Meatworks Is South Melbourne's Newest, Meatiest Eatery

There's a brand new restaurant in South Melbourne called Meatworks. And yes, it's exactly what it sounds like. The latest venture from hospitality bigwig Lindsay Jones-Evans, the 100-seat eatery boasts a steampunk-inspired design, and promises to be something of a carnivore's cornucopia. We're talking fish, fowl and red meat recipes smoked, braised and roasted. You're welcome.

Chef Travis Watson will man the Meatworks kitchen, and has created a menu inspired by both Eastern and Western cuisines. Mains include crusty meat pies, pork belly rolls, smoked duck pancakes and Asian noodles topped with slow-cooked braised beef, lamb, pork or chicken. Despite what you may think, they do also offer some vegetarian dishes — although given the likelihood of a vegetarian visiting a restaurant named Meatworks, we do have to wonder why they even bothered.

The dessert options aren't exactly what we'd call healthy either, although they are admittedly less meaty. Choose from smoked custard, rice pudding, Turkish delight, Persian nut slices and a selection of freshly baked fruit pies and tarts.

Located just a few minutes' walk from the South Melbourne Market, Meatworks can be found inside what was once a panel beating garage warehouse. Jones-Evans, who is best known for co-founding Sydney eateries Jones the Grocer and The Victoria Room, renovated the space by hand over the past 15 months, and also built the kitchen's 450kg wood smoker.

Meatworks is located at 28-30 Ross Street, South Melbourne. They're currently open for lunch Monday through Friday and will be slowly expanding their hours over the next six months. For more information, check them out on Facebook.

Image credit: Brook James