St Cloud

The Verdict

St Cloud is a fresh-faced Vietnamese restaurant sitting pretty on Burwood Road in the leafy suburb of Hawthorn. Its name floats above the front door like – well, like a cloud, basically – and the kitchen is dishing up some of Melbourne's best modern Vietnamese fare for lunch and dinner. 

Formerly a furniture factory, the front room has been kitted out with dark wood furniture, hanging plant boxes and kitschy décor. Upstairs, there’s a second dining room which can seat up to 80 people, and a rooftop terrace overlooking the rush and flow of traffic.

Hawthorn’s foodie scene has been on the up-and-up for a while, and St Cloud is offering something a bit edgy that fuses street-style fare with low-key bar vibes. It plays on the nostalgia of Melbournians who have been to Vietnam and fallen in love with the street food, and supports Victorian farmers by showcasing locally sourced produce. A mere hop and a skip from Auburn Station, we recommend heading east to welcome this adventurous newcomer with open arms and empty stomachs.

Image credit: Supplied