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What Are The Food Places In Northcote, Melbourne?

In 2011, with the advent of Estelle and the untimely demise of Merricote, things began to heat up in Northcote. Northcote's dining scene is highlighted by the former, which remains the area's best restaurant. However, let's say you're interested in a less hectic evening meal. One of the best Ethiopian restaurants in town, Israeli takeout, and a traditional pub meal can all be found in the Northcote area. Afterwards, stroll over to Cuppa Turca for some pliable Turkish ice cream.

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Food Places In Northcote, Melbourne

Northcote Melbourne’s Northside has established a reputation as the go-to destination for serious dining. With its modern Australian style and refined French cuisine, pioneer restaurant Estelle, five years since opening, proves the staying power of the northern food movement.

Estelle

Scott Pickett is celebrating 30 years in the kitchen this year (2019). A long time before Noma changed the way the world spoke about food, he was already well on his way to an extraordinary career. This trait is shared by all three of his eateries: Saint Crispin, Matilda, and Estelle. Without straying too far from its traditional roots, the food displays a contemporary appreciation for seasonal ingredients. Even the simplest foods require a surprising amount of skill to prepare.

Served atop a bed of kohlrabi shavings and wilted mustard leaf, the Berkshire pig drenched in jus and  is thinly sliced and. The hand-rolled macaroni (pencil-length tubes, straight, not small elbows) are covered in a layer of yellowish, ephemeral froth that masks the traditional cacio e Pepe flavours (pepper and cheese). This is really sophisticated fare that even a novice foodie can enjoy. Pickett describes it as "a touch of novelty without being confronting or alarming" and we couldn't agree more.

The wine bar/waiting room has a menu and a partially enclosed garden with plants, while the main dining area is dominated by a distinctive Christopher Boots interlocking-hoop light fitting. The restaurant may be packed, but the service feels subpar for the $90 five-course tasting menu with $60 in wine pairings. Also, customers that place a high importance on customisation can do so by placing multiple orders. Many of the more costly wines on the list are now available by the glass thanks to the vacuum-sealed technology of Coravin.

Australia's Grosset riesling, France's Craiglee shiraz, and France's Jean Dauvissat chablis and Domaine Rougeot burgundy are some of the favourites of French-born sommelier Fabien Moalic, previously of the Press Club. There seems to be a severe lack of wines made with minimal intervention from the next generation.

Primo

It's impossible to forget that you're in a Primo restaurant, even once you're inside and enjoying a meal there. That's because a big, neon-yellow finger pointing outwards is spinning pizza dough above the store's front display. The atmosphere at Primo is festive, with upbeat tunes and flashing lights. The kitchen staff, easily spotted in their bright green T-shirts from the bar, prepares the bases.

The company also includes two additional women, Jemma Richards and Iza Dawkins, who are also partners. The Roberta, named for a pizza establishment in Brooklyn of the same name, combines honey, pepperoni, chilli, and cream. The pizza with salad toppings is another choice. The final result looks like a beautiful garden, just like the name implies. The wife and husband team of Loren and Jamie McBride, who also run the adjoining cafe Barry, have built a pizzeria (Mammoth, Touchwood and Gilson).

The name was inspired by a restaurant in California's gastronomic capital, Los Angeles. Mildly sweet Christmas ham, pineapple shavings (not chunks) marinated in vodka, and pickled chillies are all included. Indeed, it's delicious!

The menu also features a few items suitable for children, such as a cheeseburger and a submarine sandwich.

When you spend over $25, shipping is free, and Primo can even ship you some liquor (white Negroni that comes in a bottle). Varieties of soft-serve ice cream rotate every week. The Italian embellishments include terrazzo flooring made of green leather booths  and marble and banquettes. In the warmer months, you may relax on the pink tiled couch that sits just outside the door and have a shared soft serve.

Mesob Ethiopian Restaurant

Mesob is a traditional Ethiopian restaurant located in Northcote that features traditional Ethiopian cuisine, traditional Ethiopian decor, and traditional Ethiopian hospitality. Weekends also feature live jazz performances. Injera, large fermented pancakes typical of the region and free of gluten, are served alongside foods like spicy lentils and meat stews. Tearing the injera into pieces with your hands, you can use it as a huge edible spoon to scoop up the lentils.

