to enjoy what HH has to offer.
Came here for drinks and ended up getting some food. There was Happy Hour on a selection of drinks (wine, pisco sours etc) on a Friday night up to a certain time which was awesome! It was my first encounter with a Pisco Sour and I don't think it will be my last. The staff were lovely and helpful and it's a big, nicely decorated place with a great vibe. It's quite dark but I like that it wasn't too loud (although not super quiet either but at least you could hear each other). Had the tuna ceviche, the pork belly, potatoes and the panna cotta. I wouldn't say the food was amazing but it was good. My friend said the panna cotta wasn't a panna cotta at all but it was actually my favourite that night.
We came here on Saturday night for some pisco sours and to try the food which had been recommended. We weren’t disappointed, everything was great. We started with the tasting menu which came within ceviche, empanadas, scallops and the vegetarian causa. For main we shared the Lomo Saltado. The food and service was exceptional.
Hidden stairway leading underground made me doubt for a second if we found the right place. Once in the staff were a friendly bunch. Wanted a quick drink and good dinner. Got both pretty quickly.
Appreciate the service.
I love coming to Harley House. They're always welcoming and friendly and there's a wonderful vibe from the guys there. The pisco sours are, of course, amazing. The food is delicious, and my personal favourite is the ceviche!
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UPDATE We popped into Harley House last night for a drink with some friends. I thought I would re review given it’s been years since my first and only visit and my recent experience was very different to the original. Last time we arrived at around 6pm and were the only people there, last night we arrived around 9.15pm and had to wait for a table. The atmosphere was electric and it felt like a different planet to our first trip. Would thoroughly recommend making a booking as it clearly gets very busy. We really enjoyed the drinks and had a fabulous evening. The only thing we felt was missing after a bottle of wine was a cheeseboard but we consoled ourselves with some potatoes
As is custom once in a blue moon I let my partner chose the venue for date night. He did some research and settled on Harley House for drinks and grazing before heading on to dinner elsewhere. Quite a stylish spot within a beautiful heritage building it dishes up Peruvian food and served as my first encounter with this particular cuisine. Relatively similar to Spanish style tapas we had a few empanadas and the sous vide beef cheek. We enjoyed the food and the classy vibe of the establishment but it was a bit quiet for our liking (it was early but it was also a Saturday night). Maybe this was because it's quite hard to find (so Melbourne) and a large space to fill (and quite a lovely space at that). Would be a good spot for post work drinks with a group of colleagues
Recently organised dinner here for my friends bucks before our night out. I love the atmosphere, servers were great and attentive, drinks and food was delicious. Only down size for us was serving size was a bit small. I'll definitely come back for drinks tho!
Outstanding food, friendly service and ice cold beer. Had the Snapper....tender..juicy..tasty and marinated with a peruvian sauce with rustic roast potatoes on the side. Jamie Oliver would be proud.
We dropped into Harley house for drinks before going out to dinner on Friday night. The place was buzzing, really crowded but the service was great and the cocktails for cocktail hour are fantastic. This is an ideal place to catch up with friends. A word of warning the entrance is a little dark and unimpressive but don’t be deterred.
Popped in here to catch up with an ex work colleague for Friday night drinks. Another great basement bar in Melbourne where we were also just in time for happy hour! Enjoyed the Passionfruit sour, hugo spritz and a couple of glasses of savvy b too.
With attentive staff, table service as well as a big space it was a fab bar. Will need to check out the food menu next time.
Went here with a friend for a long overdue catch up. This place is sensational. The food, wine list, staff, ambience and décoré are all 10/10. Then there is the artwork and the oh so Melbourne vibe. The staff had to turn the lights on to kick us out at about 1145 on a Tuesday night! It’s that good! Cannot wait to return and will be trying their famous pisco sour! Highly recommend the Pinot noir from New Zealand. We did two bottle and could have easily done two more. Oh and the ceviche... ahhhmaaaaazzzzing!!!
A little gem hidden away of a laneways downstairs.
Enjoyed a nice cured meat tasting plate, followed by gorgeous seared scallops. For mains, a lovely sirloin steak with chimchuru sauce & the house salad. All cooked perfectly.
Desert sweet potato donuts and tiramisu, which was a great finish to the meal.
In closing the service was outstanding, and it was a real pleasure.
