Today, Melbourne institution Longrain will open Longrain Canteen, a casual pop-up eatery serving modern Thai grab-and-go lunch offerings in the former Le Shoppe space at Suite 1/430 Little Collins Street.
Upon entry, a neon Longrain sign frames the door, setting the tone for the relaxed yet vibrant offering. Inside, rich timbers and accents of green line the cosy space alongside abundant fresh produce on display. With a small number of tables both inside and out, guests can sit in for a quick bite or opt for a grab-and-go meal.
On the Longrain Canteen menu, expect lunch-style adaptations on long-time Longrain favourites, like the crispy pork hock (now in a lunchtime roll), the poached prawn salad with fragrant herbs and glass noodles and a series of Longrain hot curries (always with a vegetarian option). Fried crispy fish fillets are a shorthand version of Longrain’s famous crisp whole fish, while Thai milk tea panna cotta will finish things on a sweet note for those wanting a dessert. A simple drinks menu offers Chang beer, canned wine, longan juice and Thai coffee.
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Longrain Head Chef Long Le has embraced the challenge of balancing the four essential elements of Southeast Asian cuisine (hot, sour, salty and sweet) in a takeaway setting that will satiate the appetite of the CBD crowd:
“Our menu is all about tasty, affordable meals that you can eat on the go. We have thoughtfully reimagined the flavours, techniques and presentation of Longrain classics that guests know and love without compromising on quality and authenticity. I look forward to welcoming long-standing Longrain patrons to try something a little different and welcoming new customers during our lunchtime trade,” shares Le.
As with Longrain, there will be a real focus on fresh ingredients along with a Thai pantry offering staples and authentic hard-to-find ingredients for those who have been inspired to try a little Thai cooking at home.
Alongside Longrain restaurateur Scott Pickett and Head Chef Le, Longrain General Manager, Natasha Firman helms the new venture with the support of the Longrain Melbourne kitchen team, she shares.
“The concept for Longrain Canteen came about as an opportunity to make Longrain’s menu more accessible to not only to the west end of the city but to also serve as a Thai pantry for those feeling inspired to cook at home. We appreciate that people are feeling the pinch at the moment, so we’ve created a menu that is affordable as well as authentic and tasty.”
Catch the team at Longrain Canteen from Monday, 13 May through to the start of spring from Monday – Friday, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm. The original Longrain on Little Bourke Street remains open for dinner seven days a week and from 12 noon onwards every Friday.
Follow Longrain Canteen here.