The first restaurant they opened was called Mesob, after the baskets used to transport and distribute injera. Smaller, two-seater tables are made out of mesobs, while larger, wooden tables can seat more people.

From Mahari and Kebede's collection and elsewhere, the bar is adorned with traditional Ethiopian handicrafts, paintings, and statues to evoke the feel of a traditional straw house.

It's not common in Melbourne to have the proprietor personally welcome you as you enter their restaurant and then see you off as you leave.

Yuni's Kitchen

Try Yuni's Kitchen on High Street in Northcote if you're in the mood for some delicious, authentic Indonesian cuisine. Tucked away in a historic building, this quirky and colourful restaurant is a hidden gem where diners can enjoy dishes created from scratch with top local ingredients in a laid-back atmosphere surrounded by vibrant surroundings of teal and red walls, repurposed wooden furniture, and balinese statues.

Start your culinary adventure with some chicken satay skewers, or vegetable spring rolls and then move on to entrees like prawn laksa made with vermicelli, egg noodles, cabbage, choy sum, carrot, tofu, spring onion, coriander , and bean sprouts or duck curry made with traditional spices and served with green beans and tomato. The homemade ice cream and deep-fried banana with palm sugar syrup is an irresistible sweet ending.

Pizza Meine Liebe

Pizza Meine Liebe (German for "Pizza my love") arrived on the scene with the influx of straightforward, cutting-edge, and produce-focused pizzerias that swept the city a few years ago, but it has endured.

You can expect pizzas with chewy crusts, thin, wood-fired to perfection and topped with artful combinations of premium ingredients. The menu features inventive takes on traditional dishes while also dipping its toes into the wacky and weird. Panna cotta and sweet pizzas are available for those with a sweet tooth, and calzones and seasonal salads round out the savoury menu.

On any given night of the week, Pizza Meine Liebe is bustling with customers; it's easy to see why it's so popular amongst the locals, though the restaurant's popularity does occasionally threaten to disrupt customers' meals. Reservations are highly recommended if eating in. If you'd rather not deal with the sluggish service and dated decor of the '60s, ordering takeout is always an option. Pizza Meine Liebe is great, but if you want a pint with it, we suggest going to Joe's Shoe Store down the street.

Since its success, Pizza Meine Liebe has spawned For the Love of Pizza, a sister restaurant located further up High Street. Both offer reasonably priced, produce-focused pizza meals.

Zsa’s Bistro

zsa's bar bistro & deli

Zsa's Bistro in Northcote, Melbourne, serves European-inspired cuisine, deli treats, and fine wine. These establishments, which are loosely named after the actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, feature a light-filled atmosphere that is meant to transition from day to night, complete with vintage furniture and shelves brimming with tempting goods.

Relax in the back courtyard with a glass of wine and a plate of cured meats, or dine in the restaurant proper and order anything from a fancy tin of fish to the house specialty porchetta roll. The bistro menu features dishes such as kingfish Crudo with apple, dill, and avruga as an appetiser, and main courses such as Mirror Dory en papillote with sauce Normandy, French fries, and dressed leaves, or pappardelle with nduja and buffalo ricotta.

Pizza Meine Liebe Two

Pizza Meine Liebe, a Northcote institution for the past 14 years, has opened a second location only 900 metres away. Former tenants of the building include PML's Elena Bonnici and her business partner Sean Keenan, who used to run a pizza delivery business called For the Love of Pizza there. The improvements ran approximately a week beyond schedule, which was unfortunate. Bonnici joked that it was due to the store's increased visibility thanks to its enormous "PIZZA" sign.

The walls here are a similar greenish-grey as those in the original 60-seater, hence the two locations are related. Bonnici says her two children, now seven and twelve, have changed her eating habits and preferences, so while the menu draws inspiration from the original location, everything is "a bit fresher."

Thus, the menu strikes a lovely chord of moderation between hearty fare and lighter fare. Salt-and-vinegar fries with blue cheese aioli coexist peacefully with entrees like quinoa tabbouleh. Banana split with passionfruit semifreddo and cherry cheesecake, on the other hand, could tip the scales. To the ice cream freezer in the kitchen.

Two examples of such pizzas are the Greenpeace, which features taleggio, mozzarella, parmesan, silverbeet, broccoli, and lemon, and the QLDer, which features speck and pineapple. There are four types of vegan cheese available for use. Bring your own beverages; homemade sodas flavoured with seasonal fruits are available for the youngsters.

