Melbourne’s hottest new restaurants include a Parisian-style bistro from Andrew McConnell, the relocated Stokehouse in the CBD, and the nation’s first ticketed restaurant from Philippa Sibley.
Woodland House
Woodland House
When Thomas Woods and Hayden McFarland reopened Jacques Reymond as Woodland House at the start of 2014, they demonstrated respect for the three-decade history of their alma mater and trust in the future of fine dining.
Prix Fixe
Prix Fixe
At Prix Fixe, chef Philippa Sibley’s latest gig in Melbourne’s CBD where she’s both headline act and part-owner, good value and wit are integral parts of the formula. The value here is unmistakable. At dinner, you’re looking at soup, a tasting plate, a main course and a dessert cooked by one of the country’s most acclaimed chefs for $79. At lunch the deal is two courses for $49, and they throw in a glass of wine.
Kappo
Kappo
Anyone in need of a little more Tokyo in their life will be well pleased with Kappo, the latest venture from the team behind Izakaya Den and Hihou. The menu offers five-, seven- and nine-course options, plus a list of ingredients being used by the chef that day (sea urchin, broccoli leaf, wakame, tofu, and so on). With only 25 seats in the house it’s a good idea to plan ahead, but the anticipation’s worth it.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Andrew McConnell slips smoothly from mod Asian to Parisian-style bistro at Luxembourg.
Lee Ho Fook
Lee Ho Fook
A sparse, clattery interior creates no expectations but the food at Lee Ho Fook can be clever and dazzling. The repertoire is a tasty mash-up that tells the story of chef Victor Liong’s time in Sydney (at inventive Marque and brassy Mr Wong) and his desire to give Chinese food a respectful reworking.
Mister Jennings
Mister Jennings
Named for his favourite children’s author, Ryan Flaherty’s new restaurant, Mister Jennings, mixes nostalgia and fun. There’s a tasting menu or you can order à la carte and the decent range of snacks (a couple of different oysters, charcuterie, pickled peppers, hummus and olive toast) also make Mister Jennings a good pit-stop choice for the glass-and-a-bite crowd.
Supernormal
Supernormal
Supernormal delivers modern Asian-eating-house smarts both design-wise and through finely crafted dishes bearing McConnell’s trademark deft, original touch.
Stokehouse City
Stokehouse City
The replicated restaurant-up/café-down structure of the St Kilda original at Stokehouse City sees chef Oliver Gould upstairs pumping out big-flavoured dishes.
Northern Light
Northern Light
East meets West meets East in the inner north at Northern Light, where chef and co-owner Adam Liston keeps his range of small dishes casual but precise, embracing big flavours, but keeping them clean and sharp.
Elyros
Elyros
Melbourne’s Italian restaurants have been increasingly defining themselves by region but its Greek restaurants mostly stick with the catch-all national label. Elyros bucks the trend by waving the banner for Crete.
