FRANKIE SAYS: new restaurant in Richmond to enjoy warm al fresco afternoons

The vibe the owners were going for was to make you feel as confortable and relaxed as you would in your own living room. Only - small detail - the view from your living room just got seriously upgraded.

So you might not spot it from the street, as this restaurant is inside a complex of apartment buildings, but its hidden and privileged location is actually one of the amazing things about it: its wide terrace faces directly the Yarra River so not only you’ll get the great outdoor vibe, which we all crave for in the summer, but you’ll get to be literally in the nature.

But the ‘feel at home and relax’ concept does not end with the view – from the clean, but warm décor, to shared tables, to a menu that invites you to slowly glare through it over a bottle of cold white wine in a weekend afternoon, this spot is a perfect place to just relax and feel at home.

So let’s cut to the chase and talk about the food. What to expect? Great, locally sourced produce, creative ways to use well-known ingredients (think cumin over a green salad or quinoa to make crispy chicken) and good old feel-good food with a contemporary twist. I was lucky to get a chance to taste – waaay to many - different items in the menu so here are some of the highlights for me:

The antipasti platter: oh. my. god. Please, order it if you’re on the sharing mode. Please. It has the best buffalo mozzarella and Italian ham I’ve eaten outside Italy. A great combination of really tasty g ingredients, it’s a great way to start your lunch.

I’d continue with a salad, and in this case, my favorite: bitter greens, avocado, cucumber and poached eggs with a delicious mango lime dressing and a cumin touch. Subtle flavors, light, fresh and surprisingly tasty.

If you’re up for a sandwich, I’d recommend either the pulled beef, caramelized onions and provolone for the “juicy seekers” and the crispy chicken burger for “crunchy cravers”. With both options you’d be in for a treat.

Now, I have to say my very very very favorite dish was the pizza. The bresaola, pesto, cherry tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella is a slice of pizza heaven! The trick: they sprinkle the dough with parmesan cheese and olive oil. I know, how come this hasn’t yet become standard procedure for pizza making??!

To wrap it up, I had a sample of 3 of their signature desserts: Chocolate, beetroot and rosemary cake, Lychee, mango, pineapple, caramelized coconut and white chocolate and Vanilla, almond, peach and berry cheesecake.

All of them, beautifully looking and delicious! I’d normally go for the chocolate option as a favorite, but the Lychee and mango option fitted perfectly with the warm weather.

So I definitely recommend chilling out this awesome terrace on the warm weekends to come. They are still not opening for dinner, so eager foodies: take a Saturday afternoon to taste these Italian wonders, sip a chilled white wine and… relax!