7 Venues to Discover a Mediterranean Feel and Fare

The Mediterranean diet emphasises eating plant food, fish, red meat and sweets – no wonder we all love it!

As we focus on the Mediterranean this week, here are seven venues around the country serving fare with flair that will take your taste buds on a journey to the Agean and beyond: 

A true Melbourne dining experience, enjoy the finest seafood the region has to offer at Waterfront Brighton on Church Street. With more than 100 years in hospitality, the Zampelis family welcomes guests to enjoy a unique culinary offering, dedicated to a sea-to-plate ethos with daily visits to the market to select the best oysters, pristine shellfish and fresh local seafood; served in a chic coastal vibe of polished wood, arched windows and sparkling glassware.

 

Cast your net over entrées like hiramasa kingfish carpaccio, with fermented green chilli, Japanese radish and native lime, then hook a signature main of linguine with lobster bisque, mussels, clams, prawns, scallops and cherry tomato.

Taking plant-based Italian food to a new level, head to Funghi e Tartufo on Hardware Lane in Melbourne’s CBD to expand your vegan food horizons along with organic and natural wine options. Nestled in a converted 19th-century warehouse, this hidden gem boasts white tablecloths, wine barrels and a vinyl-wrapped bar, along with plenty of alfresco seating for balmy days when people-watching takes centre stage.

 

Whoever said to eat plant-based and earth-friendly food you need to renounce the delicacies of traditional Italian cuisine has never been to this joint; start with mushroom and truffle arancini, then twirl your fork around fresh pappardelle with truffle and mushroom sauce.

Nestled in Box Hill North, Da Pino Pizzeria e Cucina is a purveyor of authentic Italian dining with a strong influence from Sicilian heritage. Beginning life as a small takeaway, this cucina has been an institution in the community for more than 25 years, with the new generation taking over to modernise the experience but always sticking to family roots.

 

Find a calming vibe of green walls, marble-topped tables, flowers and sparkling glassware as you peruse a menu promising everything from pasta to pizza and seafood; say grazie to starters of beef and pork meatballs with Napoli sugo and Parmesan, before spinach and ricotta ravioli in buttery sage sauce.

Situated just a stone’s throw away from the picturesque Noosa River, Frenchies Brasseries on Thomas Street in Noosa Heads brings people together to experience French and Mediterranean cuisine created using the best local produce. Step into a chilled-out vibe in keeping with tropical Queensland, where bi-fold doors open to bring the outside in and potted greenery adds an oasis of green.

 

Sip an ice-cold glass of Chardonnay and ponder starters such as escargots in garlic and parsley butter with a crusty baguette, then delve into beef short ribs, aligot, caramelised onion purée and parsley crumb, enjoyed with a glass of Pinot Noir, for a main to remember. 

Gino’s Kitchen & Cocktails on Victoria Street is the ultimate Darlinghurst restaurant for authenticity, blending Southern Italian cuisine with creative drinks and friendly service. Ideal for a romantic night, celebratory dinner with friends or solo dining experience, relax alfresco at white tables set with red and white checked tablecloths; or head indoors where moody lighting, rustic wood and a stacked stone bar await with the promise of memorable meals to come.

 

Let the beating hearts behind this cucina – Gino and Giovanni – take care of you with starters of lasagne spring rolls and béchamel sauce; moving onto pasta plates such as pappardelle with slow-cooked beef and pork, peas and Napolitana sauce.

From morning to night, there’s not just coffee on offer at Henry M’s on Welwyn Avenue in Perth. Tucked away in the heart of Manning, this dining destination delivers on all fronts whether you are looking for a quality brunch, lunch or dinner, as well as a refined Sundowner session on Sundays with live music and roast dinner specials.

 

Settle onto one of the banquettes made comfy with soft cushions, or perch on a stool at the bar and contemplate plates like prawn and chorizo croquettes, aioli and chive; for the main, delve into the likes of pan-roasted chicken, potato and leek cream, Torbay asparagus, triple-cooked potatoes and chicken jus.

Authentic food with a Mediterranean twist is what you’ll find on the menu at A1 Fairfield Bakery on Station Street. On balmy Melbourne days head to the rustic courtyard where well-worn brick, mismatched colourful table settings and trailing greenery await; while indoors is warm and inviting with white subway tiles, recycled timber and cabinets overflowing with all manner of temptations.

 

All-day plates like the A1 breakfast of mushrooms, falafel, olives, tomato, mint, cucumber, hummus and Lebanese bread always entices, or dine later on a pulled lamb foldover with tomato, spinach, coleslaw and barbeque sauce, with a tabouli salad on the side.