Rustica Has Opened a New Bakery and Cafe with an Ex-Chin Chin Chef in Melbourne's West

Rustica Sourdough, the Melbourne institution and baker of all things sour and delicious, has opened a new bakery and cafe in Melbourne's west.

It's the bakery's fifth location — with its original cafe in Fitzroy, shops on Hawthorn's Power Street and in Rialto Towers, and one opening in Melbourne Central earlier this year — and the first out west. It's opened inside Highpoint Shopping Centre, so next time you're out getting groceries — or braving the pre-Christmas crowd — you can snag something sourdough-y.

Located on level three of the shopping precinct, the new Rustica is — like its siblings — a cafe-bakery hybrid, with options for those who are looking for a leisurely brunch, a quick bite for lunch, or just a comforting cronut while you navigate the masses. This time, however, they've called in ex-Chin Chin chef Sam Mills to oversee the menu — and dishes have a noticeable mod-Asian lean.

Highlights include the okonomiyaki, a savoury Japanese pancake made with cabbage, kewpie mayo, sesame and fried eggs; baba ghanoush with haloumi and poached eggs; and chilli-spiked scrambled eggs on pumpkin seed toast. For something sweet, look to the coconut tapioca with peanut praline and puffed black rice.

To celebrate the launch of the new store, Rustica is giving away free coffees and freshly baked croissants to the first 100 customers that walk through its doors tomorrow — Saturday, October 27. If you needed some motivation to start your Christmas shopping early, this might just be it.

Find Rustica Highpoint at Level 3, Highpoint Shopping Centre, 120-200 Rosamond Road, Maribyrnong from Saturday, October 27. It's open seven days a week, from Monday to Wednesday 9am–5.30pm, Thursday to Friday 9am–9pm, Saturday 9am–6pm and Sunday 10am–5pm.