Everywhere good to eat in South Yarra

Among the trendier dining establishments and culinary buzz around South Yarra, it can be difficult at times to find simple food: traditional, authentic and made with respect for the ingredients.

This is where much-loved Italian restaurant Caffe e Cucina reigns supreme. Staying true to its vision of delivering “the ultimate Italian dining experience,” the kitchen elevates modern Italian cuisine into a truly special occasion.

The antipasti menu shines here with a range of mouthwatering produce. Picture caprese salad puddled with handmade burrata and the juices from heirloom tomatoes, battered zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta and nutty pecorino, and huge plates of beef carpaccio spotted with baby king mushrooms and truffle mayo.

A small range of artisanal pasta dishes follow on the menu, with interesting sauces to match; from lamb ragu and rich savoury-sweet eggplant to pistachio pesto and lobster bisque. The mains keep it traditional, with a Mediterranean-style barramundi or crumbed veal dish pairing beautifully with the fresh Italian flavours bursting forth from the salads: nutty Parmigiana, fresh pears, lemon, balsamic vinegar, garlic and olive oil.

Sip an Italian red with your meal and eat al fresco on buzzing Chapel St for the full experience.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Vitello alla Milanese ($65)

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Staying at The Olsen? As far as hotel restaurants go, you’re in luck with The Spoonbill.

Celebrating seasonal fare and the Aussie abstract artist John Olsen’s love of Mediterranean food, Spoonbill offers a dining environment in South Yarra like no other. Designed by Grant Amon Architects, it hosts a rustic dining space combining new and recycled pieces and a Daly St-facing terrace perfect for balmy evenings.

Head in first thing for a simple but satisfying breakfast of Tasmanian smoked salmon with poached eggs and creme fraiche and dill on rye, or wait until the sun sets for a relaxing tapas sesh by the bar. Here, it’s all about the atmosphere and watching the world go by.

You’ll get the chance to sample such European-inspired delights as grilled chorizo with asparagus, jamon, broad beans and sherry emulsion, or lamb cutlets with fattoush and sumac yogurt.

The wine list primarily celebrates Aussie producers, though there’s a smattering of European bottles to choose from, too. Rather a cocktail? On hot days, you can’t go past a refreshing lychee martini.

If you’re a larger group looking for dinner, try booking the private dining space – it seats 12.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Market fish of the day ($38)

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As an all-day eatery that treasures mood, good food and fresh Aussie produce, Abacus Bar and Kitchen deserves a gold star on your map.

With the tranquil feel of an urban oasis, here you can find sweet relief from the noise of South Yarra – and an exceptional dining experience to remember.

The menu is large and extensive, somehow managing to straddle the line between comforting and boldly experimental in its scope. For brunch, get stuck into blue swimmer crab crumpets with cod roe hollandaise and finger lime oil for a flavour combo you’re unlikely to find anywhere else.

Other firm favourites include the lemon verbena waffles and sausage-bacon-and-eggs mash-up “Ballarat breakfast”, the latter which comes with an actual pickled pig’s head terrine.

Later in the day, your options are no less interesting. Slurp on a roast tropical crayfish from Bathurst Bay with chilli and lime butter (plus shoestring fries for mopping), or if you’re just in the mood for a snack – a lobster cigar with jalapeno cream and chives won’t go astray.

The melt-in-your mouth Grampians beef cheek with creamed sebago, black garlic and smoked marrow jus is out of this world.

With a huge booze list on hand and sunny al fresco seating, don’t be surprised if you end up spending the entire day with friends at Abacus Bar.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Bathurst Bay crayfish ($48)

When France-Soir opened its doors in 1986, Melbourne fell in love with what felt like the first genuine slice of Paris charm on our doorstep.

Today, over 23 years later, it remains one of the few authentic French bistro experiences left standing in Melbourne.

Though the menu changes with the seasons, on each visit locals have come to expect and order a few special homestyle favourites. The menu spans a mega-sized variety of classic regional French dishes, with a distinct focus on technique, tradition and fresh ingredients.

From snails drenched in garlic butter to the fluffiest omelette of your life, to traditional duck l’orange and steak tartare, this is a French restaurant in Melbourne impossible not to love.

But not everything is drenched in butter. Lighter dishes like the Nicoise salad or the grilled scampi with lemongrass offer a surprisingly delicious and refreshing respite from the heavier dishes on the menu.

You might want to nominate a designated driver, though; the renowned wine list here begs languid exploration. A French cellar with apparently at least 4500 bottles, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

What better way to complete your meal than everyone’s favourite apple pie: the warm and chunky tarte tatin?

Dish Cult’s top pick: Entrecote 250g scotch fillet with steak frites, bearnaise sauce and salad ($46)

Curious about modern Turkish food? Yagiz is known to attract foodies and Middle Eastern expats alike for its creative take on the cuisine.

In an upscale yet relaxed setting, gather with loved ones to indulge in Turkish-inspired delicacies designed for sharing.

The sultry meyhane-style restaurant sets the scene with roomy communal seating, considered lighting and the dulcet sounds of the kanun in traditional Turkish music.

Begin your feast with three enchanting dips: fresh taramasalata, fava bean and confit grape with raki, and baked beetroot on a bed of hung yogurt and garlic. Your mopping boat is fresh Turkish bread, baked in-house, of course.

Further down the menu you’ll spot further delights including honey-drizzled saganaki cheese, grilled eye fillet with eggplant puree and red wine jus, and charcoal calamari with risoni and sujuk better.
Anticipate a complex array of flavours throughout your meal: smoky, sweet, salty and succulent with a hint of caramelised bitterness from the grill.
If you’d love to try as much of it as possible, your best bet is to opt for the chef’s selection set menu.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Chef selection ($99)