The Sporting Globe - Watergardens, Taylors Lakes
We're back on the other side of town for The Sporting Globe, which is a big favourite of ours because it combines burgies, beer and sport (read burgies and cocktails for Chloe). We've spent many Thursday nights here in the past taking advantage of the $14.90 burgies and $15.90 jugs but we've swapped Thursday night for Tuesday arvo in this review to jump on the 'Halftime Lunch' deal that runs from 12 pm to 3 pm, Monday to Wednesday.
We've had all the burgies on the menu here at some point (including some good ones that have unfortunately been scrapped) except for the Field Burger, so I went vego and ordered that. The Field Burger boasts roasted Portobello mushrooms, grilled halloumi, tomato, avocado, roquette, Spanish onions, tomato relish and garlic aioli. It's a pretty good burgy that bursts with freshness, and, rightly or wrongly, you feel healthy eating it. The avocado continues its trendy, winning ways here, adding a cool, light touch to the pinch of the onion and garlic aioli. The mushrooms taste like mushrooms (which is strangely not always the case with these veggie burgies) but are a little thin. I have had some truly thick Portobello mushrooms in the past so this was a slight disappoint. It was like someone had sat on the mushroom and served it up as a pancake. The grilled halloumi is nice enough but probably doesn't belong, sitting awkwardly between the bun and the 'shrooms. I took the cheese out and ate it like they were mozzarella sticks. They were better on their own and the burgy was better off without them.
Since Chloe is still recovering from our binge at Fat Staks last week, she went with the Southwest Wrap with grilled cajun chicken. Along with the chicken, this wrap comes with black rice, avocado, roast capsicum, blackened corn, tomato, American cheddar, spring onion and buffalo mayo. She really liked this wrap and was especially enthusiastic about the black rice. She found it pretty punchy in the flavour department. The dipping sauce that comes with the fries also has a lot of kick, in fact a little too much kick for me. I stuck to the milder dipping sauce that comes with the Field Burger fries.
The other day I had a mate suggest that I switch focus from the burgies to the onion rings and while this is still a burgy review, the rings will take the stage from here. Now, I said Hello Harry might boast the best onion rings in Melby to which Chloe said that title belonged to The Sporting Globe (and according to someone else, Skipping Girl in Abbotsford). Obviously we got around to testing Chloe's claim first and yeah, I admit that she might be right. The rings at The Sporting Globe are crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside. The onion itself is piping hot but the batter is cool enough to handle as soon at the bowl hits the table. The ranch sauce they are served with is also pretty strong. The flavour is there and boy, does it tango with the onion rings. We smashed them and honestly, I would consider getting a bowl of onion rings each next time to go with the burgies and fries (the fries are also good).
We've had all the burgies on the menu here at some point (including some good ones that have unfortunately been scrapped) except for the Field Burger, so I went vego and ordered that. The Field Burger boasts roasted Portobello mushrooms, grilled halloumi, tomato, avocado, roquette, Spanish onions, tomato relish and garlic aioli. It's a pretty good burgy that bursts with freshness, and, rightly or wrongly, you feel healthy eating it. The avocado continues its trendy, winning ways here, adding a cool, light touch to the pinch of the onion and garlic aioli. The mushrooms taste like mushrooms (which is strangely not always the case with these veggie burgies) but are a little thin. I have had some truly thick Portobello mushrooms in the past so this was a slight disappoint. It was like someone had sat on the mushroom and served it up as a pancake. The grilled halloumi is nice enough but probably doesn't belong, sitting awkwardly between the bun and the 'shrooms. I took the cheese out and ate it like they were mozzarella sticks. They were better on their own and the burgy was better off without them.
Since Chloe is still recovering from our binge at Fat Staks last week, she went with the Southwest Wrap with grilled cajun chicken. Along with the chicken, this wrap comes with black rice, avocado, roast capsicum, blackened corn, tomato, American cheddar, spring onion and buffalo mayo. She really liked this wrap and was especially enthusiastic about the black rice. She found it pretty punchy in the flavour department. The dipping sauce that comes with the fries also has a lot of kick, in fact a little too much kick for me. I stuck to the milder dipping sauce that comes with the Field Burger fries.
The other day I had a mate suggest that I switch focus from the burgies to the onion rings and while this is still a burgy review, the rings will take the stage from here. Now, I said Hello Harry might boast the best onion rings in Melby to which Chloe said that title belonged to The Sporting Globe (and according to someone else, Skipping Girl in Abbotsford). Obviously we got around to testing Chloe's claim first and yeah, I admit that she might be right. The rings at The Sporting Globe are crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside. The onion itself is piping hot but the batter is cool enough to handle as soon at the bowl hits the table. The ranch sauce they are served with is also pretty strong. The flavour is there and boy, does it tango with the onion rings. We smashed them and honestly, I would consider getting a bowl of onion rings each next time to go with the burgies and fries (the fries are also good).
Pricing
Drop in between 12 and 3 for the halftime lunch and get any burgy or wrap with fries for $13.90 (also comes with a small soft drink). Onion rings are $6.90.
Ambience
Sports, sports and more sports, this joint has screens hanging from the ceiling and sitting in booths, all projecting sports. Whether it's live or on replay, you can watch it from wherever you sit in the restaurant. We highly recommend asking for a booth (don't go on a Thursday night) so you can enjoy your own television. You can configure the TV so that it splits into as many as four screens to cater to all the viewing preferences of your mates (and for those who don't like sport, yes, there are free-to-air channels showcasing the worst in reality TV). There are gambling facilities as well for those who like to throw money behind the teams they support and a bar for some heavy drinking should you and your team lose. This is a good place for a sesh with the boys but maybe not the best place for a first date (unless your prospective partner loves sports). I watched some NHL on my half of the screen while Chloe settled in for some college basketball.
Address
Watergardens Town Centre, 399 Melton Highway, Taylors Lakes. There are also restaurants in Richmond, Moonee Ponds, Fountain Gate, Werribee, Geelong and Ballarat.
The Last Bite
The Sporting Globe is one of the best restaurants going around. Don't miss out.
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