Brunswick East’s Etta finishes in Delicious 100 list
Seasonal menus and a warm neighbourhood vibe are the keys to this Brunswick East restaurant's success in finishing in the Delicious 100 list, says its owner. CAST YOUR VOTE FOR YOUR NO. 1
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In the past six-months Etta in Brunswick East has gone from strength to strength and has been rewarded with a place in the Delicious 100 list.
The popular Lygon St restaurant was ranked 22nd on the reviewer hot list, with its warm homely feel a secret to its success, according to owner Hannah Green.
Its seasonal menu, married with a mantra of “give me a warm welcome and make me feel like my home”, helps put customers first, she said.
“We opened two-and-a-half-years-ago and I opened with another business partner,” Ms Green said.
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“Six months ago I bought him out and employed Charley Snadden-Wilson as the chef and he has been an absolute dream to work with.
“Since that happened the restaurant has gone from strength to strength.”
Ms Green said whether it’s at the bar having a drink and snack, or enjoying a meal in the dining room, there was a certain warmth customers said they felt.
“The food is really accessible, and it probably sounds very cliche but it’s a modern-Australian cuisine,” she said.
“We just had a custom fire built and put in the kitchen which is integral to what we do, that use of smoke and char.
“It’s a bit about going back to those ancient methods of cooking over fire.”
When it comes to signature tastes and favourite dishes, Ms Green said Etta’s bread and butter was the restaurant’s “bread and butter”.
“You can’t come and not have it,” she said.
“It sounds boring but it’s so good.
“The Stracciatella is also great at the moment, which is like a cheese with breadcrumbs and fermented chilli with charred leeks.”
Ms Green said being based in Brunswick and having a neighbourhood feel was paramount to Etta’s success.
“Our locals are paramount to what we are, so many of them have become our friends,” she said.
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“I have actually been to the nursery with people who come to the restaurant and other people meet new friends through Etta.
“Quite often people will meet at Etta and then message each other to come back to the restaurant and catch up.
“That’s what success looks like for me, seeing people coming back to the restaurant to enjoy it.”