Trunk Diner

Trunk Diner
275 Exhibition St
Melbourne
VIC 3000
Ph : (03) 9663 7994
Hours : Monday to Friday 7.30am – 4.00pm. Saturday & Sunday 8.00am – 4.00pm

So I was in the Melbourne CBD, and I felt like a burger.

Situated on a major thoroughfare and open for breakfast until 11.30am, after which the menu changes to the "lunch and onwards" options, Trunk Diner is the small American themed attachment to Trunk Bar and Restaurant.

As well as burgers, there is fried chicken, salads, half a dozen baguettes, quesadilla, and half a dozen sweet items, including apple pie. Fries don’t come with the burgers, but are an additional $3 or $6.

At $10, the basic Diner Burger is a Wagyu beef patty in a grilled brioche bun, with baby cos, thick cut tomato, house-made pickles, a choice of 4 cheeses (Gruyere, Monterey Jack, Raclette and Cheddar), and extras like crispy bacon, caramelised onions, sautéed mushrooms, guacamole and jalapeño. I chose to add mushrooms and Gruyere to my basic burger, and a small order of fries.

If you’re famished, you can order a double burger, for $19.

Arriving on a tray in a slightly deconstructed fashion (why were the tomato, onions and lettuce not in the burger? Yes, I put them in), with the pickled vegetable being a nice bit of unexpected pumpkin, this is not a huge burger, but still a decently sized one. Along with a serving of chips, it is enough for a meal.

Brioche are my favourite burger bun. Though this one was good, it wasn’t the best brioche burger I’ve had, being a little on the bland side. The patty was the best thing about the burger. Perhaps a tad raw for some folks, it tasted like quality beef, was nicely pink the middle, a good thickness, and a decent size, proportionate to the bun. Interestingly, it was not as juicy as I thought it would be, given how the meat looked and tasted. Perhaps the biggest disappointment, given that it was an enjoyable burger, was the quantity of the extras. Or rather lack of quantity, as the case may be.

Trunk Diner is split between an enclosed area and a large courtyard that is presumably also used by Trunk Restaurant & Bar as well. On a sunny day, it's a great place to sit outside for a burger, and good for groups. This is a 'diner' burger whose strength is in its meat. Is it a burger I'd order again? I might, with a different combination of extras, but I did enjoy visiting Trunk Diner, and wouldn't mind going back to try something else. If you're in the mood for a decent burger and you're in the CBD, it's worth a visit.

[AP]