In the first of a new weekly column, ED CHARLES dishes up the latest on Melbourne’s food and bars
HARD ROCK
The Hard Rock Cafe (1 Bourke St, city) will close this year to be replaced by shops as part of a refurbishment of the Windsor Hotel. Rubbish bins in the next-door alley, Windsor Place, will be swapped with cafes and restaurants, making a new eat street. No fixed plans for Hard Rock Cafe yet.
BAR HUMS
The Red Hummingbird (1st floor, 246 Russell St, city) is the latest to join the ranks of bars with rooftop decks. Climb the red concrete steps to the birdcage. Good mojitos.
MOVE TO BELLBRAE
All eyes are on the Bellbrae Harvest (45 Portreath Rd, Bellbrae) near Torquay, where there is a new menu and chef. In the frying pan is James White, ex-second chef at Pettavel. No word yet on successors for White or Pettavel’s head chef Richard Hooper, who wandered off abroad.
BOTTEGA REVAMP
Acclaimed for his veg-acquarian food at S.O.S. and classy Italian at Il Bacaro, chef Riccardo Momesso completes the revamp at Bottega (74 Bourke St, city). See the refurbished New York-style look downstairs and the rejigged wine list under sommelier Magnus McManamey.
GROSSI 1, HUEY 0
One week in and the revamped Mirka at Tolarno (42 Fitzroy St, St Kilda) is a winner. Light, funky and noisy, it is in stark contrast to the dark old venue under TV chef Iain Hewitson. Watch owner Guy Grossi supervise the kitchen through wide glass doors from the bar. On tap: Mountain Goat. Mains from $14, wines mostly over $40. Breakfast from 7.30am. Posh loos.
THIS WEEK’S BEST FEED
The filling $45 banquet at the 28-year-old Lebanese restaurant Abla’s (109 Elgin St, Carlton) is a bargain. I love the Ladies’ Fingers ($14): fat filo pastry cigars filled with minced lamb, pine nuts and flavoured with cumin, allspice and sumac. People cross town for the chicken and rice ($22). Spotted: Amanda Vanstone tucking in.
Read Ed Charles at www.tomatom.com