Melbourne’s home to some very special dishes we’re all missing right now. Fortunately, members of our diverse hospo scene are doing their best to bring the city those cult menu items you can’t find anywhere else.
Go on, bring some joy to your life for at least 15 minutes and order one of the following.
Supernormal | New England Lobster Roll
Often imitated, never matched. We all knew this one would top the list. Andrew McConnell’s lobster roll has been a mainstay of the Supernormal menu for a minute now, and as a skerrick of silver lining to this pandemic we’re wading through, you can get this one sent straight to your home. You could have a crack at your own version, but in this case, we feel you should leave it to the professionals—get it on Providoor and Uber Eats.
Chin Chin | Pad Seuw With Braised Wagyu Beef
Coming off their free meals for hospo workers just earlier this week Chin Chin is offering free delivery until Thursday 10 June. Unless you’re a vego, standard practice would be to order at least one serve of the infamous Pad Seuw when dining in here, while tables of two or more would often order a second to keep the masses happy; probably worth doing the same when ordering in unless you're wanting to add to that lockdown tension. Place your pick up orders via 03 8663 2000 or have it sent straight to your couch through Deliveroo or UberEats.
Capitano | Rigatoncini
A while back, Capitano shook up Carlton’s Italian dining scene with their adventurous takes on traditional dishes along with a grip of playful cocktails. There are several numbers on the menu that have had the hospo scene talking since day dot, and that includes the Vodka Pasta, a simple Rigatoni pasta that packs heat thanks to the dousing of vodka sauce—add some of their chilli sauce to dial it up a notch.
Head to Capitano’s website to place a takeaway order.
Capitano | Grandma Pie
We’re not playing favourites here, but you can’t mention the boozy rigatoni without getting in on the Grandma Pie. This rectangular, deep-dish number doesn’t mess around with superfluous toppings, instead, you’ll find tomato, mozzarella, pecorino, stracciatella and a leaf or two of basil working together to create one of the most iconic pizzas found in Carlton. Add it to the cart along with your vodka pasta here.
Babajan | Aleppo Toastie
Carlton North and Fitzroy North will both claim darling-eatery Babajan as their own. Their Middle Eastern spin or breakfast, brunch and lunch fare is like no other, and the Aleppo toastie speaks to this in volumes. Order online and pick up a DIY pack from their OG Carlton North locale.
Mr Miyagi | Miyagi Fried Chicken
Chapel Street veteran, Mr Miyagi, has experienced the many peaks and troughs of the southside dining precinct over the years, so you can guarantee a lockdown ain’t going to stop them serving their modern take on Japanese cuisine. The entire menu is worthy of a feature here, but you can’t go past their Miyagi Fried Chicken, or more commonly known as MFC. Plenty of signature MFC seasoning, plenty of kewpie mayo; it’s all you need. And it’s available via Uber Eats right now.
DOC | Pizza ai Porcini
You all know the one, you can smell it on fellow diner’s tables. Heck, you can smell it 100 metres away from the venue. Loaded up with wild mushrooms and truffle oil, DOC’s Pizza ai Porcini is the dish that divides tables for many reasons. This distinctly DOC pizza is available from their Carlton and Mornington pizza outposts. Call them for takeaway and delivery, and divide the table at home.
Tokyo Tina | Beef Rib Bao
A little sweetness from the bao, a little savoury from the beef. Tokyo Tina’s beef brisket rib bao is often looked upon as a shared dish, but it would be just as fitting—and filling—as a main if you plan on tackling it solo. A staple on the menu since we can remember, Tokyo Tina is now doing delivery, so you can take home this fall-off-the-bone favourite for basically anyone who’s not a vego. Give them a bell for pick-up 03 9525 2774 or get on to the UberEats app for delivery.
Dine-in at home with other Melbourne restaurants here.
Image credit: Supernormal