From the colder Northern countries to the beaches of the Mediterranean, European food encompasses classic, world-renowned cuisines.
Whether a stew, sandwich or dessert, each country has its own iconic dishes and a myriad of different variations on them, making for rich rewards for the gourmet traveller. Served from the pubs of Ireland to the bistros of France, discover European flair with fare on the plate at these six restaurants:
Greek-inspired Eats
Ancient Greek-inspired eats and drinks are on the menu at Yiamas on Denis Street in Subiaco. This Perth dining destination boasts a casual and cool neutral-hued palette with splashes of olive green and natural textures, while the leafy, trellised courtyard is wrapped with rendered walls and the cement bar beckons for lingering over a cocktail or two.
Order an Aegean Manhattan to get the party started along with meze plates like cured sardines, yoghurt and salted onion, before mains such as spit-roasted meat with fried new potatoes and a tomato, charred eggplant, olive and feta salad; finish indulgently with Eleni’s baklava and bay leaf parfait.
Gourmet Local Produce and Estate Wine
The Dining Room restaurant on Arthurs Seat Road in Red Hill does regional dining right. Nestled in Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill vineyard, this refurbished destination is the ideal spot to enjoy long, languid lunches or cosy dinners by the fire sipping a glass of estate wine.
Floor-to-ceiling windows invite the outside in as you gaze over manicured gardens and lawns from reeded glass and curved-back chairs, while pondering a menu showcasing gourmet local produce; perhaps start your culinary journey with scallops, smoky ham and wild garlic purée, before Wagyu sirloin, asparagus, roasted onion and beef bone marrow jus, enjoyed with a glass of Avani The Earth Syrah.
Escape from the Outside World
Whether it’s a morning coffee and pastry, quick lunch or after-work cocktail, Luma Restaurant on North Terrace in the heart of Adelaide’s CBD provides an inviting escape from the outside world. This contemporary Art Nouveau-inspired venue nestles on the ground floor of The Playford, MGallery and dishes up an original food and beverage offering based on quality, locally sourced produce.
Luma marries the culinary ethos of European simplicity with a sophisticated yet casual elegance; stop in early for a bacon, scrambled egg and cheddar cheese croissant; dine later on tagliatelle with crab, Tiger prawns and nduja or honey-roasted duck breast, confit duck legs, crispy kipfler potatoes, house salad and seasonal condiments.
Elegant European-inspired Dining
Lola at The Provincial Hotel on Lydiard Street North in Ballarat offers stylish European-inspired dining, beautifully shaped each season by the region’s best locally sourced produce. Settle into a relaxed and elegant dining room, beautifully styled in the signature hotel design, with blue leather banquette seating, fresh flowers and intimate tables ideal for a romantic rendezvous.
Start a memorable meal with citrus-cured kingfish hiramasa, Yarra Valley caviar, avocado crème fraiche, cumquat vinaigrette and buckwheat crackers, while mains may present like pork cutlet, vanilla bean and almond purée, peppercorn jus and slaw; pasta lovers opt for gnocchi verde, brown butternut squash cream, Meredith goats’ cheese and candied walnuts.
Polish Food and Vodka Await
Contemporary Polish food and an extensive vodka list await discerning Melbourne foodies at Borsch, Vodka and Tears on trendy Chapel Street in Windsor. This Melbourne institution is styled after a Krakow cellar bar with a happening vibe and exotic furnishings, making it ideal for a first date, celebration or just a quick drink with family and friends.
With more than 220 Polish vodkas on offer along with iconic cocktails, this late-night go-to venue serves up starters like cabbage rolls stuffed with beef, pork, lamb ad rice, served with roast tomato and parsnip sauce; then dip your spoon into a steaming bowl of Ukrainian borsch, before Hungarian goulash with slow-braised beef and capsicum ragu, potato blintz, red peppers and sour cream.
Constantly Evolving Food & Wine
Share tales and tastes at casual yet refined European bistro Lady Lola on Cyrillean Way in Dunsborough. Arrive with a sense of adventure and sandy feet to kick off with a luxurious cocktail in the courtyard, linger over shared plates in the modern dining area, or grab some deli treats to go and explore the natural beauty of the Margaret River area.
Just like the food options, the wine list is constantly evolving to bring new and interesting drops to the table; perhaps begin your adventure with market-fresh crudo, fennel and ginger pickle; for the main, delve into garlic prawn risotto and mascarpone, before a divine dessert of honey panna cotta, Negroni cherries and chocolate pearls.
