Best new restaurants in Melbourne this month: Pay a visit to Demons footballer Max Gawn's wine bar

February and March were a little slow in the food world, but things are picking up again.

Israeli food is having a moment – Miznon is one of Melbourne’s most-loved cheap eats, and now Balagan Kitchen is bringing those flavours to Windsor.

Camberwell’s shopping precinct was long overdue for some love and two venues have opened in what was Young’s Auction House, across from Rivoli Cinemas.

Trends have been harnessed, old favourites have evolved and others have closed for good. Here’s the latest.

Balagan Kitchen \ Windsor

After a trip to Israel, Luca Lorusso changed his career path, aided by Iraqi-born chef Akad Al-Guepa and his son, Sacha. Now they’re sharing Balagan (that’s “mess” in Yiddish).

Must order: baked cauliflower with labneh and pomegranate

184 High Street, Windsor ● balagankitchen.com.au

Hardware Societe 2.0 \ CBD

Coinciding with turning 10 and a cookbook release (No Eggs on Toast), this cafe stalwart has moved to a new location with more seats, Danish-inspired interiors and a salmon-pink Slayer EP coffee machine. Also open Friday nights.

Must order: millefeuille with seared tuna, scallop tartare, yuzu aioli and 64-degree egg

10 Katherine Place, Melbourne ● hardwaresociete.com

Saint Dreux \ CBD

The team behind Bench Coffee opened a coffee and katsu sando bar, panko-crumbing everything from wagyu to prawns and offering Japanese-Portugese sponge cakes.

Must order: classic tonkatsu with Kurobuta (aka Berkshire) pork

Level 2, St Collins Lane, 260 Collins Street, Melbourne ● instagram.com/saint.dreux

Young’s Wine Rooms \ Hawthorn East

In the former Young’s Auction House building, this restaurant and cocktail bar by James Klapanis has a Euro-Mediterranean menu and lofty fitout.

Must order: Basque burnt cheesecake

227-229 Camberwell Road, Hawthorn East ● youngswinerooms.com.au

East End Wine Bar \ Hawthorn East

Melbourne Demons footy player Max Gawn opened a wine bar with some hospitality mates, to coincide with his 100th game. Visit the moody space for pizza, charcuterie, cheese and good times. Bottle shop onsite.

Must order: Sir Charles pizza

225 Camberwell Rd, Hawthorn East ● instagram.com/eastendwinebar

Pinchy’s \ CBD

Following success as a pop-up at Melbourne’s HWKR, Pinchy’s is bringing prawn, crab and lobster rolls, and Veuve Cliquot, to Emporium. Look for the neon claw.

Must order: Maine to Melbourne lobster roll

Level 3, Emporium Melbourne, 287 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne ● pinchys.co

and say goodbye to …

The paddock to plate Highline restaurant at the Railway Hotel, Windsor, shut up shop after the owner sold the farm. Following a stint as Foxxy Dolphin, the space that was Mr Scruff’s on Smith Street in Collingwood has closed. After four and a half years, Raw Trader’s city store has shut. Treats are still available at the Chadstone kiosk