Bar Liberty ★ 4.5
Bar Liberty in Fitzroy holds one Good Food Guide hat: Melbourne's natural-wine bistro of record, with small plates, biodynamic pours and a polished kitchen.
Order: Seasonal raw bar plate and house bread with cultured butter
Aegli is a greek restaurant in South Yarra, Melbourne.
Aegli on Coventry Street leads Melbourne's new Greek wave: regional Hellenic flavours, smoked saganaki and lamb shoulder in a South Melbourne room.
Must order: Wood-roasted lamb with orzo and feta
Address: 226 Coventry Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Bar Liberty in Fitzroy holds one Good Food Guide hat: Melbourne's natural-wine bistro of record, with small plates, biodynamic pours and a polished kitchen.
Order: Seasonal raw bar plate and house bread with cultured butter
Maison Batard on Bourke Street combines boulangerie, bistro, cocktail bar and terrace: Melbourne's closest equivalent to a full-service Parisian house.
Order: French onion soup and the daily rotisserie plate
Ho Jiak in Rainbow Alley is Melbourne's best Malaysian kitchen: noodle dishes referencing Penang and KL regional traditions with roti made in the open.
Order: Curry mee noodles with coconut milk broth
Rita's in Abbotsford makes what many locals rate as the city's best pizza: semolina-crusted bases with charred edges from wood and discipline, not theatre.
Order: Semolina-crusted margherita or the anchovy and olive
Suupaa in Cremorne takes the Japanese konbini concept seriously: udon bolognese and tamago sandwiches with precise daily specials and excellent canned sake.
Order: Udon bolognese and the daily onigiri
Good Days on Smith Street serves Vietnamese pho rivalling Victoria Street: clear aromatic broth, noodles cooked to order and a room full of loyal locals.
Order: Chicken pho with fresh herbs and chilli vinegar on the side