Welcome To Thornbury

I’ve always had a thing for food that arrives and leaves on four wheels. There’s something magical about deliciousness that is produced out of a truck!

The only downside about most food truck parks in Melbourne is that they are transient, they pull up for a few nights and then move onto the next one. Keeping up with where these marvelous four-wheeled kitchens are is half the battle.

But never fear Melbournians; a permanent food truck stop AND bar has settled in at the iconic site of 520 High street, Northcote. Welcome to Thornbury is, and has always been, a star of the area, functioning as a car manufacturing factory for much of the 20th century, and now, as the second largest beer garden and only permanent bar and food truck stop in Melbourne.

Obviously the excitement was high as my posse of thirsty friends with rumbling tummies waltzed into the buzzing venue. The powerful ‘Welcome to Thornbury’ sign along with more fairy lights than I could count lit up the copious amounts of outdoor boxes, tables, wine barrels, crates and stools, which were all occupied by eating, drinking Melbournians of all walks of life.

Like magnets, our stomachs drew us through the crowd to the six food trucks that were on offer for that evening. Our choices were ‘Digging for Fire BBQ’, ‘Super Taco’, ‘Round the Way Bagels’, ‘The Curry Truck’, ‘Nuoc Mamma’s’ and ‘3 Lil Monsters’. What’s especially great is that each month there are 40 different food trucks rotating on a daily basis.

If you’ve never been to a food truck park before, the names are normally this cryptic. However, what they sell are always on a menu of the side of the truck for you to choose.

After much deliberation, I decided to get tacos from Super Taco (obviously), matched with a Bulmer’s cider from the bar. We poached a table inside after a group conveniently left and sat down to feed our screaming tummies.

After devouring the three chicken tacos with slightly watery eyes due to the jalapenos, I could finally take in the surroundings. Alongside the large outdoor beer garden and truck stop, there was an immense warehouse with double the seating and even more magical lighting accompanying the wraparound bar. The bar boasts a whole host of beers on tap, as well as craft beers and delicious cocktail jugs to share.

The ambiance and vibe was not that of the ‘hipster’ type that my boyfriend was expecting. There were families with young children running around, uni students utilising the cheap food and older couples and groups sipping on their shiraz or Chardonnay watching the world go by.

All round, ‘Welcome to Thornbury’ is an inviting, vast bar and eatery that will be there every day of the week hopefully forever!

Welcome To Thornbury
520 High Street, Northcote
Every Friday-Sunday from 12pm; every Monday-Thursday from 5pm
welcometothornbury.com