Named ‘Julie’ after chef Julieanne Blum, who’s earned her stripes as the head chef at Cam’s Kiosk over the past six years, a brand new restaurant situated in one of Melbourne's most idyllic locations aims to offer thoughtful produce-driven dishes in a warm, dinner party-like atmosphere.
Along with the recent revival of the Abbotsford Farmers Markets, Julie is a refreshing burst of new life at the national heritage-listed Convent, which has been victim to several rapid venue and program closures over the last few years. One of those was legendary pay-as-you-feel restaurant Lentil as Anything – one of Melbourne’s most tragic hospo casualties from the pandemic lockdowns.
But the Convent is reawakening and replenishing its offerings, with Julie's opening a sign that plenty of good things are afoot. Julie’s menu is designed to rotate frequently according to the seasons and the creative whims of the kitchen talent, with ingredients sourced largely from the Convent’s dedicated veggie garden. Think grilled ox heart with borlotti beans, artichokes and salsa verde; herb-crusted whole flounder with roasted chilli butter; free-range chook; octopus ragu anelletti (small rings of pasta); and more.
Julie may be Cam’s Kiosk’s sophisticated older sister, but the female-led kitchen retains the same unpretentious feel and focus on seasonal simplicitiy the latter restaurant has been championing for the last 13 years. Expect rustic country fare with a modern refined edge.
A lush wine list has been curated by none other than Claudelle Savannah, the woman who spear-headed the success of our 2022 Bar of the Year Public Wine Shop. It celebrates independent producers, both from Australia and from all over the world, with an additional Cellar List to hero the rarer and more special drops.
The space is nestled in the picturesque Convent surrounds, in the curve of the Birrarung (Yarra River), and seats 50 indoors and 30 guests at outdoor tables. For more details, head to the website.