16 minute read
SECTIONS
FRANKSTON
PHOTO: STEVE BROWN
Community is at the core of the Greater Frankston region, where creative people continue to produce with distinction. With its rich history of writers and artists generating works that inspire and delight, this part of the world is described as ‘the gateway to the Peninsula’ and brings its own uniqueness to the Eat.Drink tasting table.
With a dedicated live music history and now a thriving foodie scene that delivers alternative dining options and international flavours, Frankston City is in the perfect position to offer both city and coastal dwellers unique foodie-infused escapes. Urban-edge café creators include a wide selection of fine Mornington Peninsula produce on their menus, while the smell of freshly roasted coffee wafts through the streets, signalling it’s time to do yourself a favour and pull up a chair to experience the flair that only Frankston can deliver.
With tastes of Asia and home-style creations in abundance, this is where the selection of dining options is extensive. Be adventurous and you will be rewarded. Visit one of the many cafés or bars that are sprouting up along Kananook Creek, or head inland to walk the streets and see what you can find. You’ve plenty of time to get to know this city by the bay well, and the vibe is cool, conversational and friendly. Whether you are strolling along the Frankston foreshore or wandering on the pier as the sun goes down, the Greater Frankston region offers vibrant and luscious dining alternatives. Of course, premium Peninsula wines and freshly brewed beers are in abundance here too.
Visit soon. A world of flavour awaits.
AND SURROUNDS
38 South Bar Café (P.23) Dava Thai (P.26) Dainton Beer Brewery & Taphouse (P.27) Eeny Meeny Café (P.20) Flourish Café (P.25) Geonbae Korean BBQ Restaurant Frankston (P.21) Nature Bar Café (P.22) One Pear Tree (P.26) The Deck Est. 2013 (P.18-19) Vero Pasta + Wine (P.24)
PHOTO: STEVE BROWN
The Deck Est. 2o13
With a rooftop deck and bar providing sensational bay views and a diverse all-day chef-inspired menu, The Deck has a lot to offer. This unassuming heritage building will totally surprise with its stylish renovated interior and unique ambience just waiting to be discovered.
Front and centre at The Deck is the food. The cuisine is squarely focused on providing excellent pub-style dishes but delivered with a whole new level of finesse. To show how serious they are, you need only look at the incredible line-up in the kitchen. Head chef is Canadianborn Noel Black, who was previously with the Hyatt hotel group for 11 years across two continents, including the Grand Hyatt Melbourne. You will also find classically trained English chef Carl Small, formerly of iconic Peninsula vineyard restaurants Montalto Estate and Ten Minutes by Tractor. Experience classic pub favourites along with an ever-changing specials board that will reflect the best seasonal produce plus a few extra enticing dishes created by these talented chefs. An all-day menu is available from the time the doors open at noon until the kitchen closes, featuring share plates, pizzas and more. The restaurant menu is available for lunch (noon to 3pm) and then again for dinner (6pm to kitchen close) and has larger, more substantial items such as fish of the day and The Deck’s monster parma. The Deck offers an extensive local wine list, a large range of beers, ciders and glorious cocktails to titillate. Check out the website to view the huge range of entertainment with something for everyone; from energetic rock bands on Saturday nights to laid-back acoustic guitar on Sunday afternoons; from national comedy legends to international guest DJs. The Deck also offers tailor-made function packages. So whether you are thinking of a Christmas staff party, milestone celebration, corporate seminar or even an engagement, there are spaces available to meet your needs. You can be assured of superior catering, and The Deck’s function team will create an experience that will exceed your expectations.
Opening hours: The Deck Kitchen: Wednesday/Thursday/Sunday noon-9pm, Friday and Saturday noon-10pm; The Deck Bar: Wednesday to Sunday noon-late. Check website for all details.
Eeny Meeny Café
Cute, creative and clever at serving up delectable dishes for Frankston foodies and their friends, Eeny Meeny Café is the go-to place for fresh flavours and a rotating menu drawing inspiration from all corners of the globe. After eight strong years, this team knows how to bring charm to the Frankston dining scene by creating an intimate space where everyone feels at home.
Attention to detail is key at Eeny Meeny. Friendly smiles, excellent service, great coffee and a well-considered menu plus a range of bespoke housemade drinks are on offer. The interior’s deep hues make for a calming atmosphere while the courtyard, with its plants and fishpond, is ideal for making cherished connections. Regulars make their way every day for great coffee and the serenity while occasional visitors are just as smitten. Dining at Eeny Meeny is sure to impress. House-made crunchy granola ‘trifle’, layered with cherry, pear and vanilla compote and coconut yoghurt, is a winner with vegans and everyone! The house-made potato waffle pushes the boundaries of guilty pleasure, whether topped with slow-roast tomatoes, braised mushrooms and marinated goat’s cheese or as the base for the eeny benny. Cross-cultural influences see glass noodles with laksa-style broth and fried eggs sit comfortably alongside Middle Eastern mujadarrah, gujarati potatoes or Hungarian meatballs on house spaetzle. The cake cabinet is laden with house-baked sweets to enjoy in or take home for a treat. Discover Eeny Meeny now. Weekend brunches make life more wonderful, while weekday drop-ins foster excellent community-minded connections. Their ever-increasing commitment to local producers, sustainable agriculture and eco-friendly food service means you can feel very good about your visit. Please check website for opening hours.
