La Luna Bistro

Mietta's Eating & Drinking in Melbourne 2000

Contributors' Choice
Page 108

The delicious food and the modest prices make travelling to the moon (La Luna) well worthwhile. But go early, because when it fills this bright cafe can get incredibly noisy. A good option on a warm night is to dine outside. The pavement is wide here on the corner of Rathdowne and Lee Sts. A perfect place too for weekend brunches, which are the stuff of legends. Huge and excellently cooked.

The menu encompasses chef Adrian Richardson's experience, his mother is Italian, grandmother Middle Eastern and he has worked with Michael Bacash at Toofeys. Flavours in the dishes are excellent. Generous serves, delicious complimentary olives to start. The wine list is small but you can BYO. You can see into the kitchen from the street and to some extent from the dining room. It has a fresh lively feel, but somethow that noise needs to be softened. There are plans to extend upstairs and move the big parties there.

320 Rathdowne Street
Carlton North
Melways reference 2B:J3
Phone: 9349 4888
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 12 noon-3pm, 6pm-10pm, Sat & Sun (brunch served 9am-3pm) 9am-10pm
Licensed & BYO
Corkage: $3 per bottle
Accepts credit cards
Seats Inside: 30
Closed: Some public holidays
Features: No smoking, kids encouraged, private rooms seat 36 and 18
Favourites: Roma tomato, pesto goats cheese and basil salad $7.50, Parpadelle pasta, swiss brown mushrooms, fresh thyme, white truffel oil $11.50, Beef osso bucco, mash potato $14.50

*An updated review of La Luna