STARTER
Lona Misa Ovolo South Yarra MELBOURNE
Words: Eleanor Howard Photography: © Courtesy of Ovolo Hotels
IN A BITE Owner / Operator: Ovolo Hotels Menu / Graphic Design: The Reactor Head Chef: Isa Raku F&B Manager: Jaqui Rosenstengel Bar Manager: Jordan Tredinnick Restaurant Manager: Sarah Hannaford www.ovolohotels.com
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atering to the growing popularity
“Lona Misa is bougie vegan dining,” explains
of veganism in Australia, renowned
Martinez. “Whilst the menu might be vegan and
Melbourne-based
Shannon
vegetarian, the dishes are still delicious as ever,
Martinez and Ian Curley have partnered with
chefs
replicating meat-based flavour profiles through
Ovolo Hotels to open Lona Misa, South Yarra’s
texture and taste.”
first and only plant-based restaurant. Set
Designed by Sydney-based firm Luchetti
within the retro-chic Ovolo South Yarra, the
Krelle, the scheme sees elements that are
90-cover venue offers a lively Latin dining
familiar in form yet delivered with a rebellious
experience with a focus on local produce and
twist; Renaissance-style art hangs on the walls
fresh ingredients.
for example, overlaid with graffiti telling diners
Described as a rebellious renaissance from
to ‘put it in your mouth’. The venue acts as a
root to stem, the all-day restaurant leverages
casual café by day before transforming into a
both chefs’ farm-to-table experience whilst
restaurant and wine bar at night, serving drinks
paying homage to Martinez’s Latin heritage
that celebrate the liveliness of La Bamba, from
through dishes such as oyster mushroom
kombucha on-tap and native G&T’s to cocktails
ceviche, Chille Relleno En Nogada and queso con
such as the venue’s own take on a Piña Colada.
chorizo using a soy-based meat. As a pioneer
A Latin-inspired score curated by Andrew Lewis
of Melbourne’s vegan dining scene, Martinez
adds to the lively atmosphere.
brings her personally developed techniques to
“Take what you know about vegan and
the table, transforming flour into chicharrónes
vegetarian dining, and think vibrant, loud
and soy into chicken. In a further bid to
and unapologetic,” concludes Vince Lombino,
stand out, Lona Misa is the only plant-based
Creative F&B Director at Ovolo Hotels. “That’s
restaurant to serve fare cooked on a Josper.
Lona Misa.”