Lé Léé Authentic Macedonian

Eat at Lé Léé Authentic Macedonian on High Street in Northcote to celebrate the region's centuries-old, flavorful food. Exposed brick, colourful cushions thrown across bench seating, dark blue tablecloths, and a dominating mural create a cosy and inviting atmosphere at this restaurant.

Do it with your spirit, as the Macedonian proverb goes, and enjoy an authentic meal with regional specialities while sipping free drinks and  listening to local musicians. Start your culinary journey with tikvichki, a dish of fried zucchini, parsley and garlic; then move on to the slow-roasted pork belly, feta cheese and cubed roast potatoes; and finally, finish it off with a Macedonian salad of olives, cucumbers peppers, tomatoes, parsley, and onion.

Vex Dining

The former chefs of Neighboring Little Andorra and Wine, as well as Owen, formerly of Andrew McConnell's Marion, have opened a wine bar called Vex Dining.

The three buddies were able to transform the former Westgarth cafe into the trendy wine bar they had envisioned with relatively little renovations. The rear wall of the newly whitewashed dining room is adorned with enlarged photographs taken by a Melbourne artist of a box of Redheads, a can of Sirena tuna, and a Starbuck's cup.

The interior is sunny and bright in the afternoon, but if you can't find a table inside, the astroturfed courtyard with its towering lemon tree and string lights is a close second.

Only a handful of products are offered on the menu, and they change frequently. Small, fragrant turnips might be smoked over feijoa wood from a tree chopped down in the courtyard after being cooked in dashi, covered in vinegar and soy sauce, and then grilled. Stockbrot, made from dough rolled onto a stick and sprinkled with sesame seeds before being grilled, is another option. It is served with pumpkin-seed oil made by Ribul's Austrian forefathers and whipped crème Fraiche.

Although the team's philosophy is centred on vegetarianism and it avoids eating huge amounts of protein, the cuisine is not exclusively plant-based. For instance, the hanger steak is presented with whole roast beetroot from Day's Walk Farm and a coffee-kombucha glaze, and the Spanish mackerel is accompanied by a creamy brown-butter emulsion, sorrel fronds and chickpeas.

The dessert menu features amaro sorbet and vegan mille-feuille. Potato "pastry" sheets are steeped in sugar syrup before being layered with rhubarb, coconut cream, and lemon gel.

Vex is also very waste-conscious. Turnip leaves, for instance, can be stored and fermented for use in meals for up to a few months, and lemon rinds can be used to produce a salty lemon curd.

The group picks wine from farms with a strong commitment to ethics, and they frequently restock their supply by buying in smaller quantities. In conjunction with the tiny pub across the street named Low Key, the bar serves local beers such as Westgarth Bitter and Bodriggy Brewing Co. in Abbotsford.

Kaffir lime leaves from the tree in the courtyard could go well with the Southeast Asian notes in Kyneton's Animus gin, while a coriander-fennel tonic is a nice complement to Hendrick's.

Brother Bon

Brother Bon in High Street, Northcote, delivers authentic Asian cuisine with a modern twist to the area, continuing a family's mission to create a place where people from all walks of life come together to celebrate over excellent food.

Lounge on the plush couches, relax on the gorgeous wooden chess table, or rest on a potted plant on the recycled timber window bench while taking in the sights and sounds of the neighbourhood. Vegetarians and vegans can enjoy delicacies like the freshly prepared rice paper rolls stuffed with fresh Vietnamese salad, hoisin sauce, fried shallots and vermicelli noodles, or the pan-fried tofu dumplings flavoured like chicken served with ginger soy sauce.

Malaysian laksa is a dish of fried eggplant, veggies, noodles and sliced tofu served in a rich coconut curry broth.

The Espresso Room

If you need a caffeine fix or some tasty café fare on your way into or out of Melbourne, stop by The Espresso Room in Northcote. This café is bright and airy on the inside, with a combination of warm timbers and sleek finishes, from black decor to crisp white subway tiling; it is a casual yet trendy meeting spot for friends to enjoy a long chat over coffee.

The Espresso Room's seasonal menu features dishes like the Green Hash, which consists of falafels topped with asparagus, broccolini, green beans, kale hash, beetroot hummus, goat cheese, almonds, and a poached egg, and other ingredients sourced from nearby regions and suppliers.

