Eat
For prime seaside dining, get on down to Sebastian (26 Esplanade). Like it’s namesake, the venue was inspired by sunny San Sebastian in Spain's Basque Country with its idyllic beaches and carefree, sunkissed atmosphere. What you get here is an eatery and bar located on Williamstown beach with white walls, salty air and seafront views, topped off with a Meditteranean menu pintxos including gildas that pierce together white anchovies, green olives and guindilla peppers on a little skewer, small plates that feature ceviche made from ocean trout, or larger plates including slow-cooked pork hock. Sit down to a meal in the dining room, or head outdoors for a casual snacky affair, with both options being suited to kids and adults.
Hobsons Bay Hotel (28 Ferguson St) is one of the newer kids on the block in Willy. The gastropub’s menu was designed by Ben Pigott (Supernormal, Cumulus Inc, Stokehouse) and is owned by the brains behind bakery and café chain Rustica. The venue (which previously housed George Colombaris's Hellenic Hotel) has a rooftop overlooking Melbourne’s city skyline, a dining room and a public bar – all with their own unique menus. Expect the likes of cheeseburgers with shoestring fries, rotisserie chicken with salsa verde, and doughnuts with pineapple jam and rum custard. It’s dishing up daily from noon until late and is the perfect haunt for those looking for a casual drink or a substantial pub meal.
Hot nights call for fish and chips and this is when Off the Pier Fish and Chippery (1 Syme St) will become your best friend. The little hole-in-the-wall owned by brother duo George and Hazem Hazouri (Union Square Fish and Chips Shop) is conveniently situated right next to the pier (hence the name) and a well-equipped park that offers a playground for kids and a gazebo for those looking to escape the sun. As far as the food goes, it’s your standard fish and chip joint but the fish is fresh, the batter is crisp, the chips are generously coated in chicken salt and the prices are very fair. Expect friendly service and a little courtyard in the back for those looking to dine-in.
Sangam Tandoori (135 Nelson Pl) has brought bright, earthy colours in the form of North Indian curries to Williamstown since 1999. The restaurant is popular among locals and is a hotspot for families and couples during the evening on weekends. Its menu boasts rich and fragrant dishes like the chicken do pyaza that marries a thick masala onion sauce with tender chunks of chicken. Snag a seat by the window that looks across to the park and pier and mop up your curry with some doughy naan and cleanse your palate with a mango lassi.
If you’re looking for some of the best pizza in Melbourne, look no further than Pizza d'Asporto (11/71 Kororoit Creek Rd). Located in an unassuming carpark, the family-run pizzeria sling pies with thin crusts, high-quality toppings and simple yet sensational pastas. Al dente rounds of orecchiette dance with crisp, fried morsels of pork sausage and broccolini in the salsiccia and broccolini pasta, and layers of sopressa salami, leg ham and hot cacciatore lay on a bed of San Marzano tomato and mozzarella in the salumi pizza. Pizza bases can be made gluten-free, chocolate pannacottas disappear within seconds and glasses of housemade chilli oil dot the tables. It’s near impossible not to enjoy your meal here.
A few doors down from Pizza d’Asporto sits a Vietnamese bakery that dishes up salad rolls to hungry tradies and smiley biscuits to kids, but it’s the banh mi that’s worth trying. Hot Golden Bakery (7/71 Kororoit Creek Rd) masters banh mi with freshly baked rolls and the usual trimmings including crisp pork belly and crackling, and glistening barbecue chicken, yet it’s the kimchi roll with its tangy shreds of fermented kimchi and juicy pork meatballs that stands out from the rest. Grab it to go with spring onion, cucumber and coriander then head to the nearest park or beach.
