Although it's looking a little different than previous years, this Grand Final is poised to be a big one for Melbourne. Nothing is stopping us from going a little overboard on the game-day snack department and plenty of Melbourne’s favourite diners are stepping in to lend a hand.
Check out some of the footy-day feasts happening on Melbourne's sacred day:
Everleigh Bottling Co | Grand Final Pack
At least one silver lining of not being able to attend the game is the fact that game-day's booze selection can far surpass a middy in a plastic cup. Everleigh is upping the ante with their grand-final footy pack. In it is a 500ml bottle of their famed negroni alongside a 4-pack of their Paomita & Americano sparkling cocktails—to balance the vibe out is a bag of the finest crisps from chip artisans Chappy's. Order up here.
Chin Chin’s Footy Fever
Footy pie, footy pie. Chin Chin has zeroed in on the timeless pairing of football and the pastry-based snack. With their own signature style, Chin Chin has developed a range of different flavoured pies and even sausage rolls to choose from—with beef Rendang, butter chicken, and a yellow vegetable curry all on offer. The Footy Fever pack also includes a four-pack of Coopers Beers, a brownie slab, and an official AFL Grand Final record which can be immortalised in the pool room. Order up here.
Supernormal Grand Final Banquet
Straight from the neon-lit Flinders Lane restaurant, Supernormal has conjured up a special banquet of its Asian-fusion heavy hitters. The eight-dish menu gives you a taste of the famed diner with wagyu beef buns—as well as the lobster rolls and that ridiculously good chocolate and peanut butter praline dessert. There’s also a four-pack of Hop Nation’s larger and a bottle of Zonzo’s Estate’s pinot noir included. Game on.
The Builders Arm’s Pub Feast
Grand final is one of the biggest days on the calendars for Melbourne, and Builders Arms is paying homage by serving up some of their bistro-based dishes. Returning due to popular demand, the menu features their slow-roasted pork with crackling, apple mustard and fermented chilli sauce—as well as the Builders Arms potato salad, and prawn cocktail rolls. Play on here.
Bar Margaux | Grande Finale à la maison
This one's coming in hot on Saturday evening. Make Friday's choice easier right? In the Grande Finale à la maison pack is several favourites from the Bar Margaux menu: French onion soup with a crispy baguette and melted Comte cheese; slow-cooked chicken breast with truffle madeira sauce, asparagus with herb butter and pearl barley and a chicken thigh ragu to die for. It comes in $110 with the option to add booze from BM's mates at Glou for an extra $50. Order up.
Hawker Hall’s Grand Final
Filled with plenty of things you can tackle with your hands (reducing the need to shift eyes from the screen) the Hawker Hall Grand Final feast has you sorted across all four-quarters. Keep yourself satiated with prawn and chive dumplings, cumin-spiced lamb bao buns as well as a whole-roasted honey black pepper chicken. There’s even an apple pie to finish, a match made in heaven. Check it out.
Cumulus Inc’s Mixed Grill With Jayden Ong
This one is a bit fancier than a half-time snack. This weekend Cumulus has prepared a finish-at-home feast with a slew of the fine-diner's dishes including grass-fed Gippsland rump, with Baharat and cultured butter, as well as Meatsmith’s lamb Merguez sausages. The entire menu has been paired with Jayden Ong's Winery in Healesville. Expect two bottles of primo vino, a vibrant spring Fiano and a full-bodied shiraz. Get it here.
Cookaborough's Friday Pie Day
A true pie degustation, take your pick from some of Victoria’s finest pie makers in this triumphant celebration of crusted pastry. Choose from a range of hometown favourites including Falco's Rockwell pie, Johnny Ripe's classic beef, Pie Thief's lasagna pie, Wildlfour's Pork Pies, and Smith And Deli's vegan cheesy cauliflower pie. Head over here to get yourself sorted.
Meatsmith’s BBQ Box
If you prefer handling things yourself, opt for the Meatsmith BBQ box. The whopping collection features some of Meatsmith's most prized cuts with Asado-cut beef short ribs, as well as Lamb loin chops, Luganega sausage, and house-made Meatsmith mustard and chimichurri included. This grill-centric sensation is available for delivery, or pick-up in stores. Head over here for more info.
Estelle’s Grand Final BBQ Box
Fire up the barbie. Estelle's Grand Final day box is filled with all the right things for a grill-centric feast. The Northcote diner has stacked it with their famous sausage rolls, snags—puffed beef tendons, and even a dry-aged rib eye to really level up the experience. The good times don't stop there, with salads, condiments and raspberry ripple pavlovas. In true Estelle fashion, you can even add in a half dozen of oysters and a bottle of Rob Dolan Blanc De Blanc into the mix. Get it here.
Ishizuka's Wagyu, Foie Gras and Truffle Pie
One of the prettiest pies you've ever seen. This hand-crafted masterpiece from Ishizuka's creative director chef Masahiko Yomodo is filled with A5 Kagoshima Wagyu, chopped foie gras, and fresh truffles. This truly decadent pie is the perfect game-day option, everything you need in one simple pastry-based package. Get your slice here.
Pinchy's Cocktail Party
Everyone's favourite lobster joint is taking it on the road for this Grand Final. Starting on Friday 24, they'll be popping up at Richmond cafe, Touchwood, slinging their at-home banquets of seafood delicacies and cocktails. There'll be several packs available which are each made to feed two, including their banging the lobster roll, and a vegan option which comes with a decadent mushroom roll. From Saturday 25, pick-up will be available from the Prince Albert Hotel. Order here.
Hanoi Hannah’s Half-Timer
Hanoi Hannah has curated this feast with the pure fan in mind. Maximising screen time, and reducing the need for cutlery. The Half-Timer features six mini pork Banh Mi rolls, as well as lemongrass chicken ribs with HH's signature spicy sauce. A match made in heaven.
Tokyo Tina's Grand Final
TT's grand final day spread is full of the favourites that we've come to love from the Japanese-inspired restaurant. Get your hands busy through the game with beef short rib bao and Karaage chicken—and keep composed with a six-pack of Sapporo's to quell your nerves. Order up here.
There's a stack of other Take-away options from Melbourne's finest, check em out.
Image credit: Supernormal