Once we hit August, Melbourne's restaurants and bars know they have to pull out all the stops to encourage patrons to brave the cold and head out for a midweek meal or a couple of beverages come the weekend. Sure, it may be easier to stay in, and there is admittedly a lot of great series worth streaming at the moment; it also feels really great to put in a little effort and do something special for yourself, your significant other, or your mates this wintry season. So, use our handy guide of the best specials and deals floating around Melbourne this August, and get out of your seasonal slump. From playful dumpling disco events to comforting limited-edition winter dishes, Gin & Jazz evenings to deluxe truffle experiences, there is an eclectic mix of exciting specials around at the moment, so put your adventurous hat on (over your woolly beanie if you have to) and make the most of all that Melbourne has to offer, regardless of what the weather report has in store. Roll Call, Yamagen Tucked down Portland Lane behind QT Melbourne, contemporary Japanese restaurant Yamagen has introduced Roll Call, an after-work counter dining experience inspired by Tokyo's hidden alleyway restaurants. Available Tuesday to Thursday from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, it's a chance to pull up a seat at the counter and watch hand rolls made just inches away. For $39, choose any two of the three signature hand rolls — Spanner Crab, Wagyu Beef or Green — alongside a Japanese-inspired cocktail, picking from a Spicy Sake Margarita, Ume Martini or Sakura Blossom. The Winter Collection, Circl Wine House Melbourne's ultimate destination for wine lovers, Circl Wine House, is warming things up this chilly season with The Winter Collection series. Throughout August, find a line-up of limited-edition Euro-inspired dishes. Each week, the chef will showcase a hearty dish, including spiced pork cavatelli with fennel, lemon, and chives, confit duck leg with beetroot, mushroom pappardelle with guanciale, and braised beef cheek with artichoke. The Winter Collection dishes go for $39, with wine pairings available, suggested by Circl's on-hand sommeliers. Dumpling Disco, Mya Tiger The Espy's easy-going, good times diner, Mya Tiger, is making winter fun with its Dumpling Disco series. Head into the St Kilda institution on Friday, from 8pm to sample a serious array of delicious dumplings. Guests will enjoy five varieties of dumplings for $50 per person, including pan-fried chicken dumplings and truffle pork and prawn sui mai. Disco balls, eighties tunes, and giveaways take things up a notch. Pair it with Lucky Hour, Mya Tiger's daily happy hour, available between 5-6pm, where $3 oysters and $15 cocktails are on offer. Moonlight & Martinis, Mill Place Merchants Beat the weekday blues with Mill Place Merchants' charming Moonlight & Martinis special. The moody yet welcoming space is ideal for date night, or a memorable catch-up with a mate. The Merchant's Supper, available daily for $105, includes a stellar spread of snacks such as lasagna fritti, mini lobster rolls, straciatella with truffle goat's cheese, wagyu bresaola with truffle and squid ink salami, and bread with condiments and pickles. Take things up a notch on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, where from 5-9.30pm, you can add two martinis for just $23. Gin & Jazz, Mr Mills Mr Mills has launched Mr Mills' Music Room to liven things up this winter. Every Friday from 7-9pm, a rotating line-up of artists will feature in the Gin & Jazz series. Well-known jazz, soul, funk, and disco tunes will warm things up, before DJs take over the decks from 9-11pm. Sip on limited-edition cocktails created with Four Pillars and Gospel Rye Whisky, alongside a Jazz Bites menu of signature snacks and share plates. Fresh Winter Truffle Experience, Lexy Melbourne Design-forward, modern diner Lexy is leaning luxe this winter with its Fresh Winter Truffle Experience. Available only while fresh truffles last, the exclusive menu showcases the sought-after truffle in all its glory. The chefs pair their signature, contemporary Pan-Asian flavours with the earthy notes of truffles, for a truly memorable dining experience. The menu is available for $169 per person until the end of August. $25 Pizza and Wine, Garfield Pizzeria Bustling Carlton hangout, Garfield Pizzeria, has introduced a midweek special to get you out of the house on hump day. For just $25, grab a margherita pizza and a glass of wine. In this economy, that's pretty hard to beat. The signature pizza is made with 72-hour-fermented dough, topped with tomato, buffalo mozzarella, and herbs, and served alongside a glass of Fiano or Sangiovese. Get familiar at the communal table, or cosy up under the heaters in the undercover outdoor area. Sushi Fiesta, Pincho Disco Collingwood's Latin-American-inspired diner, Pincho Disco, is traversing continents this winter with its Sushi Fiesta weekly dining special. From 5pm on Thursdays, explore the curious blend of Latin American and Japanese flavours, with a premium sushi platter. The share-style feast, priced at $99, is an easy and playful way to experience the fusion flavours inspired by Nikkei cuisine, which originated with Japanese immigrants who settled in Peru in the 19th century. Executive Cut Fridays, Taxi Kitchen Celebrate making it to the end of the working week at Taxi Kitchen this winter, with a new lunch deal just launched. Every Friday, Executive Chef Tony Twitchett will offer a standout cut, served with hand-cut fat chips, house-made sauces and accompaniments. Rotating monthly selections include a 1kg premium steak. Make it a leisurely occassion by adding on a glass of the Sommelier's Pick of the Week. If you're in a