Mr Humble fires up the locals in Melbourne’s southern suburbs

There’s no need to eat humble pie when the wood-fired oven at this bar and eatery in Melbourne’s sandbelt is pumping out dishes this hot.

Simon Plant

2 min read

March 24, 2017 - 3:00PM

Highett’s Mr Humble Eatery and Bar.

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COME in and feel the heat. The heat of a warm, glowing wood-fired oven that scorches the edge of a pizza, blisters a chicken wing and blitzes an arancini ball. We’re talking about the oven at Mr Humble, a bar and eatery in the heart of Melbourne’s sandbelt. And while this firebox — trimmed in black tiles — is blazingly effective, diners here are in no danger of ember attack. Or heatstroke. Highett’s Mr Humble is red hot in a very cool way.

Burnt pineapple dessert.

FOOD

It’s not all woodfired this and roasted that. “Something small” at Mr Humble can mean warm green olives stuffed with feta and chilli ($11) or ocean trout with edamame, crisp rice and sesame aioli ($13). But heat is never far away here.

Long fingers of tempura zucchini ($13) get a kick from tongue-tingling harissa, while nuggety chicken wings — slick with oil — are turbocharged with Frank’s hot sauce ($11). We’re not sure who Frank is — he’s as mysterious as Mr Humble — but his “New York-style’’ spicy cayenne pepper sauce burns like Tabasco.

Seafood is another signature, from semolina-crusted calamari ($17) to aioli-drizzled crab and fennel croquettes ($13). Best of all are the woodfired baby prawns that course through a big plate of orecchiette pasta with chilli peas and zucchini lending vegetal ballast ($27).

Mr Humble Eatery and Bar, Highett.

Generous-size sides are another feature — the organic farro, celery, mint and salted ricotta ($13) is almost a meal in itself — but make no mistake, pizza is the main game. Mr Humble has 14 to choose from and his team, led by head chef Marta Ferraroni, are kept busy shovelling them in and out of that oven. Here a Humble Aussie (tomato, mozzarella, egg, ham, oregano), there a Mushroom and Potato. My pick is the sizzling Pancetta ($21) where shreds of cured meat are bedded down with asparagus tips and pecorino, and scattered with herbs.

Nutella pizza ($13) with raw banana headlines the dessert list. Try the Burnt Pineapple ($13) instead, a quirky compound of coconut yoghurt, basil and pistachio that will bring the temperature down.

DRINK

Mr Humble could well have you under the table with his Highett Mule ($15), a potent blend of vodka, ginger beer, bitters and lime. Try Pimms Cup ($13) or Campari with blood orange ($9.50) for a softer effect, bottled beers (all $9) or one of the dozen or so wines by the glass. It’s Capi soft drinks for the kids.

Orecchiette with wood-fired prawns, zucchini, peas, chilli, mint, lemon.

SERVICE

Wow. On a sunny Sunday evening, Mr Humble was teeming with families and the staff put everyone at ease. No fuss, no mishaps.

X FACTOR

Plain and simple, Mr Humble is one long room with timber banquettes down one side, a bar and kitchen down the other. Concertina windows open on to the street.

BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

Competitive pricing. The kids’ corner menu is very good value, just $14 for a main meal (think calamari, fishbites, house cut chips) and vanilla ice cream.