A cult Israeli street Food restaurant from a celebrity chef? Smoky wood fired pizzas at a family friendly place on Brunswick street? A dessert parlour and ice-cream shop from Melbourne’s pastry queen? Tick. Tick. Tick. For the food and drink obsessed like me there’s lots to love about Melbourne’s newest openings this September. 

Miznon

Lunches and casual dinners in the CBD are now opened thanks to the opening of Eyal Shani’s Israeli street food restaurant Miznon in Hardware Lane. The cult pita restaurant started in Paris and now has several branches around the world but we’ve just scored Australia’s first. You go down the stairs to order at the counter a whole roasted cauliflower or pita stuffed with ratatouille or slow cooked lamb. Then wait for the pumping music to be interrupted as your name is called when your meal is ready. It’s a fun take on fast food. Pitas are served up in a paper bag but there’s plenty of room to eat in either at outdoor laneway tables, upstairs or at the stadium style seating where you can watch the kitchen in action. This is going to be a new go to for me. 

Details: Miznon, 59 Hardware Lane Melbourne.

Bontempo

A wood fired pizza and a glass of red wine is an easy way to win me over and Bontempo does both these things so well. It’s a large space at the far end of Fitzroy’s Brunswick street (towards Alexandra Parade) with an industrial feel thanks to subway tiles on the walls and xx. The wood fired oven dominates the space and this is where the magic happens turning out thin based pizzas with a smoky char to them. The must order is the Bunt pizza which is topped with pork slow cooked in whisky. Seriously next level. I’ve been drooling over this ever since I ordered it. 

Details: Bontempo, 416 Brunswick street, Fitzroy 

Glacé

Sweet tooths rejoice! Christy Tania, the amazing pastry chef behind Om Nom’s dessert bar has opened her own dessert shop in Windsor called Glacé. It serves up coffee, ice-cream, sorbet and eclairs from 10am every morning. Look out for Christy’s  Christy’s ice cream push pops which combine cake sponge and layered ice-cream. I feel some over indulgence coming on…

Details: Glacé, Shop 2, 1a Peel street, Windsor. 

Fargo and Co

Richmond is having a moment (both in the footy and as a food lovers suburb) and the opening of Fargo and Co really seals the deal. This cocktail bar is split over three levels and includes a showpiece bar covered in intricately patterned black and white tiles, an outdoor terrace and upstairs dining area. It’s located in an old bank and the high ceilings and heritage features have been retained giving a real sense of history and occasion. The cocktails here are spot on, the names make a nod to the buildings past with my favourite the Money, Money, Money a refreshing and zesty blend of gin, elderflower liqueur and mint. Bar food includes oozing corn and manchego croquettes and plump dumplings filled with kangaroo for a snack with a difference. There’s a really nice crowd here as well. My new favourite in the area. 

Details: Fargo and Co, 216 Swan street, Richmond

Gourmet Chick was invited to visit Bontempo and Fargo and Co. All other meals and drinks paid for independently.