Salads made with calamari marinated in lemon and pepper are served with a variety of other salads dressed in Thai dressing, including cabbage, carrot, kale, apple slaw, orange segments, spring onion, cubed avocado, wasabi peas, and more.

Va Penne

From the street, you can see the neon red hand (with "pinched fingers") blinking in the window of Va Penne. Like the dimly lit Italian restaurant or pub, one of the most recognisable Italian hand gestures translates to "Whaddaya want?" (What do you want?) Named as a play on the Italian phrase for "fine," "VA bene," this sauce sounds like it would be a welcome complement to any pasta dish.

This is being handled by the management staff at the shoe business around the corner. Va Penne has a fairly priced food menu and a modest but well-curated drinks selection. Almost all the mixed drinks on the menu have vermouth as an ingredient (for something different, try a sour made with Chinato, an aromatized wine that falls between an amaro and vermouth).

There is also a small selection of Italian and local beers to choose from, in addition to the wine (One of them is Peroni Red). Many of the drinks on the list have an Italian theme or origin.

Va Penne's menu is similarly devoted to locally sourced products, and it is purposely kept small to make room for rotating daily and weekly specialities. A basket of bread, including handcrafted crackers like Sardinian flatbread, is presented alongside a selection of small antipasti plates (think burrata, salumi, and homemade pickles bathed in salsa verde).

Rotolo pasta loaded with ricotta and tuscan cabbage is the star of the show, but we also serve spaghetti vongole, fennel meatball ragu, and speck-studded pig.

White anchovies, figs, peppers, gorgonzola, and vincotto are just a few examples of the savoury toppings available on pizzas of the 11-inch size.

There is no regional focus on the cuisine, but it does change with the seasons. During the warmer months, for instance, southern items take centre stage while northern-style cookery is in the spotlight.

Va Penne's patio can host up to 40 people. Joe's cosy booth seating inside, exposed red brick, and curved front bar were all built by the same person, giving customers who aren't quite ready to move on a sense of continuity.

Ferdinand

Ferdinand, located on High Street in Northcote, satisfies demands for delicious Italian food and is named after King Ferdinand I of Naples, who would slip out of the palace to eat pizza. This hip hangout has a laid-back vibe perfect for a leisurely lunch thanks to the combination of rectangular brass lamps, polished black tiles, and wood.

In the warmer months, you may have a meal outside in the brick courtyard while sipping wine and pasta the way Nonna used to and taking in the scent of pizza baking in the wood-burning oven. Popular dishes include the Aglio e Olio-style fettuccine with clams, chilli, zucchini, and tomatoes, as well as the Infernale pizza with ricotta, mozzarella, roasted eggplant, cherry tomatoes, and salami. 

Northcote Social Club

Approximately in the middle of High Street is where you'll find the Northcote Social Club. Partially owned by the same people as Richmond's Corner Hotel, this establishment also puts an emphasis on live performances.

The band room is more intimate than the Corner, making it ideal for more subdued performances.

There won't be as many people or giant pillars to obstruct your view, but the music is just as good. In 2004, after the Commercial Hotel had undergone extensive renovations, the NSC opened its doors. In just a few short years, it became an institution of Melbourne's alternative music scene. The 2015 revamp (by Breathe Architecture) was a major upgrade.

A new menu of pub classics and share plates, as well as an updated, more user-friendly environment, are the results of this project. Raw salads and slow-roasted mushroom burgers are just two examples of the many options available for vegetarians and health-conscious diners.

But the real draw is the band room, which promotes regional artists and brings in speciality acts from other states and even abroad. The weekly Monday Night Mass features a free concert by three bands, as well as $15 parmas (chicken and eggplant) and jugs of Carlton Draught.

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Cuppa Turca

In Northcote, if you're looking for a sweet treat, stop by Cuppa Turca on High Street. With its dramatic feature wall in earthy tones of sea green and orange, this dessert parlour invites guests into an authentic décor of copper tables and stools, where plush cushions await those yearning to linger over a rich sweet treat and strong coffee.

Cuppa Turca specialises in the Turkish ice cream known as dondurma, and it comes in a variety of flavours like hazelnut, halva and pistachio. Eat them by the scoop, or try them with half slice of baklava and two Koska wafers.

