Brunswick East locals have been eyeing off the recently closed Bar Romantica venue, curiously speculating what will fill the space and be the newest addition to an already stacked lineup of restaurants on Lygon Street.
Well, the answer is finally here and we promise it doesn’t disappoint. This September, the acclaimed restaurateur, Hannah Green, behind Lygon Street favourite, Etta, will be opening the doors to a charming new venture, called Daphne. Our spidey senses are tingling that this is going to be something special.
The vibe: relaxed neighbourhood local. The food: European-leaning with seasonal produce from nearby farms and friends. The drinks list: leaves nothing to be desired. Let’s dive a little deeper…
Etta | Image: Supplied
The menu, which features delightful snacks and fresh mains, is made novel by weekly neighbourhood nights, spotlighting steak on Tuesdays and noodles on Wednesdays. There are even happy meals for the little ones, so parents can comfortably come for a wholesome early-bird sitting before bath time.
Don’t let the kid-friendly sittings fool you, Daphne has oodles on offer for the grown ups too. The drinks list presents tipples aplenty. Yarra Valley vino comes straight from the tap, or take advantage of Etta’s full 400-long wine list. With Bar Romantica’s custom-built sound system staying put, and DJ JNETT pumping tracks into the early hours, Daphne might just be the new place to be in Brunswick East on a Friday night. Although, don’t just expect a good (read: boozy) time on the weekend. A Monday night Martini-centric menu will put some pizzazz into the start of your week (alongside Nah-tinis for the non-drinkers).
Etta & Daphne owner Hannah Green | Image: Kristoffer Paulsen
For the interior, think walnut timber, glass brick, Australian marble, antique mirror, coffee-coloured upholstery, coral tiles and crimson textiles. A custom woodfire grill and oven by Samuel Frarracio (aka The Brick Chef) will be the stunning focus of the open kitchen. Simply put, it will be one for the Instagram stories.
Daphne’s head chef will be announced in June, so stay tuned for further tasty details to follow.