Great venue downstairs in back laneway. They make great Pisco sours. Went here with group on Valentine’s Day so they only had the set menu. 4 things for $75 so we tried that. Was the first time I’ve tried cervechi and I was impressed. Empanadas were tasty too. Main meat dish was a little dry and seemed like it was sitting in the warmer for too long. Having to share a small desert seemed stingy after paying $75. Not great value had to eat a snack when we got home. Tasty food but overpriced for what we got... service was excellent though.
Love this place. Love that it’s kinda hard to find and love that the pisco sours are the place’s signature. Jonny and the team are warm and you sometimes forget your out and not just kicking back at mates place. The vibey tunes and delicious Peruvian food made for a great date night. On the way out, my wife and I took time to check out owner Vincent F’s awesome portraits. Relaxed good times.
Harley House is a cool underground venue with great service (including Spanish-speaking waiters), delicious Peruvian cuisine and cocktails. Highly recommended.
This place was really nice.. we went for a birthday.. drinks were great, i had a mint spritz and it was great for 15$.. we had the menu for 40$ and the food was great, just not very big portions, overall a great experience.
Harley house is the epitome of a "typical" Melbourne bar- hard to find, underground and awesome! Famous for their pisco sours, it is worth a visit just for these awesome cocktails. The menu is quite unique and while it's a little tough for a vegetarian diet, the meat and produce is of top quality. A great feel and a cool place to visit
It was a pleasant surprise to come to this place. The pisco sour was outlandishly good. An amazing way to spend an evening, letting the knowledgeable waiters pick platters of the Peruvian food to nibble on as you catch up. The nikkei ceviche was delish, and so was the bisteca which was perfectly spiced and cooked. The street food style BBQ of chicken and beef heart were also amazing in texture and tenderness. A quaint and delightful find, a venue that epitomises Melbourne not so secret dining scene.
M For FOOD And Drinks Occasionally.
+3.5
A yet unusual feat for dining yet, Peruvian food and drinks. However the hidden away spot offers plenty of room. The pisco sour is a must and does not disappoint. Over lunch a regular and express menu is offered. The food looks scrumptious and taste fresh, clean, just right actually. Ceviche another classic, recommendable by all means. Worth another look definitely. Only the rolling eyes of one the senior waiters dampened the experience a bit.
Great service, great good & awesome Pisco sours! Highly recommend the beef rib... Just melts in your mouth.
Also loved the empanadas & kingfish
@
Awesome night on my birthday. Ricardo the manager is a gentleman who knows Peruvian cuisine and liqueur. He made my night a very memorable occasion. Thanks Ricardo for selecting our menu and matching our drinks. Look forward to next time😊
I was told of Peruvian goodies at Harley House, so I headed down to reminisce about my recent travels to Peru. I tried the Lomo (beef) sandwich, which is one of the options on the $15 express lunch menu. I enjoyed it, the beef was nice and rare, with some decent potatoes on the side, but it didn't really take me back to Peru, or blow my mind the way a steak sandwich should. Some of the $15 options are better value than others. One of our group ordered the chicken skewer with salad, and the verdict was that it should have had a carb on the side or 2 skewers/more salad? I appreciate that I tried an option from a limited (express) menu, so I'll be back to see what is being offered on the a la carte menu and report back. Service was friendly and attentive,
Great cocktails, good service but a limited dessert selection. Cocktails definitely potent! Great for a Friday pre-drinks sesh! They do dinner too, tapas style. Love the idea that the entrance is somewhat hidden in an alley way 👍🏻😝
Went for the set course of five meals and was so impressed! The food looked and smelt so good I forgot to take pictures before we ate it all up! Ended up very satisfied at the end. The vibe is great and even went with two under 4 year old girls who were well catered and cared for! Will definitely recommend this place to my friends. The picarones for dessert and steak were my favourite with a very yummy pisco sour
Just got back from Peru and I would say Harley's Pisco's are on par or maybs better, I know, I know, controversial!!!
buuuuuuuuuuuut the service.......... Outstanding! The front of house gent was superb, the mixologist was awesome and the lil guy preparing the lime juice(didn't get his name) was a super chill dude who wasn't afraid of a conversation. So great to see passionate staff who obviously love their job!
