Rustica Highpoint

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.