New Melbourne restaurant openings July 2024
The man behind Brighton’s beloved Italian restaurants Cucina and Co and Aromi has launched a new project, that’s a love letter to Sicilian food, wine and model actor Monica Bellucci.
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Restaurateur and wine lover Peter Aloi always had a thing for Italian actor and model Monica Bellucci.
So much so, he named his new Brighton restaurant after her.
“She’s a pretty actor I’m a bit of a fan of,” he gushed.
“She started in the movie Malena, which was in Sicily and I’m Sicilian, so we went with that.”
Malena Cucina and Bar is the third venue by Aloi, who also owns Brighton favourites Cucina and Co and Aromi.
The 50-seater quietly opened on Martin Street last week, inside the old Bellucci Bar site (also named after the actor), and promises to be the middle ground of Aloi’s three venues.
“Cucina is casual, known for its pizzas.... while Malena is a step up and Aromi is more fine dining,” he said.
Former Cucina and Co head chef Domenico Fazzari will take charge of the tight menu, which includes small bites such as arancini, olives and antipasto to housemade pastas, eye fillet and seafood.
“The main thing was to have a great selection of wine, I’m really into wine and I go to Italy quite a bit to visit the wineries,” he said.
“We’ll have an extensive array of wines, mostly Italian, with some Australian wines in there.”
“We want to keep the prices affordable too,” Aloi added.
“I’ve been to places where I’m paying $18 (for a glass) and it’s not good wine. We’re trying to keep it reasonable at $15.”
Malena, 151 Martin St, Brighton, malena.com.au
Top Melbourne chefs takeover the tropics
Melbourne’s top chefs are taking over the tropics.
The army of local culinary talent will headline Taste Port Douglas Festival for a four-day eating and drinking extravaganza next month.
Legendary chef and Wonder Pies founder Raymond Capaldi, who mentored Australia’s food icons to fame, including Shannon Bennett and George Calombaris, has been named as this year’s inaugural festival ambassador.
Local celebrity chef Adam D’Sylva (Bocca), Julian Hills (Navi), Telina Menzies (Australian Venue Co), Ian Curley (The European),Bente Grysbaek (Ignite Catering), Michael Lambie (Juni) and Jerry Mai (Pho Nom) will proudly wave the flag for Victoria upnorth.
The star-studded line-up also features interstate and international talent, including My Kitchen Rules judges Manu Feildeland Colin Fassnidge, Tassie chef Massimo Mele, MasterChef’s Laura Sharrad and Michelin-star chef Michael Wilson.
Melbourne-born Wilson will give punters a taste of his Singapore restaurant Marguerite at the festival.
In another first, this year’s festival will expand to Cairns for a series of foodie events.
Taste of Port Douglas co-founder Spencer Patrick said he was excited to welcome the country’s top chefs to the tropics.
“This year’s Taste Port Douglas will be a culinary celebration like no other, with a spectacular line-up of events and masterclasseshosted by some of the best talent in the country.”
Taste of Port Douglas, August 8-11, tickets on-sale. tasteportdouglas.com.au
City cocktail bar the new ‘place to be’
Whether The Valiant classifies as a “hidden” CBD bar is questionable.
I’m sure the shimmying disco ball ceiling and throbbing neon blue sign are clear giveaways, though owner Simon Kouba argues the giant carpark mural is the biggest clue of all.
“We wanted to use a local artist, Danielle Weber, to create a portrait of a beautiful girl on a large scale,” he said.
“You’ll see the disco balls from the street, and before you hit Roti Bar, then you’ll see a painting on the side of the wall, then you have to get to level one. It’s very hard to find.”
Kouba, along with hospitality figure Eddie Muto (La Camera, Left Bank, Metropolis), launched the secret bar in early July while waiting for his other project Flour Child Richmond to be completed.
“Cocktail bars will never go away. You can open a bottle of wine at home, but it’s pretty hard to make high-quality cocktails,” Kouba said.
The Valiant has installed ex-Siglo bar manager Florian Mejnaud to shake up a mix of modern and classic cocktails, with signature shots to get the party started.
There’s no head chef, just tummy-lining snacks, such as olives, natural oysters, caviar, mortadella and burrata to get by.
Instead The Valiant’s main focus is “value-for-money” drinks deals.
“On some days we have free bubbles for the ladies, we also do a rendezvous package which includes two cocktails and three food items,” he said.
“Anyone can open a cocktail bar in Melbourne, but how do you promote yourself as the place to be? We are making a difference with flavours and experiences,” Kouba said.
The Valiant, corner of Little Collins and Queen streets, CBD, open Tues to Thurs from 4pm, Sat from noon. thevaliant.au
Warung Coffee crew brew up new St Kilda Rd coffee bar
Ryan Dewantara has been abuzz about Indonesian coffee for years.
