Eat
Japanese-style brunch spot Hibiki (1161 Toorak Rd) is one of Melbourne’s true treasures. Set on the eastern edge of the suburb, the effortlessly chic diner is the handiwork of Reiji Honour. The crunchy okonomiyaki – based on his mother’s recipe – is a must-try, as is the crowd favourite Middle Meets East dish featuring poached eggs with potato corn parmesan korokke, soysage shichimi butter, toasted seeds, fried leek and dried cranberries on sourdough.
Baked goods are the star of the show at the Baker’s Wife (414-418 Burke Rd). Drop by just before the lunch rush for one of the team's daily sandwiches served on the type of bread that would satisfy your taste buds even if it had nothing on it. If you have time to sit, do. Try the French toast made with challah bread and the flatbread eggs with lemon and cumin butter.
Across from Camberwell Station, Boss Pizzeria (25 Cookson St) offers up arguably the best woodfired slices in Melbourne’s east. Chefs Daniel Barrese and Johnny Logue have over 40 years of pizza-making experience between them and it shows through their light and airy pizza doughs topped with the best local and imported Italian ingredients.
If you’re after the area’s best dumplings then there is simply no place to go other than Tao Dumplings (1 Evans Pl). The food is fresh and inexpensive – try the laksa, it's an unexpected menu highlight. Be warned, the restaurant is always packed so book ahead if you can and don’t forget to take advantage of the generous BYO wine policy.
Judging the quality of an Italian restaurant by its gnocchi is not a new practice, yet even the most seasoned of foodies will find themselves impressed by the soft and plump bites paired with lamb ragu at Con Noi Italian Trattoria (259 Camberwell Rd). The motto on their menu reads “life is a combination of magic and pasta” and that certainly holds true within the exposed-brick walls of this cosy establishment.
Ready for a feast? Look no further than Greek restaurant Meraki (722 Burke Rd) at the top end of the junction. Go there for the mixed grill, stay for the ambience and return for the galaktoboureko dessert.
Last but not least, for those that love a simple but scrumptious chicken and chips, David McFadyen says that “Chargrill Charlie's (10 Prospect Hill Rd) is very good indeed”.