Erin
Formely the gelato-focused degustation eatery Messina Creative, Erin plates savoury dishes with a firm farm-to-plate ethos...and gelato.
Overview
It's popped up in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. It sold out in just 45 minutes when it originally launched in 2014, then in 2023 it became a full-time fixture by the name of Messina Creative, before settling in 2025 as Erin: Gelato Messina's next-level degustation restaurant.
In previous iterations, the restaurant's capacity has been in the single digits. But, with the privilege of Messina's Marrickville HQ, it can now seat diners in indoor and outdoor spaces alike.
Come in the morning for a coffee and a treat at neighbouring Shadow Baking, or a scoop (or three) at any time of day, but come by afternoon and you'll be treated to Erin's specialty service.
The original menu stuck to Messina's usual beta of sweet treats, albeit with some very creative spins. Now, Erin is exploring a wider world of savoury flavours as a wine and cocktail bar. But this is still a Messina venture, so gelato is remains an element of every dish. Named for Messina's Victorian farm property, Erindale, all fruit, vegetables, dairy and meat come from its namesake.
The resulting dishes include jersey beef tartare with buckwheat, poppy seed tart, fresh jersey cheese and smoked tomato sorbet, a Messina jersey beef bourguignon pie with cacao puff pastry and ketchup gelato, a cacio e pepe cookie sandwich and Erindale gnocchi with spring greens, preserved lemon burre blanc and evoo gelato.
The indecisive diner can order from the luxurious set menu, which will set you back $89 per person. On the drinks front, there's a mix of red, white, rosé and orange wines, spritzes aplenty, and cocktails like a strawberry negroni and caramelised coconut Tommy's marg.
Images: supplied.
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