If you’ve grown tired of whatever board game you have at home that is missing half the pieces, or bored of heading down to your local pub to play pool, fear not as there’s a new player in town for a novel evening.
Introducing Oche, a brand new installation in Melbourne’s entertainment venues, who are looking to revolutionise what we constitute as a night out on the town. Combining games and gastronomy, Oche wants to bring a whole new dining experience to Melbourne—one they’ve already debuted in London, Amsterdam, Oslo, and even up north near Brisbane. Oche (pronounced oc-key) pairs electronic darts with elegant food and a cheeky cocktail to create an utterly unique dining experience, one that will have you pumping your fists as you score a bullseye or two.
Fun-loving as the team at Oche is, there’s nothing to laugh about when it comes to their food menu. Curated by Chef Tony Charman, each dish is specifically designed to be eaten with one hand, no cutlery required, so you can eat your fill while dominating the dartboard. They’ve got contemporary dishes such as fried kataifi duck with goat's cheese, kohlrabi and liquorice remoulade with pomegranate pearls, and sauteed asparagus with blueberry jus. Of course, if you’re looking for something a little more traditional, they have a huge array of pizzas with elaborate toppings, and dessert options like vanilla and raspberry swirl parfait.
Nothing pairs better than darts and drinks, and the drinks menu has been made up by award-winning mixologist and veteran 'World Bartender of the Year', Adam MacDonald. We can’t guarantee that it will improve your game, but you’ll at least have a good time doing it. Offerings include Thin Red Line, a bourbon cocktail from MacDonald with a red wine float, which luckily doubles as an in-built palate cleanser. Going back to basics, MacDonald has brought the Pornstar Martini back to its genesis, by serving the shot of prosecco on the side.
The venue itself is as cutting-edge as the technology behind its dartboards, which keeps score for you. There are 22 semi-private booths, each one with its own dedicated host to help whenever you require (although we’re sure you’re basically a pro), and steel-tipped darts to throw. Spread over two floors in the renowned former Michael’s Building, you’ll walk in to find furnishings of Tasmanian Oak, stone tabletops and brass fixtures, giving it a luxurious but welcoming vibe. There’s plenty of greenery inside, and there’s even an illuminated ‘O’ swing for that perfect selfie opp.
Oche opens on Friday 18 November at 263 – 269 Elizabeth Street Melbourne.
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Image credit: supplied