South Yarra’s Warung Coffee was the Bali-born barista’s first attempt at launching his passion project in 2022 – but the locals had other plans for his pipe dream.
“When we opened, we wanted to sell a lot of coffee instead of sandwiches and we ended up selling a heap of sandwiches instead of coffee,” he said.
While Warung Coffee exclusively brews Indonesian beans, it ended up building a cult following for its sandwiches, namely its beef rendang toastie.
“We never saw it going viral,” he said.
“We just have a passion for hospitality and because we put so much effort into what we do, we started getting feedback.”
From mid-August, Dewantara and his life-business partner Ajeng Intan will open Foremost – a coffee bar on St Kilda Rd.
There’ll be no on-site kitchen, instead a small snack offering will be trucked in from Warung daily.
Foremost will be triple the size of Warung Coffee, and have capacity to seat diners inside.
Dewantara is working with coffee trader, The Q Coffee Trading, who is supplying green beans from Jakarta, Sumatra and Bali for their haul.
Foremost will have between five and seven varieties on pour, for espresso, filter and pour-over options.
“Bali’s coffee culture is quite big, with lots of farms all over Indonesia,” he said.
“We also see a lot of people come to Melbourne, study coffee, and go back home.”
“Melbourne’s coffee scene is more interesting. Being from Indonesia, I love that we can have a unique selling point and introduce so many Indonesian coffees in Melbourne coffee style.”
Foremost, 312 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, instagram.com/foremostmelbourne, opening soon
Little food market makes big splash in Carlton
From little things, big things grow.
But for The Little Food Market, it’s the opposite.
The small but mighty event was born after foodies started taking over Melbourne’s The Big Design Market.
Director Simon Obarzanek, who runs both events, said more food exhibitors were showing interest in the design event every year.
“We started getting a lot of food producers as part of The Big Design Market and it just kept growing and growing — to the point we had to say: this is a design show, not a food show,” he said.
The three-day eating and drinking spectacular at Carlton’s Royal Exhibition Building will feature more than 200 chefs, brewers, bakers and makers from across the country and New Zealand.
Expect tastings from artisanal small-scale producers such as Bendigo Brittle, The Fermentary, Wonki, Posh Crumpets, Six Eyed Scorpion and more.
“Melbourne is so passionate about independent, small labels and food brands. People want to buy local and want to know everything that’s in the product, so I don’t think (the food takeover) surprised me,” Mr Obarzanek said.
That’s Amore’s award-winning cheesemaker Giorgio Linguanti, cocktail whiz and Loro founder Orlando Marzo and fermentation expert Sharon Flynn will host cooking demos on the main stage.
Sandwich pros Rocco’s Bolonga Discoteca and Ca Com, and pastry faves Tarts Anon will be there to feed the masses.
Mr Obarzanek said there’ll still be food at The Big Design Market — just not to the same scale as The Little Food Market.
“We’ll try and keep it to 30 to 40 exhibitors, so people can have a meal and drink. We’ll try and keep it at 15 per cent (foodstalls),” he said.
Little Food Market runs from July 19-21 at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton.
Tickets start at $19 per person, plus a booking fee.
Anglers Tavern reopens after Maribyrnong flood disaster
Riverside pub the Anglers Tavern is reopening, almost two years after it was devastated in the Maribynong floods disaster.
The beloved local watering hole became submerged in floodwaters after a deluge of rain destroyed dozens of homes and businesses surrounding the Maribyrnong River in the city’s west in October 2022.
Within 21 months, venue Manager Christian Mendez has revamped the bistro, beer garden and sports bar, and added a new kid’s space and function rooms.
A new menu, curated by Australian Venue Co executive chef Telina Menzies, is filled with pizzas and pub classics. Expect flame-kissed flatbread swiped in capsicum hummus, potato gnocchi slathered in tomato and pesto, and the ultimate a seafood tower built with mussels, natural oysters, chilled tiger prawns, blue swimmer crab and a heaping of fish and chips.
A giant soft serve wall, swirling $5 cones with all the toppings and trimmings, will be drawcard for both small and big kids alike.
“This pub has been a huge part of the neighbourhood and surrounding suburbs for years and we’ve kept them front of mind throughout the process,” Mr Mendez said.
“The new light, bright and modernised feel has something for everyone, and we’re really excited to be able to welcome everyone back to it.”
Anglers Tavern, 2 Raleigh Rd, Maribyrnong, reopens July 18 at 11.30am
$20 pastas: Richmond stalwart relaunches with new identity
A lively Italian restaurant has filled the void of Richmond stalwart Noir.
The moody French bistro was replaced by owner Peter Roddy’s latest project, Pastarami, a lively Italian number slinging fresh-made pastas last month.
He’s kept some of Noir’s classics for the new menu, while introducing new favourites.