Geonbae Korean BBQ Restaurant Frankston
The Korean barbecue is a vital component of the Korean dining experience. Geonbae Frankston brings the spirit of this masterful cooking technique to the banks of Kananook Creek, where quality produce and attention to tradition blend to create tasting perfection.
Geonbae’s interior is warm and welcoming, just like the food that is prepared with care and creativity. Choose from banquet-style menus or sample a selection of dishes to be transported to Korea and the gogojips (meat houses) you will find on every corner. Indulge your senses with the true Korean way of preparing and cooking food that is meant for sharing. The team of Korean chefs at Geonbae create history-laden dishes bursting with colour and flavour. Salted and fermented vegetables are dressed in pink, orange and green while all premium cut meats are barbecued to incredibly high standards. Geonbae Frankston seats 70 patrons inside and 70 patrons outside on the large terrace overlooking Kananook Creek. With barbecues built into every table and a specially created menu, your tastebuds will be guided by the Geonbae team through the cultural experience like no other. Situated in a peaceful, natural setting, Geonbae Frankston is an authentic Korean restaurant where generosity of provision is palpable. Complementary side dishes are included with your barbecue meats, and all food is steeped in Korean origin ready for you to indulge in and enjoy. Open 11am-11pm every day, including public holidays; closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Please check website for further details.
Geonbae Korean BBQ Restaurant Frankston 4 Kananook Creek Blvd, Frankston I P: 9783 9067 www.geonbae.com.au GeonbaeFrankston geonbaefrankston
Nature Café Bar
It’s all about the good life at Nature Café Bar in Frankston. Nutritiously vibrant food that feeds the soul is served with love, while the colourful interior creates a relaxed feel-good story.
Delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes are on the menu at this community-first wholefood café where fabulous flavour reigns. Each dish is passionately created and brimming with goodness in this extensive menu means you’ll never be bored. Dairy and gluten-free
charming spot, which is so close to the sea you can feel the salty breeze on your skin. Connect with nature and friends in the garden courtyard as you enjoy a huge range of smoothies and smoothie bowls packed with exotic tropical fruits, or pull up a seat out front to watch the people All kinds of tastes are catered for at Nature Café Bar, where the
on the street pass by. options are available, while low FODMAP requirements are also catered for. Kids’ platters keep your little person happy while all dishes, whether savory or sweet, leave you feeling completely satisfied. There’s also a range of tasty plant-based ‘meat’ dishes to tempt and delight. Fully licensed and available for functions, Nature Café Bar brings all the goodness that Mother Nature serves up to your table. Eat in or take the goodness home and enjoy. Open seven days a week, including for takeaway.
38 South Bar Café
38 South Bar Café has got Seaford seaside cool in spades. This mega provider of course-sharing alternatives is a fully licensed space where the owners are friendly and visitors are made to feel at home. All modern dishes are created from fresh local ingredients while the great coffee is served hot.
It’s all about gathering at 38 South Bar Café, where multiple alfresco areas offer endless outdoor wining and dining opportunities. Why not enjoy a vino from one of the Mornington Peninsula’s exceptional wineries or a cheeky afternoon cocktail with friends in the sunshine? Whether you’re after a flavourful haloumi bruschetta, BBQ sticky pork bao buns or chilli prawn tacos, 38 South Bar Café has something to suit everyone’s taste. Choose the ‘Feed Me’ 7 course menu option and let the chef provide you with their favourite dishes.
Drop by for one of their renowned all-day breakfast dishes or taste infused flatbreads for dinner. Gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options are available. One thing is for sure you simply must try the amazing coffee on offer, which everyone is raving about. Everyone is welcome at 38 South Bar Café, where modern Australian food has made its mark. Situated right across from Seaford beach and just a stone’s throw from Seaford station, this is family-friendly dining done deliciously right. Open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week and for dinner Wednesday through Sunday. Please check website for further details.
38 South Bar Café I 131 Nepean Highway, Seaford I P: 9024 0138 www.38southseaford.com.au I 38southbarcafe 38southbarcafe
Vero Pasta + Wine
Vero means ‘true’ in Italian, so Andrea is determined to keep it real and use the authentic recipes and combinations of sauce and pasta reflective of regional cooking in Italy. The freshest seasonal ingredients enhance the natural flavour of the food.
Andrea’s goal is to make Vero Pasta + Wine a restaurant people feel drawn to return to time and again. It’s about being more than just a dining room away from home. The old-world ambience and ample table spacing set the stage to shine the spotlight on the food. Her service team are the glue that binds the elements together. They provide genuine service, balancing professionalism with care.