Had dinner there on a Friday night. It was busy, reservation is a must! It's hidden behind Collins St, 'secret entrance' from the lane way behind to the basement bar/restaurant. Friendly and prompt service, comfy booth seating for diners and lot is bar space for ppl only have drinks.
Loved all the cocktails we tried, all looked very pretty too. The swordfish with mango salsa was beautifully cooked, with a little bit of cucumber and onion ribbons, cauliflower purée to decorate. Not big, so you probably need another course to go with it. The sweet potato and pumpkin doughnuts were decorated with edible flowers. Each serve came with 4 petty big ones, it would be a shared dessert. They were delicious. It's not only a pub, I was pleasantly surprised with the food served. Would recommend to friends.
Harley House is located like a typical Melbourne gem, hidden! As you enter the underground entrance, you feel like you're in a secret grotto. The staff are super friendly and accommodating.
I'm not an expert in Peruvian food but everything we had was simply delicious and full of bold and clean flavors. We started out with the obligatory pisco sour which is one of the most refreshing cocktails around. Decided to have tapas and we got the seafood ceviche, scallops, tuna tartare, prawn caucas, venison cheeks and pumpkin donuts.
Must orders -
Seafood ceviche - super clean and refreshing. Just enough acid and heat to get the palate going.
Tuna tartare - just one of the best tuna tartare I've ever had. Beautiful dish
Donut - traditional street food in Peru, it's super delicious, served with dragon fruit, lychee and a sauce that had hints of cinnamon, ginger and palm sugar
I booked a large group of 20 people for my 30th birthday. I cannot fault the night at all. Staff were friendly and customer focused and the food was amazing. We did the $59 set menu and they were happy to cater for a couple of vegetarians in the group. Cocktails were also amazing. Highly recommend.
Friendly, prompt and professional service. Amazing food and atmosphere, quick service and exceptional value especially given its inner city location. Highly recommended.
We had an absolutely great time at Harley House. The food was amazing, and we tried many dishes, not being familiar with the cuisine. The cocktails were yummy and the staff were friendly and welcoming. They also knew heaps about the food so were able to guide us with choices.
Brilliant. Beautiful food, drinks and service. Lovely ambiance as well. Loved the ceviche, it brought us right back to Peru. The only downside was the uncomfortable high top table (I have short legs) and we weren't able to move because other tables were reserved, however, when we left the other tables were still vacant. Either way, hope to be back many more times. We had the degustation for $60 pp with a few wines and happy hour pisco sour and the bill came to $176 for two us.
Fantastic service and very cool venue! Pisco sours are delish, and happy hours prices second to none! The main hostess/waitress is an absolute delight. Food was very tasty and can't wait to try more dishes. Will be back for sure.
Snazzy place for girls get together or date night. I'm not a huge fan of the food. There were some dishes I liked and some I didn't. But the atmosphere and enjoying the friends company in this lovely place made it a great experience.
Lovely place, open late at night for Friday night drinks! Friendly staff but was a bit disappointed no food was available at time of visit! Definitely will be back
Update: with my second visit, I was able to try the food. Not the best food in my opinion - especially not for the expensive price tag. However, I really enjoyed the atmosphere yet again and also, the salted caramel vodka is to die for!
Our first flight of restaurants were all booked out/ too long of a wait on this Saturday night so we shuffled along to the very stylish Harley House. It has one of the coolest locations in the city, with a flight of stairs down and a portrait of feet walking above on the top windows to enjoy. It’s a great, unique space. The menu here is Peruvian-inspired and we opted for some sharing items on our journey to get a taste of what this really means. Pisco sours are their speciality (and cheap on happy hour) and we thought these were worthwhile.
What a great venue.
Stumbled upon this and i will be back. Great cocktails, fast and friendly service and really good food.
Super sexy booths that will impress any first date. Love this place
We absolutely loved our experience here! Staff were extremely friendly and helpful and food was great! Would happily recommend this place :)
Great place! Love the vibe of it all. I went with friends and we did the chefs selection. We loved each dish.
It's a great place to chill out with some drinks and food. Certainly suits the Paris end of Collins. 100% Melbourne with its entrance via a laneway and down the stairs into a basement. Classy yet vibrant. I was overly pleased with the wine choice also.
Nice and convinient atmosphere. We had a couple of drinks and enjoyed our night out very much. The Cocktails are good, the price was okay. I will go again.
