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Sliders at Louey’s Italian-American restaurant in the Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda.

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Melbourne hit list July 2023: Hot, new and just-reviewed places to check out, right now

An Italian-American disco diner in a landmark pub, a comedy trio’s nostalgic “nonna-style” restaurant on Lygon Street, creative pastry shapes in the ’burbs and a French favourite’s welcome return. Add these eateries to your hit list this month, Melbourne.

23 stories
Co-owner Dom Gattermayr is excited to have access to South Melbourne Market’s produce with her second cafe.

Meet Juniper, the new southside cafe from the team behind Carlton North’s hugely popular Florian

  • Emma Breheny
Yugen Omakase’s six-seat counter.
Good Food hatGood Food hat17/20

Yugen’s omakase is one of Melbourne’s most thrilling dining experiences right now (if you can snag a seat)

  • Besha Rodell
Charcoal chicken is a specialty but not a focus at Henrietta in Melbourne.

Charcoal chook on Chapel: Sydney’s Henrietta spreads its wings to Melbourne, with a much larger menu

  • Emma Breheny
The Sooshi Mango trio are opening an Italian restaurant in Lygon Street.

Sooshi Mango comedy trio enlists hospo heavyweights for new ‘nonna-style’ Italian restaurant in Lygon Street

  • Donna Demaio
Sliders at Louey’s Italian-American restaurant in the Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda.

The Espy adds Italian-American disco diner Louey’s to its many dining options

  • Emma Breheny
Hardware Lane bistro French Saloon.

‘We’re back’: Beloved Hardware Lane restaurant French Saloon reopens for the first time since 2021

  • Tomas Telegramma
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The bar feels like a cocoon or hideaway.

The inside scoop on what to order and where to sit at hot new bar, Apollo Inn

  • Emma Breheny
The 155-year-old venue has just reopened with a classic and warm pub fit-out inside.

Historic North Melbourne pub The Central Club Hotel reopens after extensive renovation

  • Emma Breheny
Pretty Little’s communal dining table.
Good Food hat15/20

Pretty Little feels like a dinner party at a friend’s house (one who can cook like a hatted chef, that is)

  • Dani Valent
Con Christopoulos can often be found on the floor at his first Greek restaurant, Kafeneion.
14/20

Why humble Greek restaurant Kafeneion is an instant Melbourne classic

  • Besha Rodell
Linguine with prawns and pistachio at Amiconi in West Melbourne.

Icon review: Not much has changed in 63 years at old-school Italian Amiconi (aside from the tiramisu)

  • Dani Valent
Cibi’s current cafe and shop, which will soon be separated to give more room to grocery products.

A fan of Japanese food and drink? Here are three venues to put on your must-visit list

  • Emma Breheny
Go-to dish: Banh khot (coconut and turmeric mini pancakes).
14/20

Rue de Thanh is serving some of the most interesting and delicious Vietnamese food in Melbourne

  • Besha Rodell
Grand Italian architecture is referenced in the details, such as terracotta tiles.

Balwyn gets slick new wine bar Enoteca Boccaccio (and it’s above a legendary Italian grocer)

  • Emma Breheny
By The Glass wine bar in Armadale

‘Like eating tarte tatin with a straw’: Warm up with cool-weather cocktail wonders (and wines) at By The Glass

  • Dani Valent
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Puffy Turkish bread, pulled straight from the wood-fired oven and served with spice-flecked oil.
13.5/20

You’ll break bread (but not the bank) at generous Turkish restaurant Yakamoz

  • Besha Rodell
North & Common restaurant inside what was once Pentridge Prison’s canteen.
Good Food hat15/20

Why this jailhouse rocks: North & Common brings mod-Oz cooking to a former prison canteen

  • Michael Harden
The 3-12 Chicken Burger.

Join the Resistance at this off-Broadway burger bar (and don’t miss the off-menu fried chicken bun)

  • Dani Valent
Drom’s signature pastry shapes.

‘Plan a visit, it’s amazing!’ Why you should join the queue at this bakery in the ’burbs

  • Dani Valent
The croissant brownie from new Melbourne bakery Lumos.

Lumos Bakery in McKinnon bakes a brownie-filled croissant (plus two more new Melbourne bakeries to try)

  • Emma Breheny
Cityfields is a grand new restaurant at Chadstone Shopping Centre.
14/20

The verdict on Chadstone’s shiny new 600-seat restaurant Cityfields

  • Besha Rodell
All Saints Winery’s turreted brick facade was styled after a Scottish castle.
Good Food hat15/20

This fine diner in a Victorian castle serves food that’s fit for a king

  • Besha Rodell
Osso buco Maldonese is a hyperlocal interpretation of risotto Milanese.

Tiny goldfields town turns on the charm with a food scene (and new Italian restaurant) as good as anywhere

  • Emma Breheny

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/melbourne-eating-out/melbourne-hit-list-july-2023-hot-new-and-just-reviewed-places-to-check-out-right-now-20230630-p5dkvv.html