Il Mercato Centrale, Melbourne
il Mercato Centrale. Photograph courtesy of il Mercato Centrale.
Phone: 1300 546 566
Open from 7am daily
mercatocentrale.com.au
Fabbrica, Newtown
Fabbrica, Newtown. Photographs by Trent V / Fabbrica.
Mafaldine twisted with 'nduja and prawns. Photographs by Trent V / Fabbrica.
Residents of Sydney’s Inner West will be delighted to hear that they can now enjoy Fabbrica’s silky cacio e pepe and squiggly prawn mafaldine pasta without venturing into the city. After closing its Balmain location last year, the beloved Italian diner has reopened at 101 King Street, Newtown.
Guests can expect all the fan favourites from head chef Keir Ballantyne, who has honed his skills at Heston Blumenthal’s three-Michelin-starred The Fat Duck and Kristian Baumann’s Restaurant 108 in Copenhagen. He’s joined by is Scott McComas-Williams, executive chef of the Love Tilly group. In addition to classics, new dishes include Tonnarelli with vongole and bottarga, Rigatoni with guanciale, peas, egg yolk, and Pecorino, and Kingfish puttanesca. For dessert, don’t miss the Ricotta panna cotta, now featuring a delightful yuzu caramel and toasted buckwheat twist.
101 King Street Newtown
Phone: (02) 9129 9210
Open from 7am Monday to Thursday, open from 12pm Friday to Sunday
ciaofabbrica.com
Botanic Lodge, Adelaide
Botanic Lodge in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. Photography courtesy of Botanic Lodge.
The Tommies sandwich. Photographs courtesy of Botanic Lodge.
If you’ve ever dined at Restaurant Botanic in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, you’re likely familiar with the chef Jamie Musgrave’s thoughtful approach to native ingredients. He masterfully transforms humble items like the urchin and emu fillet into thoughtful dishes that linger long after the meal is over.
Its newly opened sibling venue, Botanic Lodge, helmed by renowned Australian chef Tom Tilbury continues to showcase the best local produce, but with a more playful approach. Located inside the former Simpson’s Kiosk site, the restaurant pays homage to its predecessor with a mix of nostalgic favourites served with an elevated twist. Enjoy cheesy pasties with a mushroom dipping sauce served on tuckshop bags, or a classic Tommies sandwich on white bread loaded with a generous layer of butter, iceberg lettuce, and mayonnaise. For dessert, there’s a Lamington with quandong jam and coconut ice cream or a “Golden Gaytime” soft serve.
With floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with sunlight and doors that open to the lake, Botanic Lodge is set to be Adelaide’s go-to spot for summer dining.
Main Lake (Kainka Wirra), Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Adelaide
Open from 10am daily
botaniclodge.com.au
