Udon carbonara with charred kaiserfleisch,a soft egg and pepper.

Sana Coffee

Japanese-inspired cafe fare,just back from the water.

  • Tomas Telegramma
Southern Italian dishes dominate at Bar Taralli.

Bar Taralli

Serving southern Italian cuisine that’s far from generic.

  • Tomas Telegramma
Caffe Greco gives equal billing to Greek and Italian dishes on its menu.

Caffe Greco

A revived Melbourne dining icon from the ’90s.

  • Emma Breheny
Kaprica is pure Melbourne,with high ceilings and white walls and simple wooden tables and chair.
Critics'Pick

Why this ‘pure Melbourne’ trattoria is attracting a new wave of admirers

The Carlton favourite has long delivered just about everything you’d want from a casual neighbourhood restaurant,says our critic. Now Gen Z has discovered its appeal,too.

  • Besha Rodell
Lunetta,Canberra.
Good Food hat15/20

Canberra’s newest hatted restaurant is a beacon of big-night energy

“Whatever the pasta is,order it,” says our critic of Lunetta,where a young chef is charcoal-grilling high on the hill.

  • David Matthews
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Sarma (cabbage rolls) at Balkan Skara.

It’s worth the drive just for the cabbage rolls at this suburban Macedonian diner

Marijan Nikolovski and his family serve kebapi sausages,flavour-forward dips and more at Balkan Skara in Melbourne’s north.

  • Dani Valent
The prawn toast uses fluffy Japanese shokupan bread.
14/20

You’ll hit the jackpot at this suburban Chinese restaurant with heart – and perfect prawn toast

Come for the dumplings and prawn toast,stay for the warm,cosy atmosphere at convivial Potluck.

  • Dani Valent
Inside Windsor’s Maha East.

Maha East

The Windsor offshoot of a hatted CBD restaurant.

  • Emily Holgate
A sample of what to expect at the Village Belle.

Village Belle

A rollicking hangout,low-key boozer and classy cocktail bar in one.

  • Dani Valent andEmily Holgate
Wok-tossed crab requires rolling up your sleeves and getting hands-on.

Ministry of Crab

Sri Lanka’s most famous restaurant,now on Flinders Lane.

  • Dani Valent