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Good for a first date

Acciughe e macadamia pizza.
Good Food hat15/20

Forget pineapple: a’Mare’s new pizzeria is pushing delicious into unorthodox territory

Renowned Italian chef-restaurateur Alessandro Pavoni’s new venture offers a few divisive manoeuvres for adventurous diners. 

  • Myffy Rigby
The warehouse space on Flinders Lane trades from noon until late.
Good Food hat15.5/20

Andrew McConnell’s genre-defining dining room comes of age, and is as buzzy as ever

Cumulus Inc. invented the Melbourne wine-bar-slash-restaurant game, and remains a standard-bearer of great service, fantastic wine and exciting share plates.

  • Besha Rodell
Tintino is a specialty wine shop and kitchen in Kingston.

Tintino

A wine bar-bottle shop where you can drink in or take away.

  • David Matthews
Inside Frenchie, where the room feels blingy.
13.5/20

So Frenchy, so cheap: Good Food’s verdict on Frenchie, where almost everything is $14

There’s a giddiness to eating here, but is the food any good? Besha Rodell visits the vibey French restaurant.

  • Besha Rodell
Night market crispy chicken  (with Sichuan seasoning).
14/20

Bubble tea in cocktail form? It’s the drink on everyone’s lips at this fun Surry Hills bar

Taiwan’s most famous export is given the grown-up treatment at Linla. Serve with crispy chicken, and you’re set.

  • Kevin Cheng
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Bar Ampere's concrete tunnel swept with bohemian artworks.

It’s not hot or new, but this classic laneway bar has still got it, especially after midnight

Under this archway, in this quintessentially Melbourne laneway, absinthe still makes the heart grow fonder.

  • Tomas Telegramma
Chicken salt and thyme doughnut.

Chicken salt doughnuts? These plush, herby snacks are so much better than they sound

Find hand-rolled rings fried to order and bulging jam-and-cream-filled doughnuts at this new hot spot in Potts Point.

  • Erina Starkey

If you’re looking for new, fun and exciting date night options, this bar nails the brief

Live jazz, a friendly crowd and a crisp, briny and savoury spin on the daiquiri are the order of the day at Odd Culture’s brand new York Street bar.

  • Myffy Rigby
Sahtein operates in the former home of The Argyle.
13.5/20

Sahtein’s food is made to luxuriate over, but its dining room still lacks one thing

In the age of the two-hour turnaround, this beautiful new venue lets you linger. But something’s missing from this landmark site.

  • Myffy Rigby
The covered courtyard is reminiscent of a 1950s Californian drive-in or a 1980s McDonald's.
14/20

Where does a food critic take his baby for her first big day out? This retro diner, of course

While this new venture shares DNA with its Haberfield sibling, it has a new menu starring Philly cheesesteak, house-made Cheez Whiz and tallow-fried hash browns.

  • Callan Boys