Mietta's Review
A beer-focused bar is an unlikely place to find some of Melbourne's most accessible and affordable Thai food, but Cookie (the bar previously known as KooKoo) offers that and more. The entrance is dark, rickety and dingy offsetting the light filled cool bar space to dramatic affect. The clientele are hip and designer, the music made up of live DJ tunes, the beer is served in a European fashion and the wine list is good and well priced. It's a huge warehouse style place with balcony views over Swantson Street, and apart from the patchiness of the service, it's a great place.

Other published opinions

Age Good Food Guide 2010 Score: 13/20 "Residing in hipper-than-thou Curtin House, this restaurant/beer hall has well and truly captured the Gen X and Y culinary zeitgeist with a formula that, like Karen Batson's idiosyncratic Thai food, has consistently impressed since opening in 2001"

Herald Sun 22-08-09 "Funky and fun"

The Age Cheap Eats 2009 "Multipurpose Cookie with its moody, tucked away cocktail bar, cavernous beer hall, marathon marble bar and Thai cafe has certainly been taken to heart by Melbourne drinkers wanting a little quality and choice while being crushed in the weekend maelstrom of thirsty punters"

Age Good Food Guide 2009 Score: 14/20 "Curtin House is home to some of the city's coolest bars, with arty, self-styled beer hall and modern-Thai eatery Cookie at the heart of the action. Looking like a pop-up nursery-rhyme book with street cred, the buzzing space features a billboard-sized 'Into the Woods' mural and doilies for tablecloths, while staff are dressed in shirts and ties or fitted pinafores created by designers on the building's third floor"

Herald Sun 10-06-08 Score: ** "Funky and fun, Cookie is a beer hall, dining room and balconied club rolled into one with a Thai-leaning menu"

The Age Cheap Eats 2008 "As far as big beer halls go, Cookie is pretty darn classy"

Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 14/20 "For years, this first-floor bar-cum-restaurant has been a favourite among Melbourne's Gen X and Y crew. Little wonder, really. The decor has a Vivienne Westwood-esque, elegancepunkeddown vibe, with its ornate cornices, antique books and ironic doily-set tables offset by collage-art murals and gig posters"

The Age Cheap Eats Bars 2007 "Known by some as 'Revolver for grown ups', Cookie has the same parents as the Windsor institution, and has quickly become every bit as iconic."

The Age Cheap Eats 2006 In late-afternoon light, the romantic balconies are perfect for two; but come evening, they get rowdier by the hour.

The Age Good Food Guide 2006 score 13/20 "Fine, fiery Thai-inspired food served with a smattering of 1950s retro in the midst of a dark, thumpin' bar? Sounds crazy. Yet for some indefinable reason, Cookie works and its weird magic attracts everyone from artsy professionals seeking post-work solace to young things sparkled up for a Big Night Out."

The Age Good Food Guide 2006 CBD Bars "Ornate high ceilings, plenty of seating and excellent service all allow Cookie to live up to its unofficial taglino: Revolver for grown-ups."

Gourmet Traveller 2006 Australian Restaurant Guide Best Cheap Eats "Ironically, some of the best Thai food in town comes out of a funked-up bar"

The Age (Melbourne) Magazine 04/05 Hot John Lethlean "Cookie is one of those Melbourne gems a lively place for a drink that looks after its diners, too"

The Age Cheap Eats 2005 "COOKlE is a large-scale joint designed for large-scale fun. And last year's Cheap Eats bar of the year continues to pack in the after-work crowd."

The Age Cheap Eats 2004 "COOKIE (previously Kookoo) has all the bases covered: funky nightspot, Asian diner and swanky bar. If you're after a pre-show nibble from the bar menu (maybe garlic chive dumplings with chilli soy), Cookie can help."

The Age, A2, 1/5/04, Melinda Houston,'There's something a bit mysterious about Cookie.We all love it,but can't quite figure out why.It's too big,the decor's too naff,after dark it's way too noisy,it's far too easy to find,it tries to do everything:in short,it should be a spectacular failure.And yet Cookie is a bar that attracts everyone from students to sophisticates.'

The Age Cheap Eats 2004,'Bar of the Year,'An egalitarian ambience and inspired Thai snacks are all very well,but what sets this huge multi-skilling bar apart is the way the staff expertly pour the mighty range of beers.'

Herald Sun, Weekend, 10/4/04,Simon Plant,'Smooth and crunchy,cool and spicy,sweet and sour.Cookie's betel leaf bliss-bombs are a truly memorable mouthful.'

The Age, Agenda, 4/4/04, Roslyn Grundy,'These days,suits come to power-lunch on rich lamb and eggplant curry,chunky roast duck and lychee salad,and steamed fish and coconut custard.After hours,a mixed crowd drifts in,intent on exploring the dazzling drinks list.'

The Age, Epicure, 17/2/04, Melinda Houston,'10 Bars Melbourne Loves'

Herald Sun, Weekend, 10/1/04, Simon Plant,'street food, comfort food...Simple snacks suit Cookie's plastic Melamine ware with lace doilies and tartan tablecloths'

The Age, A2, 29/11/03, Melinda Houston

Herald Sun, Weekend, 13/12/03, Donna Coutts,'Best Cafes'

The Sunday Age, 5/10/03, Bella Katz

Herald Sun, City Style, 19/8/03, Donna Coutts,Score 17/20

The Sunday Age, The 2003 Rugby World Cup, Ben Canaider