Estelle

The neighbouring Northcote sites once home to siblings Estelle Bistro and Estelle by Scott Pickett (ESP) have had a shakeup. They've reopened as one standalone venue encompassing wining, dining and everything in between. Dubbed simply Estelle, this latest hospitality project from acclaimed Chef Scott Pickett is a spot for all occasions, showcasing his signature modern Australian fare across both the bar and dining room.

The revamped High Street space has more of a relaxed energy than before, the bar boasting splashes of exposed brick and emerald green marble, and the dining space kitted out with new covetable kitchen-side seating.

From that kitchen comes a collaborative effort by Pickett and new Head Chef Valentin Barrere (ESP, Vue de Monde), the menu running easily from bar snacks through to larger plates primed for lengthy dining room sessions. Drop by for small bites like wagyu bolognese and kimchi stuffed toasties ($14), and puffed crisps of veal tendon flavoured with coffee and roasted onion ($10), or maybe to share the likes of a whole flounder cooked with black bean and XO sauce ($34).

Bigger feasts might mean delicate chicken wings stuffed with shiitake and kelp ($8 for two), hand-rolled macaroni cacio e pepe with guanciale ($29), or the Berkshire pork matched with mustard leaf and kohlrabi ($35).

To match, almost 200 Aussie drops star throughout the considered wine list, while a cocktail lineup sits time-honoured classics alongside signature sips, including the namesake combination of Pickett & Co gin, honey and thyme.

Images: Simon Shiff.