The Leveson

Passed the Leveson on a Tuesday afternoon. Nice seating both indoors & out (front and back). Food not outstanding, but for a Tuesday night, it suited just fine.

I am in two minds about this place. Since it is a gastro-​pub it certainly isn’t going to be at the top of my list of places to eat (namely over-​priced small portions of food which has been my experience) however as a pub it is pretty nice. The front bar is really nice, and they even have a table-​tennis table for those who are keen on a game (something that I generally don’t see in pubs). They have a beer garden out the back, and the undercover part is non-​smoking, which the other part, which isn’t covered, is where all to smokers are hearded, which means that if the weather is bad (as happens in Melbourne) you either have the choice of not smoking, or getting wet. As I said, I doubt I will visit the restaurant, but it is a nice place for a couple of drinks. Oh, they also have tables out the front, but they tend to get taken pretty quickly, and since I don’t like sitting on the sidewalk, that doesn’t bother me all that much.

For me The Leveson means after work drinks or dinner as it very close to where I work. I have been here many times and I find the relaxed & friendly atmosphere is welcoming and it has a lovely feel. Owned by ex AFL footballer Corey McKernan, Its decorated very stylishly and staff are very attentive. I must say I have only eaten here a few times and that was a while ago, but I was not disappointed. Out of all the pubs in this area I would recommend this, the team will not disappoint. They also cater for large group events such as Birthdays & Christmas parties.

Random really nice venue in North Melbourne. I didn’t get the pleasure of eating there but I did have access to a generous bar tab. The Patio area in the back was nice and even fairly covered so winter hanging out would be alright. I’ll most likely be back for a nice meal.

The Leveson sorta makes me thing of the type of corner hotel /​pub that all others want to be.
Their space is beautiful! Newly redone, it’s clean and sleek inside. With a HUGE garden out back, closed enough to dine all year long. And plenty of bar space. They even have a good deal of event space should you host a happy hour, birthday party, or more.
The drinks are great, with good mix of draft beers and some stiff cocktails. The bartenders are quick and the layout of the bar helps you in your quest to not wait forever for a drink.
There are some good sized TVs and projectors up front incase the footy (or even the races) is on.
And the food? Oh yeah. Amazing spiced wedges, skewers, and some really great pies. I went back recently for a couple of my friends’ joint-​birthdays and they had it catered with, I kid you not, 5 plates of pies; chicken curry, beef, beef curry, chicken and mushroom. WOAH. Fat and happy by the end.

The Leverson seems strangely misplaced in North Melbourne, and would be much more appropriate somewhere South of the Yarra.
The food is quite nice, and it is clearly trying to carve out an identity for itself as a fancy gastronomy-​pub, which is reflected in the price of it’s food. However, the fine-​dining aspect of the pub gives it a somewhat stuffy, unrelaxed feel to it.
Having lived in the same block as the Leverson for some time, I can attest that many of the patrons there are particularly vile. I know any place that sells alchahol is likely to have the occasional punter that leaves the venue in a nasty state, but I definitely encountered more than the fair share of drunken yobos leaving the Leverson to pee on parked cars or vomit in front of my stoop. So clearly there’s a bit of a disjoint with the fine dining experience.
The Leverson does have a really good beer selection, which is a plus… But not enough to make me want to eat or drink there.

The Leveson is a great neighbourhood bar in a back street of North Melbourne, that looks nice but fairly non descript from the front. Perhaps this is why its mostly local residents and office workers from the area that inhabit the place.
The Leveson is so much more than that. With large open spaces that take the venue from a restaurant to a bar in the evening, the décor is light, modern and classy. An outdoor patio opens up from the back and is the perfect setting for a glass of wine on a summer evening with friends
The menu is fantastic. Its a mix of traditional pub fare with modern Australian dishes that would come from a fresh new restuarant. I love their small plates like the tomato caramelised onions and goat cheese tarts, and their buffalo wings with blue cheese sauce.
The venue is also available for private functions and parties.