Nice place for cocktails. Love the booths if you can get one but you need to get in early. Cocktails are expensive but if you're worried about the price of cocktails, you probably shouldn't be drinking cocktails.
My friend and I spent an amazing night in this beautiful restaurant, high qualified staff, amazing food and nice atmosphere. I highly recommend this lovely hidden gem!
Thank you to the staff, amazing job!
Hidden gem, perfect location especially if you're going to the theatres!
Genuine and friendly service by all staff. Quality ingredients and nicely flavoured. We went for the $59 per head menu and plenty to eat for all and tasty with every dish. Only the dessert could be the improvement but otherwise we enjoyed our time here and will definitely be back!
I honestly cannot say anything bad about Harley House, everything on the menu we tried was a winner! My housemate and I went on a double date as both our partner's have the name Harley... and we've been dying to go back ever since! Hidden down a little ally way, this underground dimly-lit bar and restaurant looks the part. It has pretty quirky deco inside, and spacious seating with both booths and tables, as well as bed-like lounges for those just having a casual drink.
I highly reccomend the tapicoa cheese bread, we were so full but had to order seconds! It's beyond delicious!
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Harley House sure knows how to make a first impression. It's situated in a heritage building of the same name, and oozes with contemporary modern Spanish chicness.
The menu promises a palatable grazing experience inspired by the food of Peru; a multi-ethnic country that we don't see much of in the dining scene.
Sounds promising, until you realise there isn't a great deal of variety in the food menu. There's enough choice to keep you satisfied during evening drinks, but if you're looking for a Peruvian feast then you might be in the wrong part of town.
But if it's drinks and conversation you're after, then you'll feel right at home. They pride themselves on serving up the underrated Pisco spirit in the form of a sour. Like a whiskey sour, it's made by shaking with lemon, a dash of sugar and egg whites for that soft and creamy texture.
Fortunately the food here is very share-friendly, with sure-fire crowd-pleasers like albondigas -or should I say, meatballs:
These cheese croquettes marry the fluffy texture of bread with the mature taste of cheese. It sounds great in theory, but it can be a little too dry and lacking in flavour to be enjoyed.
Their chicken wings are a safer option to spread around the table. It's battered thin and crispy, and served with a dipping sauce that's just bursting with flavours of fresh tomatoes, herbs and spices.
The steak is very minimalistic, and is served with citrus and a herb relish. I personally think it was a little tough, even though it was ordered medium-rare.
Personally, my go-to steak in the mid 30's asking price would be the minute steak at Rockpool Bar and Grill. It's usually soft and tender, without being dry-aged.
As the menu stands, Harley House is a great place for social gatherings. But if you're more fixated on food, then you may find the experience a bit lacking in substance. They may put style over substance, but in this part of town you'll see plenty of that anyway.
Harley house food is amazing. The octopus and potato dish is phenomenal and the empanadas are equally as good. Service is good and a great atmosphere to go from dinner to drinks. Organised an event here on a Saturday night and the team were very accommodating.
Hidden in a dark den overshadowed by an even darker portrait of Heath Ledger are Peruvian tapas that make a lasting impression. Super cool almost blazay effortless ambience.
Came here for a big team lunch. Service was a bit slow，but food pretty good. The underground location was pretty good. We had the scallops，empanadas (both pork and corn)，the fried chicken，the steak and the beef short rib. I loved all the food minus the steak，which was just average. Would i come here again，probably (very pricey though).
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Hooray for Harley House. In a building that now houses Hermès but has also been home to a questionable Mexican/Chinese fusion food place (La Chinesca), the new Harley House restaurant and bar is a delight.
I was hesitant about Peruvian cuisine after a devastatingly dull dinner at Pastuso, but HH delivers. Here for a birthday, everything was excellent. We'd booked and so secured one of the luxurious leather booths at the back. The birthday girl was greeted on arrival by name and given a champagne flute to celebrate - a nice introductory touch.
Menus presented and still within happy hours, three perfect pisco sours ($10 each till 6.30pm) arrived - mine with ginger and lime had both kick and punch. We opted for the $55 chef's menu - an abundance of dishes. The crackly chia-coated chips were an unusual but umami-inducing start, the scallops were seared just so. The mixed ceviche in tiger's milk (a tastebud-tingling lime marinade) was a revelation, especially with the crunchy corn kernels, and the large pork belly empanadas were eye-wateringly wonderful.
