Mercer’s Restaurant

The verdict

Nestled in a Federation style cottage in the heart of Eltham is Mercer's Restaurant, the lovechild of husband and wife team, Stephen and Ute Mercer. Follow the leafy driveway to this ten-time hatted restaurant and fall in love with the warm, homely (quite literally, it's a house) vibe with white linened tables and cute crockery.

The menu is precisely executed yet imaginative, thanks to Stephen Mercer's classical European training. The focus is on Australian fare, so expect fresh, seasonal produce matched with a wine list of over 350 labels, featuring mainly local drops. Book for two or for twenty – a degustation at Mercer's is a fabulous dining experience that gives Eltham a fabulous culinary boosting.