“Premium Australian trimmed steak lovingly served the Philly way” – that’s the promise of PATS The Philly Way, newly opened in Richmond. Simply but colourfully fitted out with window seats looking out onto Bridge Road and eclectic, upbeat tunes playing in the background, this place exists for gourmet sandwich lovers.
Rarely do restaurants cause the kind of buzz surrounding Mr. Hive Kitchen & Bar, new showcase restaurant of Melbourne’s Crown Metropol. Mr
Located right at the top end of Lygon Street in Brunswick, e’Latte Greek Traditional Cuisine Restaurant & Coffee Bar invites you to experience the ritual that is authentic Greek dining.
A delightfully kitschy cool addition to the Thornbury side of West Preston, Pearl Oyster Espresso is the place to indulge both your appetite and nostalgia. This suburban Melbourne café feels like it’s stuck in the 1950s, though in a good way; everything is gloriously retro, from the décor to the servingware to the staff get-up. The open kitchen creates the sense of dining at a friend’s house, and the chairs in the lovely rear courtyard just beg to be reclined in.
Going by the name of Mr Mason, this newcomer to Melbourne delivers traditional French inspired dining with a local accent. Mr Mason combines a restaurant and bar, divided into a relaxed lounge and dining area and alfresco terrace that’s ideal for sipping a glass of wine from the boutique list
Palms Restaurant (formerly Palms Food Court) in Syndal recreates the Asian food market experience under one glass-topped roof. It’s no surprise that the hawker stalls of Asia inspired this bustling, family run restaurant in Melbourne’s east, where dishes are ordered then cooked fresh at a variety of counters before being swiftly delivered to your table. For fans of Chinese, Malaysian or Indian cuisine, the menu options are limited only by the size of your appetite
To the Gurungs of Nepal, the rodhi ghar was a place for people to relax and enjoy themselves; Rodhi Ghar brings that same idea to Carlton, albeit with a contemporary western bent. Rather than a village hut, good times are shared in a stylish interior full of warm earthy colours, and fuelled by mouth-watering east-meets-west cuisine. Nepalese, Thai and Malaysian flavours work together to create a menu quite unlike anything else you’ll find in Melbourne
When the urge to graze manifests itself, Graze on Grey offers the perfect salvation in a quiet corner of St Kilda. What greets you here is a simple and inviting assembly of bar stools, banquettes, exposed brickwork and timber tabletops, leading out to a sunny courtyard lined with lush plants and wooden tables and panelling. The coffee is hot and perfectly poured and the menu full of fresh, enticing flavours
Elsternwick may be a long way from Russia but Nevsky Russian Restaurant makes it feel just that little bit closer. The chef hails from St Petersburg and the restaurant captures a taste of the city, from the simple yet classic combination of chandeliers and white tablecloths to a menu showcasing the rich flavours of Russian and eastern European cuisine.
A chic, contemporary space with polished black stone counters, yellow feature walls and dangling lightbulbs, Elements @ Nexus Café looks more like something you’d find in the city as opposed to a business park in Mulgrave. It’s more like an upmarket restaurant than a cafe, albeit a welcoming one that’s thought of everything including Foxtel, WiFi, the capacity for meetings and functions, and lockers for mums meeting their husbands for lunch.
