Overview
So you're getting out of lockdown, you've painstakingly pieced together the perfect outfit and you're ready to re-enter society from your WFH cocoon. You're feeling great, looking fab and keen to head out for some delicious food. You might be catching up with a mate, treating your partner for an out-of-the-house date, or taking the plunge with that person you've been Hingeing throughout lockdown. But, there's one small hiccup: while you may enjoy all of the wonders of eating plant-based, your dining companion isn't quite there yet.
Do not despair — with a plethora of welcoming and accessible plant-based restaurants all over Melbourne, you'll have no trouble finding a spot that suits you and your omnivorous pal. To help you out, we've teamed up with Vegkit to select nine that you should check out immediately, because your date shouldn't have to wait.
SMITH & DAUGHTERS, FITZROY
Shannon Martinez took Melbourne by storm when she opened Smith & Daughters in 2014, and, since then, has continued to inspire plant-based eating trends around the country. Arguably, Smith & Daughters has done more than its fair share to normalise plant-based dishes — nothing here is labelled as mock meat or with terms like 'fakon'. Instead, dishes such as the vodka napoli and meatballs or the roast beef fillet appear on the menu as just that, despite being plant-based from start to finish.
Martinez recently announced that Smith & Daughters will be moving into larger premises with sister venue Smith & Deli, so watch for that when it opens in Collingwood later this year.
Red Sparrow Pizza by Simon S
RED SPARROW PIZZA, COLLINGWOOD AND PRAHRAN
Proof that eating plant-based doesn't mean giving up your favourite treats, Melbourne's first fully vegan pizzeria has everything you'd expect from a top pizza restaurant, with the added bonus of being kind to the planet. The woodfired pies here are made using time-honoured Neapolitan techniques and the dough is fermented for 48 hours to improve flavour and digestibility before being hand-stretched to order.
Less traditional, though, are some of the toppings. While the classics are represented — its pepperoni has gained a cult-like following — the menu also includes more creative pizzas like the Patatas Bravas, with a smoky tomato base, potato and 'chorizo', and the Verde, in which dairy-free mozzarella, spinach, artichoke, broccolini and pepitas sit atop a kale pesto base.
Doubling down on the indulgent vibes, the drinks list is bustling with juicy natural wines and locally brewed beers. Plus, with sites on both Smith Street and Chapel Street, you can get your fix without having to cross the river.
GREEN MAN'S ARMS, CARLTON
Missed the pub? Us too. If you're stinging for a pint and a plate at a top vegetarian boozer (yep, they exist), then look no further than Carlton stalwart Green Man's Arms. Owned and operated by acclaimed Aussie actor Alison Whyte and her partner Fred Whitlock, this Lygon Street local serves up seasonally driven vegetarian dishes, all of which can also be made entirely vegan.
You can order house-made falafels, charred corn salad with pickled capsicum, radicchio and jalapeño crema, and possibly one of the finest eggplant schnitties going. Creative cocktails and a tight selection of local craft beers help to wash it all down.
LONA MISA, SOUTH YARRA
One of Melbourne's biggest new restaurants of 2021 just happens to be entirely plant-based. South Yarra's Ovolo Hotel is home to Shannon Martinez' first venue south of the river, for which she has teamed up with veteran chef Ian Curley. In an eclectic setting featuring vibrant (but sophisticated) mid-century decor, the duo oversee a Latin-inspired veg-heavy menu that's designed to share and bears both the marks of Martinez's signature rebellious stylings and touches of Curley's fine-dining flair.
Standout dishes include an oyster mushroom ceviche paired with coconut, fermented soybean, poblano and pineapple, while plates from the Josper include a whole cauliflower basted in a peri-peri sauce and served with a spicy chimichurri. The drinks menu celebrates the local and the seasonal, with a solid range of old- and new-world wines by the glass, as well as cocktails, cold-pressed juices and kombucha on tap.
BIO BY DOC, CARLTON
Through its stable of renowned Italian eateries, mozzarella bars and delis, the DOC Group has earned a solid reputation for its classic Italian fare executed to precision. However, the classics take a backseat at the team's latest addition — a new restaurant dedicated to food that is entirely vegetarian (in fact, mostly vegan) and gluten free. And it's all brought to life with the team's signature style and uncompromising quality. Plus, the airy space, which features al fresco dining and a leafy courtyard, is practically made for an intimate and laidback date night.
Fresh produce is the hero here, reflecting the generations of Italian home cooking that underpins the ethos of the DOC Group. Expect dishes such as wild mushroom polenta with crispy kale and black sesame seeds; charcoal spaghetti with grilled vegetable ragu; and a signature lasagne, which features sheets of spinach pasta, plant-based bechamel and lentil ragu.
TYRANNY OF DISTANCE, WINDSOR
If you like your date night a little rowdy, this Windsor haunt is just the ticket. The diverse menu has something for every taste, and features bar-friendly food such as jackfruit nachos with house-blended spiced beans and Korean bao sliders packed with plant-based pork belly, spicy gochujang, roasted green onions and brown sugar peanut dust.
Helping to wash all this down is a great selection of beers, wines and cocktails, the latter of which are also available by the jug — the classic Pimms jug is perfect for the upcoming warmer weather. Hot tip: get in early for one of the best happy hours in town, with $5 basic spirits, house taps and wine on offer every day between 4–7pm.
THE CARRINGBUSH, ABBOTSFORD
A beautiful heritage pub complete with exposed brick and a roaring fireplace, this Abbotsford local is a real gem for a casual date night. The menu is imaginative but concise, offering creative spins on modern pub fare like buffalo cauliflower with garlic and chive aioli; saffron tagine with baked rice, root veggies, coriander, preserved lemon and currants; and house-made gnocchi with cannellini bean chilli and herb puree. Drinks-wise, it's all about the taps here — the pub features a rotating selection of 22 local craft brews on tap, as well as eight wine taps.
GOOD LOVE, ST KILDA
With a neon sign above the bar that reminds you to 'be a good lover', Acland Street's bright and airy Good Love is ideal date-night material. Here, you and your person can indulge in boozy cocktails and a delicious array of all-day, plant-based plates, making it even more of a winner. Good Love also hosts semi-regular date nights, which lets you sit back and enjoy the company as the kitchen prepares a three-course meal and two cocktails for you.
The menu at this Acland Street spot is constantly evolving, and might include the likes of seitan steak kebab with watermelon salsa and hot chips, a plant-based philly cheesesteak with fried chat potatoes, or garlic mushrooms and chilli oil on cornbread. You can pair such dishes with creative cocktails like jalapeño and tequila sangria or guava bubblegum fizz. The venue is licenced until 1am, too, so you can stick around and work your way through the list.
TRANSFORMER, FITZROY
A date spot sure to impress, this converted Fitzroy warehouse effortlessly oozes laidback charm, yet serves up a truly sophisticated dining experience. Both the food and wine menus change regularly to follow the seasons, and both champion organic and biodynamic culinary practices wherever possible. Past menu standouts have included dishes such as mushroom parfait with pickled shimeji, Pedro Ximenez jelly and russet crisp, and baby radishes with dill butter and black lava salt. Throw in a seriously impressive list of local and imported wines and you're all set for a memorable date night.
For more plant-based dining and recipe inspo, head to the Vegkit website.
Top image: Transformer