New restaurant openings in Melbourne: where to eat and drink this December 2019

We’re all set for an indulgent summer thanks to a slew of new venues last month. There’s festivity as well as creativity in the air, with a new mod-Chinese restaurant in Carlton, a street-style torta and taco kiosk in Collingwood, and Thornbury ice-cream and hot-chip store Kenny Lover, with flavours as wild as soy sauce. Pinchy’s lobster rolls is now a full-blown seafood and champagne bar while, heading south, another Rustica is open for dinner and Murrumbeena just met its new favourite cafe. Further south on the Mornington Peninsula, Ten Minutes by Tractor has risen from the ashes.

Ten Minutes by Tractor \ Mornington Peninsula

This winery and fine-dining restaurant reopened last month after a fire in February 2018. Customers and those who fought the blaze were the first to experience the new kitchen, chef’s table, private dining room and terrace.

Must order: roast Bundarra pork belly and loin, smoked eel, white balsamic, kohlrabi, and mustard leaf

Lagoon Dining \ Carlton

An Asian player has landed in Little Italy, opening last month. Heavily, but not exclusively, Chinese-influenced dishes are interpreted for a modern Melbourne setting in a space best described as “sexy”.

Must order: ma po tofu knots, shiitake and mustard greens

Frankie’s Tortas and Tacos \ Collingwood

A torta and taco shop has replaced the defunct kebab kiosk on Smith Street between Alexandra Parade and Johnston Street.

Must order: torta al pastor with pork, queso, bean, avocado, lettuce, coriander and pickle

Pinchy’s \ CBD

Formerly a pop-up selling lobster rolls in Emporium, Pinchy’s has taken on a new life in Mid City Arcade. Now, it’s a seafood restaurant and champagne bar with chef Pierre Khodja in the kitchen (ex-Camus, Northcote).

Must order: prawn head roll with sea urchin aioli

Kenny Lover \ Thornbury

This ice-cream shop is equal parts weird and wonderful. Flavours range from traditional to adventurous (kalamata olive and white chocolate). Order hot chips for dipping.

Must order: watermelon and olive oil ice-cream

Rustica \ South Yarra

Rustica’s sixth cafe – a 500-square-metre flagship, no less – is in a former retail warehouse on Chapel Street. It’s the only one of their stores that offers dinner as well as breakfast, lunch and baked goods.

Must order: ’nduja, burrata, charred peach and broccoli pizza

Coming in early 2020 …

1. Mary’s Burgers / Cult-burger joint Mary’s is opening a 140-seat, rock ‘n’ roll burger restaurant on Franklin Street in the city, late January.
2. Grazeland / This March a permanent 10,000-square-metre weekend food festival is launching beside Scienceworks with more than 50 vendors, three licensed bars, artisan stalls and entertainment.
3. Firebird / The fourth brand in the Hanoi Hannah stable, opening in February will offer 20 Vietnamese dishes with nods to smoky northern Thai flavours.
4. Mrs Singh / An “unauthentic Indian” wine bar and restaurant by Jessi Singh (Daughter In Law, Horn Please, Don’t Tell Aunty, Babu Ji) set to open early next year on Flinders Lane.
5. Urban Ground and Saint Felix / A Bayside community precinct with a cafe, undercover food stall eatery area, sporting facilities, garden and fruit-based distillery, opening in Mordialloc late January.
6. Public House Rooftop / A rooftop space with views of the city skyline launching early 2020 on top of the Richmond institution.
7. Punchin’ Bottles / A pop-up bottle shop by Christian McCabe of Embla and Lesa will open mid-January beside the restaurants in a former ukulele store.

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