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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