MELBOURNE | Etta owner, Hannah Green, has been mulling over the idea of opening a second venue for a few years now. The stars aligned, recently, when the opportunity arose to take over the lease of the Bar Romantica space, just up the road. Last week, Daphne opened, and it’s already proving a hit with locals.
Daphne is, in many ways, what Etta was originally meant to be – a casual spot for drinks and snacks, rather than a fine dining, hatted restaurant. If you every visited Bar Romantica, or Cafe Romantica before that, you’ll recognise many nods to the site’s past.
The original terrazzo floor and vermiculite ceiling are there, and booths still line the right of the venue. The big wood-fired oven is where it always was, given a refurb by Sam ‘The Brick Chef’ Fraraccio. Where the pool table was, is now a seated area that can curtained off for private events.
Vibe wise, think diner meets old school trattoria, complete with ‘Romantica’ red and white chequers. Artwork and mirrored surfaces help to create a much brighter space, as do the daffodil-inspired 3d printed lampshades. In fact, those with a keen eye will notice a lot of subtle nods to the namesake flower.
Chef Diana Desensi leads the kitchen, and has put together a menu of Italo-Euro inspired dishes that rotate with the seasons. Things like fermented potato flatbread with mussels escabeche, steak tartare with long pickled chillies, a pig’s head hot dog, and the must try, buttery cavatelli with calamari and yellow tomato.
To drink, it’s a cocktail list created by Sam Peasnell, who also heads up Etta’s cocktail program. The signature 3057 Martini, a nod to Brunswick East’s postcode, and the ratio of ingredients, is a must try. There’s a diverse selection wine and spirits from around the world, and a sharp selection of local beers on tap, plus Guinness. The keenly-priced house red and white, from Yarra Valley’s Dom Valentine, are a great shout.
I couldn’t think of a better person to take over such a storied Brunswick East spot. Hannah knows and loves this neighbourhood and its people, is genuine, and passionate about hospitality. Daphne’s concept might not be anything particularly unique in this town, but from the moment you walk inside until the time you leave, you know you’re somewhere special.
Daphne
52 Lygon Street
Brunswick East
Victoria 3057
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9191 9410
E-mail: [email protected]
Website
Open
Mon – Thu: 4:00pm to 10:30pm
Fri – Sat: 4:00pm to 1:00am