Enjoy a cup of organic tea, kunefe, or a cheese-filled pastry coated with pistachios and finely shredded pastry while sipping on hot sand-brewed coffee.

Conclusion

Northcote has established itself as a go-to destination for serious dining. With its modern Australian style and refined French cuisine, Estelle proves the staying power of the northern food movement. One of the best Ethiopian restaurants in town, Israeli takeout, and a traditional pub meal can all be found in the Northcote area. The wife and husband team of Loren and Jamie McBride, who also run the adjoining cafe Barry, have built a pizzeria (Mammoth, Touchwood and Gilson) Injera, large fermented pancakes typical of the region and free of gluten, are served alongside foods like spicy lentils and meat stews. Mesob is an Ethiopian restaurant that features traditional Ethiopian cuisine and traditional Ethiopian decor.

Yuni's Kitchen is a hidden gem tucked away in a historic building. The menu features inventive takes on traditional dishes while also dipping its toes into the wacky and weird. Panna cotta and sweet pizzas are available for those with a sweet tooth, and calzones and seasonal salads round out the savoury menu. The bistro menu features dishes such as kingfish Crudo with apple, dill, and avruga. The pizzas are the Greenpeace, which features taleggio, mozzarella, parmesan, silverbeet, broccoli, and lemon.

The former Westgarth cafe has been turned into a new wine bar called Vex Dining. The owners are the former chefs of Neighboring Little Andorra and Wine and Neighbours of Wine. Brother Bon serves authentic Asian cuisine with a modern twist to the area. Kaffir lime leaves from the tree in the courtyard could go well with Animus gin. The Espresso Room's seasonal menu features dishes like the Green Hash and Falafel topped with asparagus.

Va Penne is named as a play on the Italian phrase for "fine," "VA bene," which means "What do you want?". Va Penne has a fairly priced food menu and a modest but well-curated drinks selection. There is no regional focus on the cuisine, but it does change with the seasons. The Northcote Social Club's band room is more intimate than Richmond's Corner Hotel, and the food is just as good. Monday Night Mass features a free concert by three bands, as well as $15 parmas and jugs of Carlton Draught. Cuppa Turca specialises in the Turkish ice cream known as dondurma, and it comes in a variety of flavours.

