Where to Celebrate a Milestone with a Long Lunch in Melbourne
Whether it be a promotion, a birthday or an engagement, we've found a place for your big moments.
Where to Celebrate a Milestone with a Long Lunch in Melbourne
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Whether it be a promotion, a birthday or an engagement, we've found a place for your big moments.
Melbourne is traditionally Australia's foodie city. So, chances are when you're hitting one of its many upscale establishments, you'll want to take it slow and really savour the experience — particularly if it's a special occasion. Luckily, there's no shortage of restaurants where you can park yourself for hours, feasting and clinking glass upon glass of celebratory vinos. To make it easy, we've partnered with Citi to narrow down some top Melbourne faves for a leisurely lunch, spanning the spectrum from classic French bistro vibes to intriguing Asian Australian fusion. Plus, there are a few wine pairing suggestions in there, too. All you have to do is make the booking.
What's more, if you've got a Citi card, you can kick things off with a complimentary bottle of vino, thanks to the Citibank Dining Program. Sad desk salad, be gone. Book at any participating restaurant, mention the offer upon arrival and settle in for a long lunch complete with a free bottle of wine — just make sure to tap your Citi card at the end.
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When a venue offers floor-to-ceiling views of the city, you’re going to want a longer lunch session just to take it all in. Plus those views will make celebrating your new high-flying city-based job even more special. Taxi Kitchen boasts an intriguing Asian Australian fusion menu worth paying serious attention to. For $70, you can have two lunchtime courses of sustainable, locally sourced fare. Or, you can opt for a six-course tasting menu for $85 per person. If you’re choosing the fruity Coombe Farm pinot noir for your free bottle, pair it with crispy skin salmon and sugarloaf cabbage with black bean dressing. While the roasted chicken breast, baby leek and grilled eggplant with chilli oil is a delightful companion for the Coombe Farm chardonnay. For something extra, splash out on the fanciest side salad you’ve ever seen: wombok coleslaw, nashi pear, mint and ‘Tears of Dragon’ spicy dressing.
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Bistro Gitan brings French family hospitality into an old-world fine dining venue, complete with marble benches, a wine display and warm wood panelling. The menu is contemporary European fusion — think French meets Spanish and the Mediterranean — with a mix of traditional family recipes, bistro staples and modern dishes to showcase Australian produce. Head here when you finally hand in that resignation so you can start your dream job.
To start, an assiette of charcuterie would suit either the Last Horizon Estates riesling or Tightrope Walker pinot noir, both free thanks to Citi. If you don’t fancy a meaty dish, the nettle parisienne gnocchi with fondue du fromage, pine nuts and espelette pepper is a winner.
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For an unconventional, award-winning take on modern Vietnamese, skip over to Dandelion in Elwood. The stripped back decor with exposed brick, pale timber and a vertical garden matches the light and fresh menu items. The dishes are bursting with fresh herbs, chilli and sharp vinegar characteristic of Vietnamese cooking — a perfect match for the light McW Alternis vermentino. From Thursday to Sunday, you can stop in at lunchtime to celebrate your milestone — be it that long-awaited promotion or birthday that isn’t a special number but still worthy of a celebration — and enjoy signature Vietnamese dishes like pho and bánh xèo: a turmeric coconut pancake with pork and crab salad. If you want something richer, perhaps to pair with your free Partisan Trenchcoat grenache, syrah and mourvedre blend, don’t overlook the caramelised pork hock with tamarind caramel and fragrant herbs.
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The personal passion of Joseph Vargetto has brought Sicilian flavour to the heart of Kew. His seasonally adapted menu uses the freshest ingredients from around Victoria — except for those fine imported Italian cheeses, of course. At Mister Bianco, there’s an emphasis on stuzzichini sharing plates, which is perfect if you’re planning a big group meal. Especially after you and your team have finished off a work week full of big wins.
The Italian influence is perfectly complemented by a McW Alternis vermentino — a Sardinian-style crisp white wine, with a natural acidity and grapefruit and guava notes. It’s crying out to be paired with Humpty Doo Barramundi fillet with celeriac, green apple and purple potato chips. And your other complimentary wine option, the Partisan Trenchcoat GSM blend, can more than stand up to the robust flavour of braised beef cheek with spinach leaves, pickled radicchio and parmesan macaroni.
To get a free bottle of wine at your next meal, book at any one of Citi’s participating restaurants, mention the offer at the time of booking and pay your bill with your Citi card.
Top image: Taxi Kitchen