hurry, you can pre-order, which not only secures your steak but also streamlines the process. Anti-Inflation Menu, Charm Eatery Charm Eatery in Windsor is single-handedly tackling the cost-of-living crisis with its Anti-Inflation Menu. Every Wednesday from 5 pm, give your wallet a break with a line-up of dishes that won't break the bank. You can grab a bao (chicken or soft-shell crab) for just $5, small plates for just $10, stir-fries and noodles for $18, and cocktails and pints for just $10. While Charm is often overlooked because it's set just off Chapel Street and misses foot traffic, it's a place worth the slight detour if you want to enjoy the experience of eating out while still keeping the budget in balance for the month. Greek Wine Tuesdays, Bar Sophia Glen Iris' chic and happening Greek eatery, Bar Sophia, is showcasing the often overlooked heroes of Greek wine with its Greek Wine Tuesdays. The sleek spot already promotes Greek drops with its 12-seat no-bookings bar, and a wine wall where locals can pick up a bottle to take away. Its Greek Wine Tuesdays Special, available until August 25, means you can enjoy a bottle for dine-in service, at take-away prices. Saturday Loose Lunches, Mr Miyagi Modern Japanese diner Mr Miyagi has held its own on Chapel Street for many years now, known for ever-popular dishes such as its salmon nori taco and tempura broccoli, as well as fun and fruity cocktails. Its value-driven set menus are a great option for group dining, and a way to encourage your mates out of the house this winter. Check out Mr Miyagi's Saturday Loose lunches, which, for $69 per person, include a generous set menu and free-flowing drinks for an hour and a half. And because, let's be honest, you probably don't have many other plans this weekend, why not upgrade to the two-and-a-half-hour package for just an extra $20? Mike's Weekend Brunch, 1 Hotel Melbourne Even if you're not jetsetting to Europe this winter, you can still experience the joy of one of the true delights of a holiday without leaving Melbourne: hotel brekkie. 1 Hotel Melbourne's acclaimed restaurant, From Here by Mike, has introduced Mike's Weekend Brunch to give you that indulgent, leisurely, holiday feeling without having to get on a plane. From 11.30am, grab generous brunch servings alongside the star of the show, the build-your-own Bloody Mary Atelier. Skilful bartenders will concoct your perfect, personalised drink, with everything from horseradish and celery to peppercorns and chilli, and a fiery hot sauce that'll be enough to take the edge off the winter chill. $35 Steak Night, Wally's Albert Park staple Wally's, a cosy wine bar loved by locals and visitors alike, is inviting you in from the cold this winter with a steak special. Every Thursday from 5pm, head in and grab premium steak frites for $35. Rotating cuts are served with golden fries, salad and a sauce of your choice, all paired perfectly with a wine from Wally's quality list. This Thursday night special is the ideal way to celebrate as we near the end of the week. Mini Martini & Snack Deal, Various Locations To celebrate World Martini Day this month, Four Pillars is teaming up with some of Melbourne's most beloved restaurants for this year's Martini Collective. A great way to kick off an evening out on the town, head to one of six select venues for a mini martini made from Four Pillars' Olive Leaf Gin, paired with a signature snack. At Carlton Wine Room, said snack is the famous anchovy, fried bread, ricotta and pickled cucumber creation; at Maison Bâtard, try a steak tartare tart with confit egg yolk; and at Bar Bellamy, a Comte custard tartlette is paired with pickled radish, grapes and gooseberries. Find further details here. Club Ramen, Tokyo Tina One of Melbourne's most continually buzzing Japanese restaurants, Tokyo Tina from the Commune Group, is beating the winter chill with its Club Ramen special. Every Wednesday evening, Tokyo Tina is serving a selection of made-to-order, hearty and warming ramen, until sold out. The chashu pork ramen is rich and decadent with garlic oil, soy egg and chashu pork scotch. The creamy tantanmen ramen — with minced chicken, soy milk, sesame paste and itokiri togarashi — is a riot of flavours, while the vegetarian kakiage ramen, with an umami shiitake dashi, bamboo and nori, is an excellent meat-free alternative. $15 Soups & Bowls, Hanoi Hannah Perennially popular modern Vietnamese eatery, Hanoi Hannah, with outposts in Elsternwick and Windsor, is offering an unmissable deal this winter. For just $15, you can wrap your grubby hands around a steaming bowl of soup to warm you up from the inside out. The crowd favourites phos (mixed mushroom, poached chicken, tender beef and chargrilled chicken) can be supplemented with extra protein, veggies, and noodles. For the same price, you can also snag a fresh and vibrant vermicelli bowl topped with spring rolls, lemongrass beef, crispy tofu or chargrilled chicken. It's not that common to find a generous lunch for just $15, so don't miss out on this deal. Tuesday Date Night, Ruzia's Hidden in plain sight along busy Balaclava Road is Ruzia's, a suburban wine bar that locals are proud to call their own. The open, warm and informal space lends itself to convivial dining, chitchat amongst neighbouring diners and with staff, and to settling in for a simple yet deeply satisfying meal of salty snacks, Eastern European delights, and plenty of generously poured drinks. Its newly introduced $45 Date Night is a sure-fire way to make Tuesdays special, featuring Baker Bleu bread, signature meatballs, a warm cinnamon doughnut with ice cream for dessert, and a glass of wine. Feature image: Pincho Disco. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.