The best new food places to visit in Melbourne’s north, north east
FROM Preston to Mill Park, Reservoir to South Morang, these are the latest cafes, coffee shops, restaurants and pizza parlours to open in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
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IT’S been a mouth-watering start to the year for cafe and restaurant dwellers in Melbourne’s north, with myriad new restaurants, cafes and specialty coffee shops opening everywhere from Moonee Ponds and Mill Park to Montmorency and South Morang.
Whether you want a golden latte, loaded fries or pho pizza (yep, that’s a thing now) — here’s the best of the new northern (and north eastern) brunch, lunch and dinner stars.
LATEST OPENINGS IN MELBOURNE’S NORTH / NORTH EAST
BRUNSWICK EAST
— What do karaoke bars, kaleidoscopes, (vegan) hot dogs and dog-friendly beer gardens have in common? At Brunswick’s new local watering hole, everything. BENJY’S, a colourful karaoke-come-cocktail bar and vegetarian-friendly kitchen is a fun-filled fusion of all the great things in life: food, music, tacos, tequila and all the PDA (puppy displays of affection, that is).
285 Lygon St Brunswick East
BEST CAFES IN MELBOURNE’S NORTH EAST
MELBOURNE’S BEST CHILD-FRIENDLY CAFES
CARLTON
— Alf France and Jeff Green (the same duo behind BEAU Kitchen and Cellar in Beaumaris) are excited to welcome you to their new north-side watering hole, ALFIE’S WINE AND GRILL in Carlton. The charcoal grill is the hero of the kitchen and this is reflected in their creative interpretation of Modern Australian cuisine. The ham hock croquettes with burnt pineapple and jalapeño are a standout. So too the chargrilled Albacore tuna with brussels sprouts in fish broth. And don’t miss the rhubarb cheesecake.
312 Drummond St, Carlton
COBURG
— The team behind St Kilda’s Pizza e Birra and Port Melbourne’s Long Story Short has just opened STRETCHED PIZZA, an experimental pizza parlour in Coburg that is rolling out Un-Pho-Gettable Vietnamese soup-inspired pizzas, mac and cheese pizzas, taco pizzas, vegan pizzas and even Halloween-topped pizzas. Because, Melbourne.
53 Moreland Road, Coburg
COLLINGWOOD
— Collingwood wine lovers welcomed a slick new vinoteca with CONGRESS wine bar popping open at the base of the Peel by Milieu apartment development. Stop in for pulled pig’s head croquette sangas, the city’s best brussels sprouts and a wine list that will work wonders for your tastebuds.
Cnr Peel & Wellington Sts, Collingwood
BEST BURGERS JOINTS TO BE FOUND IN THE WEST
DIAMOND CREEK
— Diamond Creek’s newest addition, EIGHT POINT EIGHT OUNCE, is bringing a wholefoods approach to the ‘burbs, with fresh and colourful breakfast options, including acai bowls and smashed avo and seriously yummy chicken sandwiches on pumpkin bread.
Shop 11 / 72 Main Hurstbridge Road, Diamond Creek
ESSENDON FIELDS
— Fresh off the success of their in-store cafe, cult Essendon Fields supermarket LaManna last month expanded its operations to include dedicated brunchery THE HUNGRY FOX. The child-friendly (there’s a playground outside for the kids) cafe’s Italian-Asian inspired breakfast fare includes hearty options including poached pear and chia pudding, figs on toast, cheddar scones with bacon butter and berry handsome acai bowls.
305 Wirraway Road, Essendon Fields
EPPING
— For a healthy and wholesome brunch date, Epping’s NU HEALTHY CAFEis dishing up good food, fast. You can choose from a range of pre-designed meals (smashed potato on rye sourdough, breakfast bowls, protein pancakes and granola bowls) or, if the fancy strikes, build your own Nu bowl and include all your favourites.
Epping Hub, Shop 3 560/650 High Street Epping
HOW TO BURGER YOUR WAY AROUND THE NORTH
FITZROY
— From the cafe mastermind who brought you queue-worthy brunch destinations including Tinker (Northcote), Penta (Elsternwick), MOB (Camberwell) and Clubhouse (Malvern’s latest addition), now comes BENTWOOD in Fitzroy. The northside eatery has owner Julian Moussi’s signature Inglewood specialty beans on pour (he owns the roaster, too), as well as his signature design finesse. And, as we’ve come to expect, the food is oh-so-Insta-worthy.
237 Napier St, Fitzroy
MILL PARK
— Mill Park has added a cool newcomer in NORTH FORTY TWOeatery, where the food is as bright and fresh as the fit-out. Stop in for a smooth, Allpress Espresso coffee, baked eggs and baked-fresh-daily doughnuts.
2a/316-360 Childs Rd, Mill Park
— Locals are spoiled for choice at Westfield Plenty Valley, with the Mill Park shopping centre adding 15 new eateries and entertainment retailers to its delicious new foodie hub. Shop ‘til you drop at Westfield Plenty Valley then refuel at BILLY’S HOUSE, which is bringing all-day coffee and food to Mill Park. Try the buttermilk waffles or the pulled pork benedict.
— For lovers of souvlaki, ENA GREEK STREET FOOD’s open gyros plate is chockers with tender rotisserie meat, fresh salads and fluffy pitta bread. We predict love at first bite.
— Meanwhile, at ANGIE’S DUMPLING BAR , people are going mad for the chilli oil wantons and xiao long bao (soup dumplings). The honey pepper beef noodles are also a hit.
— You’ll want to eat pizza and pasta every night of the week after trying the vibrant, toothsome options at ITALIAN STREET KITCHEN (Roman-style roasted pork belly, anyone?).
—Get your ramen fix at the new FUKUTONTEI RAMEN kitchen. The beef ramen, bento boxes and curry chicken are crowd favourites.
