MELBOURNE | Chef Fhred Batalona started his Filipino food pop, Palay, a few years back. It allowed him to cook up the food of his homeland for Melburnians, while working as a chef at restaurants like Bar Pigalle, Orlo, and Casa Chiono. In April this year, Fhred teamed up with Lawrence Jasper Menor, Ralph Libo-on, and Michael Mabuti, to open Palay as a bricks and mortar restaurant, in the old Hell of the North space.
The dark and moody space has been brightened up a bit, to match the food and vibes that Fhred want to showcase. The menu is inspired by Fhred’s mum Alma, also a chef. Its features honest, traditional Filipino dishes, with the occasional subtle flourish gleaned from techniques learned cooking other cuisines.
During the day, you’ll find a brunch menu with dishes like silog (your choice of protein, served with garlic fried rice, fried egg, atsara (pickled papaya), sawsawan (spiced vinegar) and banana ketchup, arroz caldo (Filipino-style chicken porridge), and the fluffy eggplant omolette, tortang talong. There’s also coffee, Filipino-inspired lattes, and house made Filipino spritzes and sodas.
The menu switches up for dinner, which is when I visited. Kinilaw, a tangy, coconut milk-laced ceviche-style dish with generous chunks of market fish and tuna, is a must order. Also be sure to grab the chicken adobo inihaw (grilled) skewers, and the sizzling pork sisig. The tasting menu (traditional or vegan), at $65 a head, is a great value option that gets you all of the highlights.
To drink, it’s a selection of local wines, Filipino beers, and Filipino-inspired cocktails. The daytime drinks menu is also available if you want something non-alc.
If you do book in for dinner, you might also get the chance to partake in a bit of an impromptu karaoke session, too. Like I said earlier, a brighter space, food, and vibes.
Palay
135 Greeves Street
Fitzroy
Victoria 3065
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9279 2867
E-mail: [email protected]
Website
Open
Mon: 5:00pm to 9:30pm
Tue – Sat: 10:00am to 3:00pm, 5:00pm to 9:30pm
Sun: 11:00am to 3:00pm, 5:00pm to 8:00pm