City chefs staking their claim

AFTER two years of inactivity, the Victoria Street venue once operated by the Hog’s Breath Café is now home to a new eatery.

Goldmine Restaurant and Bar opened its doors in mid-May after months of preparation by Melbourne ex-pat chefs Andy Singh, Kunal Babbar and Sukh Singh.

After working together for six years at the European in Melbourne, Sukh said he and Andy decided it was time to start their own venture.

“We looked at a few places in Melbourne but it just wasn’t what we were looking for,” he said.

“I was visiting Ballarat with my kids and I’ve always liked the city. It’s always nice and calm, nothing like Melbourne, so we started looking around here as well.

“We’re aiming for a relaxed, sharing environment where people can come in and share food like charcuterie, and just sit in and talk, and Ballarat feels like the perfect place to do that.”

With a menu of mostly European dishes, the restaurant currently serves dinner, and Sukh said their offerings will soon expand once additional staff are trained up.

After a humble opening night of about 10 customers, Sukh said the restaurant is ready to kickstart their promotion and introduce themselves to the city.

With over a decade’s experience working in the faster-paced cooking environment of Melbourne, Sukh said he prefers the more tranquil rural atmosphere of Ballarat.

“We find things really relaxed and everyone’s really nice around here. They like to have a chat with you, not like in Melbourne where everyone eats then runs,” he said.

“Here, people want to come and sit down, talk to you in a bit more of a relaxed environment which I definitely prefer.

“We’re even thinking once we get settled here, we’ll move to Ballarat and make the place our home.”

Goldmine Bar and Restaurant is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 5pm to 9pm, and can be found at 8 Victoria Street.