— And, if you’re looking for somewhere atmospheric to catch the latest AFL, NRL or NBA match, head to THE SPORTING GLOBE. The premium sports bar and grill has more than 60 HD screens, so you can catch all the action from the world’s biggest sporting events, live, with a fresh-poured beer in hand.
— Other new stores include The Pancake Parlour, Kinn Thai, Dosa Hut and Martini & Co.
Westfield Plenty Valley, 415 McDonalds Rd, Mill Park
MONTMORENCY
— You’ll be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t get along to Montmorency’s all-class new cafe, STONES THROW. They’ve got all bases covered with Allpress Espresso on pour, Butterbing cookies and chocolate croissants in the cabinet, breakfast burritos, decadent Mork hot chocolates, Prana chai, Golden Grind turmeric lattes — is there anything this place hasn’t thought of?
5 Were St, Montmorency
MOONEE PONDS
— PANE RUSTICO ARTISAN BAKEHOUSE fired up its oven in March, bringing polished bakery-cafe vibes to Moonee Ponds. As well as house-made pastries and cakes, they’re slinging fresh sourdough loaves, Italian-style doughnuts, delicious breakfasts and fresh focaccias.
12 Hinkins St, Moonee Ponds
— Any fried chicken joint that names itself after one of the naughties greatest bangers, SORRY MISS JACKSON, should qualify for an automatic tick of approval. And the only thing this Moonee Ponds chookery should be apologising for is how tight our waistbands are going to feel when we walk out. Try the crispy chicken wings, tenders and mac and cheese croquettes.
726 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds
PASCOE VALE
— FORTY FLIPS in Pascoe Vale is officially up and running. Duck in for specialty St Ali coffee, vegan pancakes (such as orange and choc chip topped with dairy-free vanilla ice cream, cotton candy, pistachio praline, maple drizzle and fresh strawberries), plenty of gluten-free options and some pretty mean burgers and wraps.
250 Sussex St, Pascoe Vale
— While we’re on the subject of deliciousness, Pasco Vale has a new pick-up-or-delivery pizza parlour, PIZZA BOY, for those nights when you just want to pizza and chill.
2/1 Pascoe St, Pascoe Vale
PLENTY
— Fairfield burger joint BURGER ROAD has opened its second outpost in Plenty. If you like your burgers stacked, you wings spicy and your freakshakes overflowing with waffles and doughnuts, then you’ll love this place.
4/285 Diamond Creek Rd, Plenty
PRESTON
— Preston’s new kid on the block is a little cafe with a big heart. MOON RABBIT, a sustainable social enterprise from community organisation the Bridge (formerly Preston and Thornbury Neighbourhood Houses), has eliminated takeaway cups and containers, stocks drinks that come in glass bottles only, uses leftover drinking water to feed its plants and sends its used coffee ground to nearby Croxton School for their community garden, to name just a few of their enviro-friendly initiatives. On the menu is a selection of perfectly golden and toasted jaffles. Sweet options include maple ricotta, spiced pear, dark chocolate and cinnamon jaffles, while on the savoury side you can try a vegan-friendly lentil bolognese jaffle or a pumpkin, sage and walnut pesto, rocket and cheese jaffle. Specialty beans by Padre Coffee.
218 High St, Preston
— Take a long lunch at PAUSA PRANZO (which literally translates to lunch break) at High Street’s latest Italianate eatery. From the vespa-patterned floor tiles to the mouthwateringly good artisan pastas, store-made paninis, it feels like being in a typical Italian trattoria.
166 High Street, Preston
— And, off the back of the success of their Northcote and Braybook STN cafes, as well as their Collins St hole-in-the-wall coffee stop, Workshop Bros speciality coffee is expanding its empire even further with the arrival of STN CAFE at Northland Shopping Centre last week.
2-50 Murray Rd, Preston
RESERVOIR
— Check out Reservoir’s new ALL HEART CAFE, a friendly, family-run nook where everything is homemade, and made with love. You’ll want to try their pumpkin gozleme and chocolate brownies.
149 Keon Parade, Reservoir
ROSANNA
— Sink your teeth into a loaded bun at Rosanna’s new SIDESHOW BURGERS. The off-the-beaten-track burger bar is playing stacks on with well-balanced two-hand sangas that have just the right ratio of bun to meat, bacon and oozy melted cheese.
61 Beetham Parade, Rosanna
— Hands down, IVY AND PEARL is one of the freshest openings to hit the north side. Axil specialty coffee is on rotation (or grab a beetroot latte if you’re feeling adventurous on a Sunday morning) and goes down a treat with the seasonal, produce-driven menu. Order the pea and mint croquettes. You’ll thank us for it.
29-31 Davies Street, Rosanna
ROXBURGH PARK
— Treat your tastebuds to a feast of epic, Iraqi proportions at AL TANOOR, the latest addition to Roxburgh Park’s cosmopolitan eat scene. The meat is succulent, tender and exploding with flavour. The shawarma wrap in Iraqi bread comes highly recommended and the Turkish delight is superb.
250 Somerton Road Roxburgh Park
SOUTH MORANG
— Wrap your mouth around delicious haloumi, tomato and olive pides at South Morang’s new ZAIT BAKERY CAFE, a new north eastern local plating up authentic, Lebanese cuisine.
797 Plenty Road, South Morang
THOMASTOWN
— If you like your pizza bases deep dish, crispy on the bottom, pillowy soft and loaded with quality toppings, then get down to Thomastown’s newest THE PIGEON COOP PIZZA PASTA & GRILL. They’ve also got a pretty comprehensive selection of schnitzels and parmigianas.
2a Green Street Thomastown
HAVE WE MISSED ANYTHING? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.
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