New restaurants and cafes in Melbourne: July 2018

In the face of new financial year and the middle of winter, Melbourne’s dining scene is thriving. This month Melbourne cafes upped the ante with restaurant-style plates and Asian influences, while the city kept dishes diverse with healthy options, pop ups and even a multi-level karaoke bar. Most excitingly, a restaurant in Caulfield North is finally giving kosher food a moment in the spotlight. Scroll through and make some bookings.

Shiloh, Caulfield North

Contemporary Israeli restaurant in the old Limor’s spot, on a mission to prove that kosher food makes for some serious competition.

• Must order: Osso bucco shankshuka risotto with savoy cabbage, black cardamom and cinnamon egg yolk crumble
• Vibe: reserved in decor but not in menu
• 67 Kooyong Road, Caulfield North
• 9500 8216
• shilohmelbourne.com

A post shared by Shiloh Melbourne (@shilohmelbourne) on Jun 28, 2018 at 8:03pm PDT

Heroes, CBD

Fancy Hanks has opened a multi-level karaoke venue, rooftop bar and Singaporean street food concept in the heart of the city. Come for the snacks and beer selection, stay for Mariah Carey impersonations.

• Must order: sambal stingray
• Vibe: boisterous bar taking queues from pop culture and filled with Asian knick-knacks
• 188 Bourke St, Melbourne
• 9650 0094
• heroesbar.com.au

Master Den’s Poppu Uppu, CBD

A pop-up restaurant beneath Hihou that replaced Kappo, serving shabu shabu, a Hokkaido-style seafood nabe and a mushroom hot pot. Add ingredients to the broth at the table and slurp away.

• Must order: any of the hot pots
• Vibe: good, communal culinary fun
• 1 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
• 9639 9500
• masterden.com.au

Pentolina, CBD

Following in his Pugliese father’s footsteps, Matt Picone has opened a pasta bar in the city with a focus on the hand-made stuff.

• Must order: Matt’s spaghetti bolognese
• Vibe: terrazzo-touched European wine bar
• 2/377 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
• 9606 0642
• pentolina.com.au

Hiatus, Kew

Kew Junction’s newest cafe puts a restaurant spin on brunch and sells a selection of

accoutrements, like seasonal preserves and house “co-yo”

• Must order: crab omelette, chilli ketchup, baby corn, leeks
• Vibe: bright, airy and friendly
• 117 High Street, Kew
• 0491 027 139
• hiatus.life

Rina’s Casa del Popolo, Armadale

After Rina D’Alessandro passed away last year, her cousin and former head chef at Neptune Wine Bar, Danny Natoli, took over Rina’s Cucina, alongside Adrian Li from Tokyo Tina. The restaurant reopened in June with a refreshed menu and name change.

• Must order: fazzoletti, chickpea, miso and rapini
• Vibe: the same warm and inviting space with new generation dishes
• 857 High Street, Armadale
• rinas3143.com

A post shared by EAT AT RINAS (@rinas.armadale) on Jun 17, 2018 at 5:11am PDT

Lenny, Albert Park

The Moby team has opened Lenny on a sunny corner of Albert Park, with bright white walls and a colourful, daytime menu.

• Must order: duck and waffle – slow-cooked duck leg, herb and cheese waffle, apple salad, juniper infused maple and fried egg
• Vibe: white-washed city-meets-beach
• 113 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park
• 9699 8543
• lenny3206.com.au

A post shared by LENNY 3206 (@lenny_3206) on May 17, 2018 at 8:54pm PDT

Project281, Brunswick

A lofty cafe and coffee roaster in an old printing factory with a Japanese-Korean menu.

• Must order: soft shell crab okonomiyaki with poached egg, tonkatsu, kewpie, slaw, pickled ginger and bonito
• Vibe: industrial warehouse cafe with all the trimmings
• 281 Albert Street, Brunswick
• facebook.com/project281cafe

GT’s Burgers, Bentleigh

A new burger window attached to Good Times Milk Bar serving seven burgers and carb-tastic sides. Open Thursday to Sunday, 4pm until 9pm.

• Must order: chook burger with fried buttermilk chicken, parmesan cheese, slaw, gochujang aioli and Smokin J’s hot sauce.
• Vibe: laid-back neighbourhood takeaway
• 83 Tucker Road, Bentleigh
• 9557 4868
• goodtimesmilkbar.com.au

A post shared by Good Times Milk Bar (@goodtimesmilkbar) on Jun 28, 2018 at 11:54pm PDT

Foxxy Dolphin, Collingwood

Formerly Mr. Scruff’s, Foxxy Dolphin is big on burgers (one’s s called Vladmir Poutine) but also has salads and vegan bowls on offer. Bands and DJs play Thursday through Saturday until 4am.

• Must order: the squish burger with peppered wagyu pattie, double American cheese, pickles, onion, American mustard, mayonnaise and tomato sauce.
• Vibe: neon jungle meets gentrified grunge
• 60 Smith Street, Collingwood
• foxxydolphin.com.au

Real Fine, Northcote

• Must order: DIY spanner cab roll with preserved lemon, watercress and pickled green chilli
• Vibe: raw finishes and real food on High Street
• 61 High Street, Northcote
• 9482 3607
• realfine.com.au

Rustica, CBD

The popular bakery-cafe has opened another outlet at Melbourne Central shopping centre bringing bread, pastries and brunch to hungry shoppers.

• Must order: Chocolate lamington french toast with strawberry jelly, Oreo custard and peanut butter brittle.
• Vibe: slick, monochrome and Instagrammable
• Melbourne Central, La Trobe and Swanston Streets, Melbourne
• 9663 1545
• rusticasourdough.com.au

Laneway Greens, CBD

Clean eats hub Laneway Greens opened their third store on Exhibition Street this month, launching a new winter menu to queues out the door. Swing by if you like big bowls and you cannot lie.

• Must order: house falafels and mejadra lentils with beetroot dip, roasted eggplant, cauliflower, tatsoi and wombok cabbage salad and dill pickles.
• Vibe: warm timber finishes in a minimalist, contemporary canteen
• Corner Exhibition Street and Flinders Lane, 67-69 Collins Place, Melbourne
• 9654 0993
• lanewaygreens.com.au