Snacks include crostini with miso tuna and beef carpaccio with capers, with larger plates of confit duck ragu with cavatelli pasta and garlic prawns and prawn bisque spaghetti.
“We’re excited about the duck pasta,” head chef Jonno Phillips said.
“The sauce is truly world-class, and the duck leg, cooked to perfection, it’s a standout dish on our menu.”
Pastas start at $20, with great-value focaccia sandwiches available for lunch for $14 a pop.
Roddy, with the help of partner Ebony Vagg and chef Phillips, has brightened up the space, swapping ‘black-everything’ (from napkins, seats, walls and aprons) with straw-coloured stone walls, pale timber tables and light chequerboard tiles.
Noir first opened on Swan St 13 years ago, building a loyal base of customers and a slew of awards over the years, before serving its final steak tartare in March.
Pastarami, 175 Swan St, Richmond, pastarami.com.au.
‘The new cafe’: Inside Melbourne’s humble sanger obsession
2024 is fast-becoming the year of the gourmet sandwich, with the city exploding with options in the past 12 months — and even more on the way.
Several new shops have opened Melbourne-wide this year alone, led by sandwich kings Saul’s, Hector’s Deli and Nico’s.
Saul’s co-founder Leor Haimes says he’s weeks away from opening his sixth and seventh stores, in Brighton and Elsternwick, and aims to have 10 in his stable by the year’s end.
“Sandwich shops are the new cafe,” he said.
“Maybe people are jumping on a trend, but what I believe is people aren’t opening cafes anymore.”
The Bentleigh East local and seasoned cafe pro jumped on the lunch trend early, opening the first Saul’s in October 2020.
“In a cafe there are more menu items, but sandwich shops are more streamlined and easier to run, in terms of stock and staff. You’re halving the wage cost making the transition (from cafe to sandwich shop),” he said.
Saul’s isn’t the only Melbourne business to gobble up serious ground in the sandwich stakes.
Richmond’s OG spot Hector’s Deli expanded into South Melbourne and Fitzroy.
With a chef-led kitchen and fine-dining background, founder Dom Wilton changed the city’s sandwich landscape back in 2017.
In 2020, Nico’s launched Fitzroy and later a Brunswick East outpost, with Stan’s, Shooter McGavin’s, Stefanino Panino and Warkop all following in the years to come.
Stephen Hatzikourtis, who co-founded Hawthorn’s Picollo with best mate Damian Iaconis last November, said he was overwhelmed by the popularity of the Pannini.
“In the first two months we sold out every day,” he said.
“A lot of people are in Europe or have been to Europe in the last year, and I think people are wanting to feel like they’re back over there again. We’re bringing a slice of Italy to Melbourne.”
Piccolo easily sells hundreds of sandwiches a day, all made fresh to order, with affordable pricing from $13 keeping it within reach of the daily household budget.
“For our area and demographic, it’s a pretty quick and affordable lunch option,” he said.
While some businesses jump on trends to make a buck, Warung Coffee’s Ryan Dewantara said the sandwich hustle found him.
“When we opened, we wanted to sell a lot of coffee instead of sandwiches and we ended up selling a heap of sandwiches instead of coffee,” he said.
“Sandwiches are taking over now. You rarely see people going out for brunch anymore. Sandwich shops are a cultural movement.”
The South Yarra business has earnt a mass following for its pulled beef rendang toastie.
“When sandwiches go viral, it’s all about the ingredients. You could basically build a sandwich using the same ingredients as a fine dining restaurant,” he said.
Dewantara said while it was an affordable lunch option, some sangers still cost as much as brunch.
“A proper sandwich and brunch are honestly on par, unless you want something quite cheap,” he said.
Saul’s classics range starts from $16.90, Hector’s Deli from $17 and Nico’s from $15.
Cambodian pub favourite makes big tree change
Hawthorn’s favourite Cambodian pub pop-up is going bush.
Mahob by Amok, which took over the Riversdale Hotel for a 14 month stint last year, has moved to Meeniyan in South Gippsland.
Husband and wife owners Woody Chet and Thida Penh will install the same modern Cambodian template at beloved weatherboard cafe Moo’s.
The family will run Mahob at Moo’s on Friday and Saturday nights, and Moo’s as a cafe from Friday to Monday from late August.
“I really wanted to keep the name we had built in the industry over the last ten years alive,” Chet told the Herald Sun.
“I wanted to run a restaurant I could call my own, and I want to introduce more people to Cambodian food.”
Chet decided to make the tree change after meeting fellow chef Marty ‘Moo’ Thomas at his Hawthorn restaurant last year.
Thomas wanted to sell his business, and Chet was keen to take over for various reasons.
Plus the shorter work commute from his home near Inverloch was very appealing.
