New restaurant openings Melbourne February, March 2023

The American grill house giant has many Melbourne venues, but has just opened its first in this bayside suburb.

TGI Fridays is opening its first bayside store in Frankston.

Melbourne is already bustling with food and wine options and this month, our city has welcomed even more bakeries, cafes, restaurants and bars to the fold.

Add these new venues to your monthly hit-list.

TGI FRIDAYS

New York grill house giant TGI Fridays has opened its first bayside venue in Frankston.

The 150-seater dispensary of sticky pork ribs, burgers, wings and steaks has been a firm favourite in Melbourne since 1995 after opening its Chapel St flagship store.

The Frankston outpost, located at the Bayside Shopping Centre, will be the eighth in the state and 20th in Australia.

CARLTON WINE BAR

Carlton North isn’t short of wine bars, especially on Rathdowne St. Yet cousins Tom Gunn and Grace Dowell couldn’t resist opening Marama Wine Bar; their first hospo venue on the same street as Henry Sugar and Gerald’s Bar. The 40-odd seater will serve smart snacks and new-age vino and cocktails. Until a new liquor licence lands, last drinks will be called before 8pm.

Marama Wine Bar, 793 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North

La Tortilleria is opening Chilpa in Highett.

BAYSIDE MEXICAN

In bayside, Mexican stalwart La Tortilleria is opening a new venue. Chilpa by La Tortilleria will takeover the digs occupied by Highett’s Hot Lips Hacienda on March 10.

There’ll be plenty of spicy margs to wash down the eatery’s famous birria tacos (meat tacos) and chilaquiles (breakfast nachos).

Chilpa by La Tortilleria, 2 Railway Parade, Highett

PASTA WITH A TWIST

In the city, Korean-born chef Mino Han is cooking pasta with a twist. At ALT Pasta Bar, he marries modern flavours with traditional Italian techniques. It’s where you’ll find pappardelle rich with abalone and seaweed, octopus swiped in miso-spiked hollandaise and risotto stirred with blue cheese and daikon.

Alt Pasta Bar, 30 Niagara Lane, Melbourne

Ms Botanica will have a selection of snacks including oysters.

WEST IS BEST

In the west, James Cornwall (ex-Cumulus) has been making gin-cocktail friendly snacks at Yarraville’s Ms Botanica. Cornwall, who also works part time on the pots and pans at Fitzroy’s Bonny, is winning over locals with Sydney rock oysters with shisho vinegar, finger lime and pink peppercorn, beetroot and watermelon gildas with goats milk feta, nori and raspberry vinaigrette and a wattleseed ice cream sandwiches with chocolate and macadamia miso caramel.

Ms Botanica, 34 Ballarat Street, Yarraville

Falco is opening a new Collingwood bakery.

BREAK BREAD

Collingwood bakery Falco is getting a sibling.

This month the sandwich, bread and sweet treat purveyors will take over the old Slow Eddy’s Barbecue to open a Langridge St outpost.

Bagels will join Falco’s lunchtime line-up, alongside longtime faves kouign-amann, chicken, and egg and salad sangers.

Set to open later this month.

Falco, 156-158 Langridge Street, Collingwood

Rufio is the new Latin restaurant by the Repeat Offender crew.

LATINO EATS

The team behind Elwood’s Repeat Offender have opened Rufio; a lively Latin restaurant and rooftop bar in St Kilda.

Chef Simon Winson’s menu is gluten free and vegan friendly, with chargrilled arepas, snapper ceviche, glazed pork belly and wood-fired eggplant sure to bring the kids in.

Cocktails, tequila and mescal will be on high rotation.

Rufio, 188 Carlisle Street, St Kilda

Lilac Wine Bar. Picture: John Benedict Ryan

RAISE A GLASS

The Mulberry Group (behind Hazel, Dessous, Liminal and Square One Coffee Roasters) are opening Euro-inspired bar, Lilac Wine in Cremorne.

Founder Nathan Toleman has recruited A-list talent for the project, including chef Kyle Nicol (ex-Rascal) and sommelier Richard Buck (ex-Aru).

Expect aged charcuterie, cheese and snacks such as a chicken mousse eclair, alongside a 150-bottle strong wine list.

Lilac Wine, 31 Stephenson Street, Cremorne