Best things to eat in Melbourne in August

From an authentic, great-value Indonesian lunch to a very inauthentic take on French food— these are the best things to eat in Melbourne this month.

These are the best things to eat in Melbourne this month.

From an authentic, great-value Indonesian lunch to a very inauthentic take on the French brasserie, Melbourne has been awash with new openings this winter.

Here are the most delicious things to get in your mouth in August.

Kedai Satay’s Nasi Bungkus may not look the part — but certainly tastes the part.

Nasi Bungkus

Kedai Satay, 186 King St, Melbourne

Indonesian restaurant Kedai Satay prides itself on many classics, but the Nasi Bungkus ($21) , a Sumatran dish made from banana leaf wrapped meal of curry, rice, vegetables and sambal is a real winner. Choose from eight different flavours — everything from grilled to fried chicken or fish, but my tastebuds run away with the thought of beef rendang. Indonesian rendang isn’t as soggy as Malaysian, a dryer style of spice roughened beef cooked in coconut milk and served over more yellow rice, fragrant cooked cassava that tastes like tea leaves, and chilli sauce tossed potatoes.

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Molli’s spatchcock is a winner, but so is the two-bite potato rosti.

Spatchcock

Molli, 20 Mollison St, Abbotsford

Abbotsford’s newest ‘middie’, or mid-range restaurant, by The Mulberry Group is responsible for succulent spatchcock ($46). Juicy flesh bursts on knife’s impact, the dainty bird has so much meat, BBQ singe and citrus you’ll be suckling every last bone clean. A richness matched by a splash of Rhone Valley roussanne blend, or countered by something buzzy from the alternative Aussie and Euro wine list. The two-bite potato rosti, piped in whipped sour cream, is another neat snack. Thank you, chef Aleksis Kalnins.

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Hard and soft taco hybrid at Moon Dog Wild West is one of the few menu wins. Picture: Sam Schultz.

Pork Ribs

Moon Dog Wild West, 54 Hopkins Street, Footscray

The hipster brewery’s latest outpost may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy tender, barbecue-glazed pork ribs and a heaping of chips — or hard and soft beef tacos — this place is for you. Those ribs ($32), slid from the bone tender and were braised in a sweet boozy cola and barbecue sauce with slight spice kick. Hard and soft pulled beef brisket tacos ($20 for two) make like the kid in the Old El Paso commercial and give us have both pleasures at once. Instead of getting one of each, here the genius hybrid cradles the hard taco in a soft wrap.

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Fried tapioca with a chilled glass of chardonnay at Wally’s is the way to go.

Salt and vinegar tapioca

Wally’s, 67 Cardigan Place, Albert Park

Albert Park’s slick new wine bar may be about the drinks, but those tiny cubes of salt and vinegar fried tapioca, squishy with pecorino, ($14 for 5) taste like arancini with an identity problem. It’s a beaut snack, swiped in an energetic dill and mustard sauce. Pair with a bottle of something special. Maybe a Mount Mary chardonnay, from 2021, 2003 and 2002, 2009 Bindi Block 5 pinot noir or even 20-year-old bottle of Dom Perignon. You’ll pay for the pleasure. Though glasses are more within reach: think Chablis for $24, $28 for 2021 Joseph Faiveley red burgundy. The wine is bougie, the food; sensibly carb-heavy and reliably vino friendly.

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Don’t miss the madeleines with a savoury twist for dessert. Picture: Jana Langhorst

Madeleines

Ruby Dining, 1/189 Queen St, Melbourne

While ex-Cutler and Co chef James Cornwall dazzles with some French inspired plates at his new CBD brasserie Ruby, dessert is a non-negotiable. Don’t miss those madeleines ($14 for three), scrumptiously warm with a savoury goat’s cheese twist. On the snacks front, the sesame seed-studded prawn toast ($6 each) is in its own league, doming whipped prawn meat inside fried-crisp Japanese shokupan bread. Just add lime. Swabbing warm spelt flatbread into a magic potion of olive oil and soy sauce is another must.

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