Chet said Mahob at Moo’s will feature Mahob by Amok favourites alongside new dishes.
“The seafood amok will be on the menu, as well as the grilled eggplant and pork mince with fermented fish and lemongrass beef skewer,” he said.
The chef will continue Moo’s modern Australian breakfast offering by day, injecting some Asian twists where he can.
“We may have congee with pork, or some large Cambodian baguettes which are similar to bánh mì, filled with meats, pickles, cheese, fermented bean curds or pate,” he said.
Moo’s head chef Kim Wherrett is staying on to execute the mission.
Mahob by Amok first opened in Prahran in 2015, but gained momentum after it’s Hawthorn pub pop-up in 2022.
The restaurant won the Best Value for Money gong in the Herald Sun’s inaugural The List: Victoria’s top restaurants guide in 2023.
Mahob at Moo’s is slated to open late August.
City pub slings ‘crispy AF’ chicken
A new late-night pub has landed in the CBD.
Springrock Public Bar, run by the Fancy Hanks crew, poured its first coldie on Saturday night in the old Grand Trailer Park Taverna space on Bourke Street.
Head chef Jarrod Di Blasi (Izakaya Den, Ezard) is giving punters a taste of nostalgia with his twists on retro pub hits, such as lamb shoulder nuggets swiped in jalapeño mint jelly, wood-fired edamame and oysters kilpatrick.
There are also “crispy AF” fried chicken, your favourite counter meals — including a mighty cheeseburger and Sunday roasts — and bowls of chocolate dipped pretzels to finish.
Co-owner Mike Patrick said he wanted to create a pub he would visit on his day off.
“Which is something we were yet to find in the CBD,” he said.
“It’s casual but elegant and with an incredible food and beverage offering in a pub-style atmosphere.
“You can pop in for a celebratory lunch with colleagues during the week, or stay late watching the footy with a round of beers on the weekend.”
On drinks, the nostalgia continues with a riff on the Long Island iced tea, with classics cocktails, Victorian wines and local beers also at the ready.
Springrock is the group’s third venue, behind Fancy Hanks BBQ and Good Heavens Rooftop.
Springrock Public Bar, 87 Bourke Street, Melbourne, springrock.com.au
Cafe tracks ahead with bold dining drawcard
Katie Devic had a few non-negotiables for her Carnegie cafe, Major Mitchell.
Firstly, there needed to be a play space for the kids.
It also needed to have fresh food for them, and a unique brunch menu for adults.
“I didn’t want to have the same menu as every other cafe,” the mother-of-two said.
“I understand there is a mould, but I wanted to stand out. This is why we have vegemite (hollandaise) on a sourdough crumpet with beef brisket, and soft shell crab burgers.”
Don’t worry, locals can still order a serve of smashed avo on toast with a cup of Daly St Roasters coffee.
The hospitality stalwart also didn’t want to hire one head chef — so instead, she has five in the kitchen who have created two dishes each on the latest menu.
Martin Stojaspal, Jalen Santos, Gilbert Lim, Fran Wilbor and Anicka Tyquin all share the load.
“Everyone has a strength in a different area,” Ms Devic said.
“The prawn gumbo roll was inspired by a chef who went on his honeymoon in Hawaii, while another went to see family in the Philippines and created a twist on the soft-shelled crab burger.”
Ms Devic took over the business in 2021, located inside Glenhuntly’s first post office built in the 1950s.
After finding her groove, she’s now set her sights on an ambitious new project — reconverting an old tram into a dining space.
“When I took over the cafe, it had an actual tram in the backyard, which was taken off the road in 1994,” he said.
“I’m hoping by the middle of next year we will have it ready for people to go into and to serve food in. Maybe even kids’ birthday parties.”
Major Mitchell, 122 Grange Rd, Carnegie, majormitchellcarnegie.com
Malvern welcomes another new Italian restaurant
Another venue has joined Malvern’s growing list of Italian restaurants.
Lulu, an intimate 45-seater opposite the train station, now waves the red, white and green flag proudly alongside stablemates Grazia, Sincero and Made in Casa in the neighbourhood.
Owner Angus Brettingham-Moore opened restaurant to join his local wine bar, Essie, late last month.
“I’ve always wanted to provide locals with a great spot to go for dinner before or after – something easy, relaxed, and low-fuss but consistently good,” he said.
Inspired by London’s neighbourhood restaurants, head chef Rob Bramante (former Tiamo) is spinning a mix of approachable Italian eats, including pizzas, pastas, small snacks and larger shares alongside Italian and Aussie wines and cocktails.
Comte and truffle croquettes, spanner crab linguine, octopus with parsnip puree, mortadella, pistachio, bufallo mozzarella pizzas and tiramisu are among the menu standouts.
Lulu, 11 Station Street, Malvern, lulumalvern.com.au
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