The beef parilla fillet was tender, offset with a divine chimchurri sauce and a subtle farro and vegetable salad. Bellies almost bursting by this stage, we were relieved that dessert was small - but seriously decadent: solid shortbread rounds sandwiched together with dulce de leche caramel and dipped in dark chocolate. Heaven. With a lovely local tempranillo, the bill was only $255 before tip.
You'll be arrested by the art, be it the stained glass satirical pieces (storm troopers, playing cards or redheads), the sculptures, or the Archibald Prize winning portraits by Vincent Fantauzzo. Service is equally captivating - our NZ waiter was genuinely funny and friendly, and the barman mixes mean drinks. I'm already hungry to go back!
Excellent service and food was absolutely delicious!!! Friendly staff and nice place, wines and cocktails amazing and no words about the Pisco! For sure I'll back!
Went here a couple of weeks ago. Staff were extremely welcoming and friendly and suggested great menu items to share. Food was sensational and pisco cocktails are definitely worth a try!
great food and service. better than pastuso hands down. oyster shooters with leche de tigre nikkei. white fish ceviche and squid. grilled octopus, wagyu hearts, grilled salmon and grilled watermelon salad all so delicious. left very satisfied
Amazing food and service. Mark was our waiter and he was amazing and attentive. The food is is unlike anything I've ever tasted.... so unique. Very authentic and homemade-tasting. Really cool vibe and the ambience was perfect, but could understand how it could be noisy on a busier night. The grilled octopus appetizer is incredible- the texture and taste were perfect. We loved the appetizers so much that we even ordered an additional one and they made sure to bring it out before our mains were served. The manager was also very attentive and made sure we were enjoying every minute. Can't wait to go back.
This bar is a true underground gem. Only stumbled across this place by spotting a sliver of window at ground height along Exhibition St; this place is instantly intriguing. Bar staff are friendly and accomodating, drinks served with flair, and the venue is lush and comfortable.
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My friends and I decided to try this place for dinner the other week. I had never heard of this place before but heard it was Peruvian so why not?!
The place itself is funky with amazing paintings on the walls. The crowd was a little loud for a restaurant though we thought. I know this place is supposed to be a bar as well but we could barely hear each other talk. We asked to move down to one of the larger booths at the end and the staff happily moved us!
Now to the ordering! We ordered a ceviche dish, the ribs, a salad and three entree style dishes. As one of my friends were pregnant, there were a few things on the menu she could not eat. The staff however were very helpful and accommodating towards this. My friend could not eat mayonnaise and we forgot to mention this to the waiter. Out came our first dish with mayonnaise on it. No issue for the staff, they took it back and replaced it with a new one!
The dishes were delicious! We loved every single thing we ordered! The ceviche had a lovely tang to it.. i think it came from the tigers milk but it was amazing. The squid on mashed potato were to die for as well as the scallops! The ribs were melting in the mouth and the salad was a little odd.. but delicious none the less.
I would definitely rate this place! Its different, staff here are wonderful and the food is amazing!
This place feels like the home I wish I had. Urban chic without being hit by contrived wankerism. Comfortable environment Great food, not over worked. Service friendly and knowledgeable. I like the way it morphs from restaurant to bar easily. Can be noisy though.
Went to Harley house for dinner with a group of people for a birthday last night. It was amazing, waiters were tentative, helpful and friendly. We opted for the chefs hands menu and it was great, all food was tasty and all our plates were locked clean (literally). I'm not much of a drinker but the pisco sour and wise piñata were delicious cocktails. This place is highly recommended!
An awesome Peruvian bar and kitchen underground. Took a friend here who has Peruvian ancestry and she said the food was definitely up to scratch. Drinks were tasty. Order the relleño if you can handle the heat. Service was super friendly.
Worth revisiting.. Good vibe and excellent helpful service. Conchita & low cooked beef short ribs are tender and delicious. Interesting taste of Pisco Sour. Perfect candle lighting and a great place to hang out with friends on a night out.
