Cleo’s
Established in 1985, Cleo’s Deli is both a local institution and a connoisseur’s paradise. Premium meats, epicurean cheeses, freshly baked breads and homemade dips are just some of what can be procured here; where it’s nearly impossible to leave without a bag brimming with newly discovered ingredients. Most impressive are Cleo’s gourmet grazing platters - beautifully arranged and
positively scrumptious.
Veruca Salt
Unlike the café’s bratty namesake, Veruca Salt on Ormond Rd is all about sweetness. From mixed berry and goat’s cheese pancakes to delicately decorated cupcakes and perfectly stirred cocktails, the eatery is committed to coaxing out the sweet tooth of even the most immovable savoury lover. They have all the brunch crowd-pleasers as well, to be devoured within edgy interiors.
Combi
Smoothies, salads, raw treats and super bowls, all as vibrant as the café they’re whipped up in. A wholefoods eatery with origins as a nomadic juice van, Combi presents healthy eating in its most enthralling form. The tables exhibit kaleidoscopic dishes that are almost too beautiful to eat without snapping up a quick photo first. The interiors are beachy and eclectic, much like the inside of a kombi van.
Ebisu
A homely Japanese eatery for those with a penchant for authencity. The humbly priced Ebisu offers lunch, dinner and a collection of adorable Japanese knick-knacks. The menu features all the favourites – bento boxes, sushi, sashimi and gyoza – made with simple yet effective flavours and generous serving sizes. Amicable staff make this a dining experience worth returning for.
Dandelion
Hawker-style is undoubtedly the most social way to dine, a sentiment exemplified by Dandelion on Ormond Road. Vietnamese share plates team with a noteworthy wine collection, served up amid intimate yet vibrant surrounds. Menu highlights include the chilli crab dressed in coconut and lime, and the caramelised pork hock. Don’t pass on the Banh Flan (kind of like a Vietnamese crème caramel) for dessert.
The Leaf Store
"If it’s not good enough to feed my family, it’s not good enough to be in my store." The founder of the leaf store, Leon Maguvin's ethos centres around the idea of only providing customers with food that he considers good enough for his family. A village grocer with a cult like following, the abundant store houses fresh produce, artisan breads, deli ingredients, sweet treats and more. There's also a selection of homey little gifts, alongside the most exquisite of bouquets.