Nornie Bero is no stranger to the hospitality scene. The chef-owner of Torres Strait Islander catering company Mabu Mabu has brought her island flair to the heart of the CBD at Federation Square, excellent news for those who mourned the closure of her Yarraville café. Big Esso means “the biggest thank you” and is in tribute to everyone who’s supported Mabu Mabu from its inception and to the wonderful country we call home.
Bero has always been a keen advocate for native ingredients and her legendary all-day bar and kitchen showcases these alongside food inspired by her childhood, with shared plates of local seafood. Expect namas, a dish similar to ceviche of coconut-cured kingfish; chargrilled prawns with sea succulents and Bero’s range of hot sauces; wattleseed flatbread and plenty more. You can even opt for a tailored native ingredients presentation with Lilly, the restaurant's First Nations venue manager, who'll personally accompany you through each course and delve deeper into the story behind each ingredient and culinary technique.
The wine list is an all-Australian affair, as is the beer on tap (hello, Stomping Ground) and you can expect a Green Ant-tini on the cocktail front – made with Seven Seasons Green Ant Gin (and ants as a garnish).
It's fitting that Bero's eatery should be situated on the banks of the Yarra. The river was once an eel breeding ground, where shark, dolphin and stingrays provided an invaluable source of food, hunting, cooking, and ceremony for the local indigenous community. By sharing food in this place, Big Esso's mission is to bring these stories back to life.
Gather friends or family and nab a space at the communal table, tune into the ‘Island Radio’ featuring blak musicians and Aussie classics or order a drink from a list of First Nations-owned businesses and social enterprises by the bar. However you plan your visit, Big Esso is an unmissable Melbourne experience.