Content Summary

  • In 2011, with the advent of Estelle and the untimely demise of Merricote, things began to heat up in Northcote.
  • Northcote's dining scene is highlighted by the former, which remains the area's best restaurant.
  • One of the best Ethiopian restaurants in town, Israeli takeout, and a traditional pub meal can all be found in the Northcote area.
  • Northcote Melbourne's Northside has established a reputation as the go-to destination for serious dining.
  • With its modern Australian style and refined French cuisine, pioneer restaurant Estelle, five years since opening, proves the staying power of the northern food movement.
  • Estelle Scott Pickett is celebrating 30 years in the kitchen this year (2019).
  • This trait is shared by all three of his eateries: Saint Crispin, Matilda, and Estelle.
  • Without straying too far from its traditional roots, the food displays a contemporary appreciation for seasonal ingredients.
  • Even the simplest foods require a surprising amount of skill to prepare.
  • The wine bar/waiting room has a menu and a partially enclosed garden with plants, while the main dining area is dominated by a distinctive Christopher Boots interlocking-hoop light fitting.
  • The restaurant may be packed, but the service feels subpar for the $90 five-course tasting menu with $60 in wine pairings.
  • There seems to be a severe lack of wines made with minimal intervention from the next generation.
  • It's impossible to forget that you're in a Primo restaurant, even once you're inside and enjoying a meal there.
  • The atmosphere at Primo is festive, with upbeat tunes and flashing lights.
  • The company also includes two additional women, Jemma Richards and Iza Dawkins, who are also partners.
  • The Roberta, named for a pizza establishment in Brooklyn of the same name, combines honey, pepperoni, chilli, and cream.
  • The final result looks like a beautiful garden, just like the name implies.
  • The wife and husband team of Loren and Jamie McBride, who also run the adjoining cafe Barry, have built a pizzeria (Mammoth, Touchwood and Gilson).
  • The name was inspired by a restaurant in California's gastronomic capital, Los Angeles.
  • The menu also features a few items suitable for children, such as a cheeseburger and a submarine sandwich.
  • When you spend over $25, shipping is free, and Primo can even ship you some liquor (white Negroni that comes in a bottle).
  • The Italian embellishments include terrazzo flooring made of green leather booths and marble and banquettes.
  • Mesob is a traditional Ethiopian restaurant located in Northcote that features traditional Ethiopian cuisine, traditional Ethiopian decor, and traditional Ethiopian hospitality.
  • Weekends also feature live jazz performances.
  • Injera, large fermented pancakes typical of the region and free of gluten, are served alongside foods like spicy lentils and meat stews.
  • From Mahari and Kebede's collection and elsewhere, the bar is adorned with traditional Ethiopian handicrafts, paintings, and statues to evoke the feel of a traditional straw house.
  • It's not common in Melbourne to have the proprietor personally welcome you as you enter their restaurant and then see you off as you leave.
  • Try Yuni's Kitchen on High Street in Northcote if you're in the mood for some delicious, authentic Indonesian cuisine.
  • Tucked away in a historic building, this quirky and colourful restaurant is a hidden gem where diners can enjoy dishes created from scratch with top local ingredients in a laid-back atmosphere surrounded by vibrant surroundings of teal and red walls, repurposed wooden furniture, and balinese statues.
  • Pizza Meine Liebe (German for "Pizza my love") arrived on the scene with the influx of straightforward, cutting-edge, and produce-focused pizzerias that swept the city a few years ago, but it has endured.
  • The menu features inventive takes on traditional dishes while also dipping its toes into the wacky and weird.
  • Panna cotta and sweet pizzas are available for those with a sweet tooth, and calzones and seasonal salads round out the savoury menu.
  • On any given night of the week, Pizza Meine Liebe is bustling with customers; it's easy to see why it's so popular amongst the locals, though the restaurant's popularity does occasionally threaten to disrupt customers' meals.
  • Reservations are highly recommended if eating in.
  • If you'd rather not deal with the sluggish service and dated decor of the '60s, ordering takeout is always an option.
  • Zsa's Bistro in Northcote, Melbourne, serves European-inspired cuisine, deli treats, and fine wine.
  • These establishments, which are loosely named after the actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, feature a light-filled atmosphere that is meant to transition from day to night, complete with vintage furniture and shelves brimming with tempting goods.
  • Relax in the back courtyard with a glass of wine and a plate of cured meats, or dine in the restaurant proper and order anything from a fancy tin of fish to the house specialty porchetta roll.
  • Pizza Meine Liebe, a Northcote institution for the past 14 years, has opened a second location only 900 metres away.
  • Former tenants of the building include PML's Elena Bonnici and her business partner Sean Keenan, who used to run a pizza delivery business called For the Love of Pizza there.
  • Bonnici joked that it was due to the store's increased visibility thanks to its enormous "PIZZA" sign.
  • The walls here are a similar greenish-grey as those in the original 60-seater, hence the two locations are related.
  • Bonnici says her two children, now seven and twelve, have changed her eating habits and preferences, so while the menu draws inspiration from the original location, everything is "a bit fresher."
  • Thus, the menu strikes a lovely chord of moderation between hearty fare and lighter fare.
  • Two examples of such pizzas are the Greenpeace, which features taleggio, mozzarella, parmesan, silverbeet, broccoli, and lemon, and the QLDer, which features speck and pineapple.
