Chef’s Guide: Best places to eat, drink in South Yarra

From fried chicken, Cantonese-style seafood and one of Scott Pickett’s finest — here’s where you should eat next in South Yarra.

From fried chicken, Cantonese-style seafood and one of Scott Pickett’s finest restaurants — here are the best places to eat and drink in South Yarra, according to Nobu Melbourne head chef Joshua Bedell.

Leonard's House of Love. The cheeseburger. Picture- Nicole Cleary

LEONARDS HOUSE OF LOVE

This hidden, American backstreet-style bar (styled inside a house with a patio) is just down from my apartment. Renowned for its burgers and booze, it has an array of classics to choose — from beef burgers to the must-try chicken Southside burger. And if you’re looking for some heat, the hot glazed tenders will leave your mouth satisfyingly numb.

3 Wilson St

FUJI MART MELBOURNE

Conveniently on the doorstep of Prahran Market, Fuji Mart offers a large range of Japanese goods and looks exactly like the supermarkets in Japan. I head here to stock my pantry with soba noodles, udon, natto (a sticky fermented soybean), rice, furikake and nori.

4 Elizabeth St

Prahran Market.

PRAHRAN MARKET

I do my weekly shop at Prahran Market; the Wagyu prosciutto from Gary’s is sublime as well as the burger patties from Neil’s Meats. The seafood from Periwinkle Fine Seafood and Claringbolds is always incredible and fresh and Pino Fine Produce offers $15 fruit and veggie boxes on Sundays — but get in early. Post shop, you can’t go past a coffee from Market Lane, a pork belly don from Wasshoi, or my son’s favourite — a cheese toastie from Maker and Monger.

163 Commercial Rd

Matilda 159 Domain Road, South Yarra. Picture: Jesse Marlow.

MATILDA

Scott Pickett’s Matilda is a sensory overload with open flames, charred coals and fresh produce at the forefront of every dish. My go-to order is the salmon roe tartlet and the oysters for starters, followed by the seabream and spanner crab, the duck as a main with a side of the charred cos and snap peas. And if I am physically able (a big ‘if’) I finish the meal with the pineapple tart tatin.

159 Domain Road, South Yarra

PACIFIC SEAFOOD BBQ HOUSE

Near South Yarra station, Pacific Seafood has tanks in the back holding live seafood and serves traditional Cantonese fare. It is recommended for the specials they have adorned on their walls such as the mud crab with noodles, the house-made egg tofu with mushrooms, or my wife’s absolute must, the airy and decadent truffle fried rice.

1/210 Toorak Rd

Matilda 159, South Yarra, tart tatin. Picture: Gareth Sobey

Dish of ratatouille at France Soir.

FRANCE-SOIR

A straight-up oldie bringing classics such as escargot, niçoise salad, steak au poivre and boeuf bourguignon. Generally packed like sardines during lunch and dinner service, the atmosphere is jovial, energetic and welcoming.

11-13 Toorak Road, South Yarra

Joshua Bedell, Nobu Melbourne head chef.

FYI: Nobu Melbourne now offers Nobu @ Home delivery and take away of its acclaimed Japanese menu. For details: crownmelbourne.com.au