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Mauritian restaurant Manze in North Melbourne has added a casual bar across the street.

First look: Hatted North Melbourne restaurant opens a casual bar for pop-in visits

It’s right across the street, and it’s built for more spontaneous visits, with a snacky menu – including the signature taro fritters – plus rotisserie chicken sandwiches.

  • Tomas Telegramma
A new burger window is selling up to 800 of its smoky, halal-friendly burgers per day.

800 burgers in a day: The takeaway window, bistros bringing crowds to Brunswick East

The northern end of Lygon Street already had plenty going for it, but a crop of new eateries means locals (and visitors) are now spoilt for choice.

  • Daniela Frangos
At Oden, diners are encouraged to build a bowl from two or three elements – perhaps translucent shirataki noodles, house-made prawn balls flecked with edamame and tobiko (flying fish roe), and abalone.

First look: A surprising ingredient takes centre stage at this new Japanese restaurant

This Melbourne first is a casual spot that celebrates the simmering stews found on the streets of Japan – and the broth that powers them.

  • Quincy Malesovas
Lasagne Lab is serving four different lasagnes in a deep-fried “pasta pocket”.

Novelty or necessity? Our verdict on Melbourne’s new lasagne pocket sandwiches

The creator has never seen anything like them in Italy, and they’re billed as “Australia’s first lasagne sandwich”. But does anyone need a lasagne you can eat with your hands?

  • Tomas Telegramma and Daniela Frangos
Kikanbo brings a different style of ramen to Melbourne, with ultra-spicy miso broth.

Noodle your way through three new city spots dishing bowls of goodness

One spot serves wallet-friendly favourites, another has queues for knock-your-socks-off ramen, and a third goes well beyond pho.

  • Quincy Malesovas
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Hummus topped with Fraser Isle spanner crab and Mooloolaba prawns.

Melbourne’s most famous hummus finally has a home of its own at Zareh

Dip king and ex-Bar Saracen head chef Tom Sarafian opens his debut restaurant on Smith Street.

  • Tomas Telegramma
Winemaker and surfer Dino Giammarino at his Healesville cellar door.

Spritz bars, surfboards and walkable tastings: Who’s shaking up our oldest wine region?

As established names exit the Yarra Valley, three new cellar doors (and a fourth underway) are providing drinkers with good reasons to hot-foot it to Melbourne’s outer-east.

  • Catherine Boucher
Inside the newly renovated Yackandandah Hotel.

This town’s ‘bottom pub’ is back open with big ’70s energy and a committed young crew

Four months and eight skips of rubbish later, a High Country pub is back with an old-school look, a fresh menu from a Melbourne chef and plans for live music.

  • Emma Breheny
An all-day breakfast muffin with cotechino sausage, comte and egg.

Your August hit list: Hot, new and just-reviewed places to check out this month

Spins on Filet-O-Fish, drive-through and exxy banh mis, a fancy burger and this all-day breakfast sandwich were among the buns we enjoyed this month.

Young Chef of the Year Saavni Krishnan (right) and her partner Aditya “Adi” Suresh.

‘It feels very surreal’: Young Chef of the Year’s pop-up goes permanent in former Sunda site

After three years of running pop-ups, two ambitious young chefs have finally found a forever home for their innovative Indian cooking.

  • Tomas Telegramma