Allonda

An airy two-story spot from the ex-Nota team, Allonda is all about good food, good wine and good service, which it dishes up in a sleek, modern setting. Venture down a nondescript alleyway in Newstead to find the stunning venue, which boasts high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows presiding over an understated dining area down stairs, and breezy outdoor seating in the laneway outside.

Since opening back in late 2022, the menu has evolved pretty extensively, morphing from what was almost fine dining to a more relaxed, neighbourhood bistro—though with no less attention to flavour and technique. If you’re keen on an elevated dining experience, you can order up a multi-course feast of dishes like beef tartare,  half shell scallops with sweet corn and garlic butter and confit duck legs, but it’s also the kind of place where you can get steak and frites with a glass of vino for $59 on a Thursday night—basically, they’ve got all the bases covered. 

As for the bevvies, a rotating 90-strong wine list is complemented by a special Coravin menu, so you can sample some drops you might not usually be willing to splash out on. There’s a handful of cocktails kick start (or finish) your night as well, with both traditional options and a few with a touch of Allonda flair. 

It’s not just lunch and dinner on the cards either—they also dish up a mean breakfast from 8am. Their signature giant dutch babies, a deep-dish savoury pancakes are similar to a Yorkshire pudding filled with your choice of Turkish eggs or eggs benny, need to be seen to be believed, though they serve up classics like avo on toast and breakfast wraps as well. 

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Image credit: Supplied