Overview
The hospitality industry is one of many that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Forced to shake things up and get a little creative as social distancing becomes people's lifestyle of choice, restaurants and bars across the country have begun offering takeaway and delivery. And even the world's best are having to adapt. One of Melbourne's most celebrated fine diners Ben Shewry's Attica has done some diversifying of its own, launching a pop-up bake shop and its first-ever take-home food offering. Yep — you'll soon be able to scoff some world-class eats, right there on your couch.
The Ripponlea restaurant remains open for regular dine-ins, though, with many international customers cancelling or postponing, it's a little easier to wrangle a table than usual. If you're choosing to go out and support local businesses, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health.
Otherwise, you can still enjoy the Attica experience at home, when two take-home options launch on Tuesday, March 24. One features a lineup of Attica classics, including the famed A Simple Dish of Potato Cooked in the Earth it Was Grown, the spice-crusted lamb shoulder and a trifle version of its Plight of the Bees dessert. It's designed for two people and clocks in at $95 for pick up.
The other one's a more casual offering that'll hook you up with one of Shewry's lasagne, pull-apart garlic bread and a salad made from goodies out of the Attica garden. It's also a two-person affair, priced at $60 if you collect it from the restaurant. For an extra $15, you can have either option delivered straight to your doorstep by Attica staff (only available within ten kilometres of the restaurant).
To really make a night in of it, there's also a handful of sommelier-chosen drink matches on offer. Add on a bottle of wine from $35, a mixed four-pack of beers for $25, or even a pre-batched signature cocktail for $19. And for that sweet tooth? Try a tub of Shewry's buttermilk ice cream with bush apple swirl.
Speaking of sweet stuff, the restaurant's also launching a pop-up Attica Bake Shop from Tuesday, March 24. Operating out of a shop front at 72 Glen Eira Road, Tuesday to Saturday mornings from 9am, it'll be serving up handmade treats like giant versions of the above Vegemite scrolls, garlic bread and warm davidson plum sweet scrolls. Just remember to bring your card, as it'll be cashless.
Find Attica at 74 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea, and the Attica Bake Shop (and takeaway pick-up point) at 72 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea. The Attica Bake Shop should be open from 9am–12pm Tuesday–Saturday. Attica At Home is available to pre-order from 5pm on Friday, March 20 over on the website, with pick up and delivery from March 24.