Park St

The verdict

So long Green Park, hello Park St.

In mid-August, Carlton North favourite Green Park cafe closed its doors and began plotting a bit of a revamp. Longtime co-owner and chef Jesse Gerner has brought on a few new partners, including Russell Hall (Añada) and a bunch of the chefs from Bomba and Samuel Pepys. The result? A new look all-day cafe, with rotating cicchetti and pasta after dark.

For families that flock to Park St during the day, there’s still that excellent communal vibe. The space is a little brighter – a harmony-blend of hanging ferns, white walls, blonde timber and smart black bistro chairs.

Communal table or a private booth, it’s your choice. Either way, you’re getting some good grub: waffles topped with PX-braised beef cheek and cavolo nero, or suckling pig rolls stuffed with kale slaw and house-cured bacon and eggs. Your usual mix of granolas and green options round out the brunch and brekky menu.

It’s dinner time where you’ll notice the real change. Park St is now channeling la dolce vita with Italian-inspired dishes served up five nights a week. Think wood-grilled sardines wrapped in pancetta or poached veal crostini washed down with a silky shellfish bisque. A lot of the ingredients are grown right outside, in Park St’s kitchen garden. The rest come from trusted local suppliers and Victorian farms.

Of course you can’t do Italian without a kickass wine list. Good thing Park St has brought sommelier Vicki Brewer into the fold. Brewer and co-owner Shane Barrett have pulled together a solid mix of Mediterranean plonk: mostly Italy, southern France, Greece and Croatia. A few small-scale wineries, plus big boys by-the-glass.

Want to bring the mates? Park St is now doing event catering for up to 120 guests. Everything from wedding receptions to private dining for 24 of your nearest and dearest. Bring it on. 

Image credit: Park St