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Had a girls dinner date here, & we weren't disappointed at all! Mind you one of the girls was Peruvian & she was particularly happy. The Cebiche was a juicy melt in your mouth explosion of flavours - sweet, tangy, & salty, the grilled octopus was tangy, earthy, creamy with a nice bite to it & the pork belly burger was soft, crunchy & earthy with a hint of spiciness. We also had the beef hearts which was a whole new world to me, I was never one to eat offal's but the beef hearts here gave me away! Juicy & may I say hearty(hehehe) - something you have to eat for yourself to experience & something I will be coming back for. For mains, we had the charcoal seafood on rice & that was not a mind blower but it was delicious & for dessert, we had Alfajor biscuits which was to die for! They melted on your tongue as you took a bite out of them & the sweetness was just right! As for the staff, they were all welcoming, friendly, charming & cheerful & the restaurant itself has a modern sophisticated quirky twist to it which I find myself very very comfortable in.
Came across this place by accident. We weren't planning on eating and only popped in for a drink, but were impressed by the relaxed vibe of the place and intrigued by the 'leave it to us' menu. The chef spiced up the dishes for us and we enjoyed every mouthful. Not a huge amount of food, but I though it was very well priced for the quality. Will definitely return.
Harley House Picanteria is a blend of cocktail bar and restaurant inspired in Modern Peruvian cuisine. For anyone unfamiliar with Peruvian food, think ceviche, ancient grains (like quinoa), lots of root vegetables and corn, corn and variations of corn. Tapioca flour cheese bread, canchita chulpi, pisco olive oil
Discovered this place after Friday night footy. Trendy place for a late night drink that wasn't too crowded or noisy even if it was mostly empty. Decent bar selection.
Really enjoyed lunch with a group of workmates on a quiet Tuesday. Grilled chicken skewers were on the money and corn that came with it was tasty as. Also sampled the quinoa salad which also hit the spot. Efficient service and good wine advice - all around thumbs up and deserves to make a success of the hidden location.
Excellent food. As far as I know, this was one of 2 or 3 Peruvian restaurants that exist in Melbourne. I must say that they do an amazing job here, ambiance is great, and the service + servers are friendly. Recommended!
An unexpected gem. I came down here looking for La Chinesca so was quietly surprised at how it has changed into a candle lit New York style restaurant/ bar rather than the other way round.
Had the Chef's Hands menu, a sort of "Feed Me" menu that places do these days. Food was surprisingly good Peruvian (my guest was South American and vouched for its authenticity), especially the cebiche that others have mentioned. Could just fit in the mini desserts. $49 each. Fair price.
They don't do coffee, which is weird, but do do espresso martinis!!
Service was the best part, fun, friendly and informed.
Music was also great, they had a female DJ on this particular night. Retro but cool.
My only gripe- it was a bit loud, but it was completely full of people, so maybe go there for drinks on Saturday or a Friday.
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Good cocktails and ceviche. I recently celebrated my birthday at Harley House, and it was a fairly good experience. I had some issues getting my booking space confirmed - so if you're planning to hold an event here, make sure you chase them up! They were efficient enough to offer another space and some food and drink on the house (which I appreciated). However, during the course of the night, the waitstaff overcharged various people in my group and had I not taken the time to ring each one of them up to confirm if they had/hadn't paid their respective bills before leaving, I would've ended up with a giant tab at the end of it all. At the end of this 30 minute saga, the waiter waived the "extra" fee but needless to say it put a bit of a dampener on the festivities. Having said that, it was a very busy night so a few hiccups here and there were expected.
Food wise, the pork belly burger was highly underwhelming with a few pieces of fatty bacon slumped between alot of bread. The fries and snacks however were satisfying, and the ceviche was amazingly delicious. I would definitely get that again - right amount of citrus flavours combined with fresh seafood.
The pisco sours and other cocktails, were outstanding. Overall, I would say this is a great place for a small group of people after some drinks and snacks. For larger events, and a good food experience, I would hit up another spot.
Will visit again!. One of the best kept secrets in Melbourne, we were served very exquisite Peruvian cuisine, They had an extensive variety of exotic drinks and a very friendly and efficient staff. Will go there again! :-)
Amazing. The food was absolutely amazing, we tried almost everything on the menu and could not fault any of them. The restaurant was very comfortable and the service was fantastic. We met the chef before we left to thank him for a great feast. We will be returning.
What a great find - the food, the drinks, the staff and the atmosphere of this place all combine to create one of Melbourne’s best kept secrets!!
