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Cordelia

A seafood-forward restaurant by the Don’s team.

Tomas Telegramma

Moreton Bay bug pasta.
1 / 7Moreton Bay bug pasta.Simon Schluter
Cordelia is a new seafood restaurant in Carlton.
2 / 7Cordelia is a new seafood restaurant in Carlton.Simon Schluter
Rock oysters at Cordelia.
3 / 7Rock oysters at Cordelia.Simon Schluter
Nannygai from Sydney-based supplier Andrew Joseph.
4 / 7Nannygai from Sydney-based supplier Andrew Joseph.Simon Schluter
Octopus skewers.
5 / 7Octopus skewers.Simon Schluter
Torched scallop and martini.
6 / 7Torched scallop and martini.Simon Schluter
A glimpse of the bunker-like bar beneath.
7 / 7A glimpse of the bunker-like bar beneath.Simon Schluter

Seafood$$

Cordelia, the sophomore venue by the Don’s team, is a little less rowdy and a little more refined than it’s Prahran sibling. It’s on the same Rathdowne Street block as hatted Bar Bellamy, and is more restaurant than bar, homing in on sustainably sourced seafood.

Seafood comes via Sydney-based supplier Andrew Joseph, also known as The Afishonado. Driven by what’s available, the menu shapeshifts day to day – and isn’t posted online. There are some constants, though. Always expect pasta, like a bouillabaisse-inspired Moreton Bay bug casarecce; a “hectic, KFC-looking” fish burger (only served at lunch Wednesday and Thursday) akin to the fried-chicken sandwich at Don’s; and a hibachi-grilled whole fish.

Beyond that, Norris keeps it “playful”. You might find octopus and merguez sausage skewers or coral trout with apricot beurre blanc. Cordelia’s “Happy Meal” is either an oyster, scallop or frites with a mini cocktail for $20; another Wednesday and Thursday special, it’s on from 3pm to 5pm.

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But it’s not all seafood. Norris says Cordelia is the “only restaurant ever” to serve beef from Myall Springs, his family’s certified-organic farm in north-west NSW, which usually sells exclusively to butchers. Lean cuts become tartare, prime cuts become steaks.

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Tomas TelegrammaTomas Telegramma is a food, drinks and culture writer.

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Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/goodfood/melbourne-eating-out/a-new-seafood-forward-restaurant-by-the-don-s-team-opens-on-rathdowne-street-20250709-p5mdre.html