Australian Gourmet Traveller - (11)November 2020 (1)

Maha Bar

OpenedFebruary 2020

WhoShaneDelia

VibeHandsomeandromanticmodernMiddleEasternbar.

VerdictIs ShaneDelia’sgorgeous,glamorousCollingwoodbar

hisbestworkyet?Theharissaandturmericbraisedbeef-stuffed

borekbun,arakpickledcucumbersandbrillianthummusserved

withmaple-roastedcarrotswouldsayyes.Serviceis greattoo,

asis theon-themewinelistwithits Lebanese wine producers

andselectionofrakiandarak.

86 Smith St, Collingwood, (03) 9417 3531, mahabar.com.au

Gimlet at Cavendish House

OpenedJune 2020

WhoAndrewMcConnell

VibeNewYork-styleFrenchbarandbistrogivena McConnellmakeover.

VerdictThe 10 minutesit wasallowedtoopenin Junegave

a tantalisingglimpseofchicGimlet’spotential– a big,beautiful

Manhattan-referencingroomwitha centralbar,leatherboothsand

a menuthatmixesmarronwithsaffronrice,wood-firedflatbread

withclamsandchilli,house-madegelatiandgreatcocktails–

Gimlets,ofcourse,alongsideLeanneAltman’ssuperbwinelist.

33 Russell St, Melbourne, (03) 9277 9777, gimlet.melbourne

LagoonDining

OpenedNovember 2019

WhoChrisLerch,KeatLeeandNedTrumble(co-owners)

VibeSmart,tastyMelb-AsianintheheartofLittleItaly.

VerdictA crackteamofEzardalumnijoinedforcesat

thismodernpan-Asiandinertogreat,super-tastyeffect.

Whitewashedbrickwalls,a blackgranitebaranda focal-point

openkitchenplaybackdroptoa menuofplayful,vibrant

dishesincludingnot-to-be-missedhot-and-sourpotatoesto

Xinjiang-spicedlambribsanda vibrantmangopudding.There’s

greatwinetooandmust-do,theme-appropriatecocktails.

263 Lygon St, Carlton, (03) 9349 1939, lagoondining.com

Tedesca Osteria

OpenedJanuary 2020

WhoBrigitteHafner

VibeA modernAustraliantake

ona traditionalItalianosteria.

VerdictBrigitteHafner’s

MorningtonPeninsulatrattoriais

oneofthebest-lookingrestaurants

inthecountryandoneofthe

mostoriginal.Nailingtheillusive

“eatinginsomeone’shouse”vibe,

it featuresa fixed-pricemenuof

localingredientscookedbyHafner

ina kitchenthat’snotsomuch

“open”asintheroom.Immersive

andheartfelt,Tedescashouldbe

atthetopofeveryto-dolist.

1175 Mornington-FlindersRd,

Red Hill, tedesca.com.au

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