This Peruvian restaurant in a typical melbourne basement is the perfect spot for the special night out as well a casual dining or drinks. The staff are exceptionally engaging and help guide you through the wonderful menu and the amazing drinks list
Do make sure you read carefully any marketing - do they actually serve guinea pig ? Are the golden tickets actually up for grabs tonight?
Some of the best pisco sours I have ever had!
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Superior than Ceviche London. Best ceviche outside PERU, without a doubt!
In terms of Ceviche (traditional) it’s definitely the best one I had outside Peru. I’ve eaten ceviche in places such as Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, Chengdu, Madrid, etc. And this ceviche is deft the best. The experience took me back to “Mercado de Miraflores o Jesus Maria”.
I also had pisco sour with Peruvian pisco, very good! The selection of alcoholic drinks is good if you don’t want to go down the pisco route.
For food we also had lomo saltado (proper Barranco District Lomo saltado or Abuelita lomo saltado like) and it was superb! And of course, we wanted to try more, so we had Jalea Mixta and Arroz con mariscos. Super good and tasty. Unfortunately I was so full already, as the portions are so generous generous (at least for me) and was unable to finish everything.
For desert we had tres leches and it was great. We had to share it as it was quite sweet (expected from tres leches), but still delicious.
The service is amazing, everyone is so kind and welcoming, we felt like home in all fairness. The place looks trendy but people that work here are so friendly that you don’t feel it at all.
Whilst writing my review, I’m sat here again waiting for my ceviche as a second visit to this restaurant before I head back to London.
We started with the Spanish beer and local Australian Prosecco, one of the best I had before. As routing having Peruvian food, Ceviche Traditional is a good start! The white fish is very fresh and the onion is just right. Our favorite are the Pollo ala Brasa and Lomo Saltado that both chicken legs and beef is super juicy and tender. We took time to order rounds of dishes that we shared among our friends. The waiter and the manager are quite friendly, and we feel cozy with the setting and music. The desserts are amazing to conclude our wonderful dinner outing with good friends. Highly recommend choice when you are in this area.
A good place to enjoy a meal and a drink. Visited the place after work and the place was crowded the wait staff was very helpful as we did not book a table in advance.
The menu has many meals its better to try each dish than ordering a set menu. Tried several dishes and all of them were good. The bar also stocks a large variety if alcohols.
A good place to try new good.
What a great place! Sketchy entrance, see pictures. Service was outstanding, waitress explained all the dishes to us and made recommendations. Drinks were amazing. Had a smoked old fashioned, wow, very good. Wife had a pisco berry sour, she loved it. Food was delicious. Highly recommend.
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When one talks about Peruvian Cuisine the two most fascinating things that come to our minds were the Piscos and Ceviche, and then, as you are walking towards the restaurant, it's difficult to miss their claim of Pisco consumption. We werent too sure about those claims but we had already forgotten about it as a very warm smile greets us, and this lady is charming. And then another charmer takes our order, and then a wonderful gentleman..... In short, from the time we are greeted at the reception until we left, not a single dull moment spent at this vibrant and loud (in a good way).
Of course, in between, when we were not too busy enjoying life, laughing and wondering how extensive their bar menu is , we were served our favoured booze and food, and the same goes for it. Barring one minus, everything was just beautifully done.
Ordered a Pisco based Cocktail (Sorry, we were too busy celebrating our moments spent here) a gin based drink and a passion fruit based Mocktail. They all were LOVELY.
Ordered a Traditional Ceviche, 2 Chicken Skewers, 1 Lamb Skewers and Papa Renella (Slow cooked Beef served with rice).
Barring the Lamb Skewer, which was slightly chewy and overdone, everything else was beautiful.
It was crowded, and attendants were so occupied but we wouldn't even care if they would arrive few minutes later than usual as we were just having a gala time.
This place and people working here are Full of Life, and adding to that the Delish serves they serve made every moment cherished worth every penny spent.
Vegans and Vegetarians would not have too many options to choose from but what the heck if you do not come here to experience another side of happiness. Looking forward to coming back.
Very vibrant and fun venue. Been looking for a South American restaurant since coming back from Peru. Staff were friendly and food was on point. Definitely worth a visit. Don't forget to try the pisco sour!
We had the $65pp Chef’s Hands Menu which was really good value. The ingredients were all very fresh and the ceviche and grilled steak was just perfect!
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