We are already spoilt for food choices at the Queen Victoria Market but I’m sure we can add Fancy Hank’s BBQ to the list. Fancy Hank’s BBQ is located opposite the Queen Victoria Market, right next to an elaborate costume store/party shop that you can’t miss. After walking up the stairs you enter a bright, airy dining hall with an outdoor seating area overlooking North Melbourne.
Fancy Hank’s specialises in American style slow cooked BBQ and concept is simple – order at the bar and pick your selections from the menu. This might include some barbecued meat such as bbq pork ribs or beef brisket (sold at either 100-200 grams per item type) and the addition of a side dish or salad, which consists of some excellent classics such as a mac and cheese and crinkle cut fries. The sides are completely optional of course but once you see the menu, you’ll know you want it. This gets heated up and served on a tray with a range of self-serve sauces, ranging from hot sauce, salsa to smokey barbecue. The brisket, pictured below, is smoky and tender whilst the pork and beef ribs are finger-licking delicious.
Fancy Hank’s also does a good selection of beers and cocktail jugs (pimms, sangria and long island iced tea) and with happy hour from 4-6pm weekdays, its a great place for a group event or a weekend drinks after the morning market haul. There’s a set quantity of food per day so if you’re here just for the food, you may not want to arrive too late in the evening.
The same space also houses Doughboy Doughnuts (right where the white and red striped canopy sits at the back of the restaurant), so that’s dessert sorted!
Fancy Hanks
http://fancyhanks.com
Opposite Queen Victoria Markets
456 Queen St
Melbourne, VIC
Ha! Table to Paper is a good name for a blog to review Fancy Hank’s. There’s a bunch of BBQ-ish places around town I haven’t tried, mainly because I fret about the price/portion size equation. But of those I have tried, Fancy Hank’s is clearly the best.