  • Do it with your spirit, as the Macedonian proverb goes, and enjoy an authentic meal with regional specialities while sipping free drinks and listening to local musicians.
  • The former chefs of Neighboring Little Andorra and Wine, as well as Owen, formerly of Andrew McConnell's Marion, have opened a wine bar called Vex Dining.
  • The three buddies were able to transform the former Westgarth cafe into the trendy wine bar they had envisioned with relatively little renovations.
  • The rear wall of the newly whitewashed dining room is adorned with enlarged photographs taken by a Melbourne artist of a box of Redheads, a can of Sirena tuna, and a Starbuck's cup.
  • The interior is sunny and bright in the afternoon, but if you can't find a table inside, the astroturfed courtyard with its towering lemon tree and string lights is a close second.
  • Only a handful of products are offered on the menu, and they change frequently.
  • Although the team's philosophy is centred on vegetarianism and it avoids eating huge amounts of protein, the cuisine is not exclusively plant-based.
  • The dessert menu features amaro sorbet and vegan mille-feuille.
  • The group picks wine from farms with a strong commitment to ethics, and they frequently restock their supply by buying in smaller quantities.
  • In conjunction with the tiny pub across the street named Low Key, the bar serves local beers such as Westgarth Bitter and Bodriggy Brewing Co. in Abbotsford.
  • Brother Bon in High Street, Northcote, delivers authentic Asian cuisine with a modern twist to the area, continuing a family's mission to create a place where people from all walks of life come together to celebrate over excellent food.
  • If you need a caffeine fix or some tasty café fare on your way into or out of Melbourne, stop by The Espresso Room in Northcote.
  • This café is bright and airy on the inside, with a combination of warm timbers and sleek finishes, from black decor to crisp white subway tiling; it is a casual yet trendy meeting spot for friends to enjoy a long chat over coffee.
  • The Espresso Room's seasonal menu features dishes like the Green Hash, which consists of falafels topped with asparagus, broccolini, green beans, kale hash, beetroot hummus, goat cheese, almonds, and a poached egg, and other ingredients sourced from nearby regions and suppliers.
  • Like the dimly lit Italian restaurant or pub, one of the most recognisable Italian hand gestures translates to "Whaddaya want?" (What do you want?)
  • Named as a play on the Italian phrase for "fine," "VA bene," this sauce sounds like it would be a welcome complement to any pasta dish.
  • Va Penne has a fairly priced food menu and a modest but well-curated drinks selection.
  • Almost all the mixed drinks on the menu have vermouth as an ingredient (for something different, try a sour made with Chinato, an aromatized wine that falls between an amaro and vermouth).
  • There is also a small selection of Italian and local beers to choose from, in addition to the wine (One of them is Peroni Red).
  • Many of the drinks on the list have an Italian theme or origin.
  • Va Penne's menu is similarly devoted to locally sourced products, and it is purposely kept small to make room for rotating daily and weekly specialities.
  • A basket of bread, including handcrafted crackers like Sardinian flatbread, is presented alongside a selection of small antipasti plates (think burrata, salumi, and homemade pickles bathed in salsa verde).
  • Rotolo pasta loaded with ricotta and tuscan cabbage is the star of the show, but we also serve spaghetti vongole, fennel meatball ragu, and speck-studded pig.
  • White anchovies, figs, peppers, gorgonzola, and vincotto are just a few examples of the savoury toppings available on pizzas of the 11-inch size.
  • There is no regional focus on the cuisine, but it does change with the seasons.
  • During the warmer months, for instance, southern items take centre stage while northern-style cookery is in the spotlight.
  • Va Penne's patio can host up to 40 people.
  • Approximately in the middle of High Street is where you'll find the Northcote Social Club.
  • Partially owned by the same people as Richmond's Corner Hotel, this establishment also puts an emphasis on live performances.
  • The band room is more intimate than the Corner, making it ideal for more subdued performances.
  • In 2004, after the Commercial Hotel had undergone extensive renovations, the NSC opened its doors.
  • In just a few short years, it became an institution of Melbourne's alternative music scene.
  • The 2015 revamp (by Breathe Architecture) was a major upgrade.
  • But the real draw is the band room, which promotes regional artists and brings in speciality acts from other states and even abroad.
  • The weekly Monday Night Mass features a free concert by three bands, as well as $15 parmas (chicken and eggplant) and jugs of Carlton Draught.
  • In Northcote, if you're looking for a sweet treat, stop by Cuppa Turca on High Street.
  • Cuppa Turca specialises in the Turkish ice cream known as dondurma, and it comes in a variety of flavours like hazelnut, halva and pistachio.

FAQs About Food Places In Northcote, Melbourne

Pay homage to rich, vibrant, centuries-old cuisine at Lé Léé Authentic Macedonian on High Street in Northcote. This warm and charming restaurant sees conversations flow and time stand still in rust... Swing by The Espresso Room in Northcote when heading in or out of Melbourne city for a caffeine fix and tasty café fare.

Northcote has some of the best dining options, including restaurants that offer fine dining to cheap casual lunches with a glass of wine. Choose from some of the best venues in one of Melbourne’s most sought after locations.

In Northcote, the following restaurants have been identified as good to visit with you family: FerdinandFour Beans Cafe, and Bombay Bento.

Inspired by Israeli street food with a gourmet twist, Tahina Bar on High Street in Northcote gives new meaning to the concept of fast food. 

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