When creating her wine list, Andrea stayed close to home. Mornington Peninsula Italian varietals complete the ‘+ Wine’ and complement the rustic relaxed venue that is Vero Pasta + Wine. Crafted cocktails make aperitivo at Vero quite the buzz and invite you to move on to dinner with a selection of wines to suit your mood and occasion.
Join Andrea and the team in making Vero Pasta + Wine the true heart of Frankston.
Open Tuesday - Sunday 5 - 10pm; closed Mondays.
Flourish Café
Situated in a peaceful pocket of Frankston South with a decidedly provincial flair, Flourish Café provides down-to-earth homestyle cooking at its best. Dine in to find delicious breakfast and lunch alternatives that are matched only by the range of quality beverages on offer. Milkshakes and natural fruit-based smoothies satisfy your thirst for flavour, while the range of herbal teas is vast. The outstanding coffee comes with just about any milk variation you can think of, and preservative-free Noah juices are a favourite.
Flourish is the spot where patrons meet over scrumptious food that’s suitable for all diets. Owned and operated by long-term residents Maree and Bernie Hutchins alongside food creatives Kerry and Ruth, Flourish serves dishes for food-sensitive customers as well as vegetarians and vegans. Freshly baked pastries and cakes keep you coming back for more patisserie indulgence, while a great range of beer, cider, wine and spirits elevates the crowds that gather on regular theme nights ready to have some fun.
If you’re searching for a place to relax, recharge and connect or to have your next function or meeting, Flourish is it. With space for outdoor dining and catering capabilities too, this lovely eatery, where service with a smile matters, makes for a first-rate dining experience. Your exclusive event will also be something to remember with a flourish!
Open 8am-2.30pm seven days a week Please check website for further details and evening event calendar
Breakfast and lunch lovers are spoilt for choice at One Pear Tree, the café where seasonal menus ebb and flow. Fresh flavours flourish in this Hamptons-inspired space, which is filled with light and every opportunity to connect with friends over premium house-made pastries, cakes and fragrant coffee.
Outdoor dining is key at One Pear Tree, where up to 50 people can gather freely. The beautiful garden surrounds allow for total relaxation while you enjoy truly delicious hunger-busting food that satiates the senses. The spacious front garden sprawls out beneath the shade of a large oak tree where you and your canine mate can pull up a pew to leisurely while away the time. Breakfast and lunch arrive with plenty of gusto and the price is always right. Whether you’re on your morning walk and need a quick coffee and cake fix, or you’re looking to meet friends over a glass of wine, One Pear Tree is the place to do it. Fully licensed and offering an array of gorgeous gifts to purchase onsite too, you’ve found a very special place. Open Monday to Friday 7am-4pm; Saturday and Sunday 8am-4pm. Please check website for further details.
One Pear Tree I 372 Nepean Highway, Frankston I P: 9781 0077 www.onepeartree.com.au I onepeartree onepeartree
Dava Thai
Relax and enjoy the taste of Thailand with delicious Dava Thai open daily. Offering convenient takeaway and delivery, Dava Thai services the Peninsula with generous servings of fresh produce with a minimum of fuss, delivered daily directly to your door. Dine-in is also available with a selection of delicious chef’s choices and everyone’s favourites, accompanied with a refreshing Thai Mojito cocktail or cold Singha beer in the fully licensed venues. Bookings are essential.
Locally owned and operated, Dava Thai delivers spicy or no-spice alternatives, and also caters for gluten-free and vegan diners. Whether it’s a red or green curry or a noodle extravaganza, Dava Thai has got you sorted. Open seven days a week from 4.30pm. Order direct or online via Bite Local mobile app.
Dava Thai Towerhill 12/147 Frankston-Flinders Rd, Frankston South P: 03 9770 0646
Dava Thai 35 Dava Drive, Mornington P: 03 5975 2900
Dainton Beer Brewery & Taphouse
With a motto of “Think Different, Drink Different”, Dainton Beer is undeniably at the forefront of craft beer innovation in Australia, producing some of the most inventive, insane and downright delicious beer you will ever have the pleasure of tasting. Find your own individual style from among Dainton’s core range of favourites or ingenious limited releases and inspired seasonal brews.
Winner of Australian Champion Craft Beer 2017 and 2019, Dainton has something for everyone, from sessionable Pale Ales to fruity IPAs and big smoked Porters. Wrap your tastebuds around one of these beers in their natural habitat. Gleaming silver vats provide a dramatic backdrop to your experience with the taphouse offering up to 18 beers on tap as well as a selection of brews in the fridge. If you’re popping in with a non-beer drinker, don’t despair because the bar also features local wines, whiskey and gin. The bar menu offers up seriously tasty wood-fired pizzas, lip-smackingly good burgers and beer-battered fries as well. There is plenty of seating inside or you can pull up a pew in the newly built beer garden, which has the bonus of being dog-friendly as well. The central stage hosts live music from talented musicians every Friday through to Sunday and the monthly trivia night goes off with a bang. You can stay up to date by visiting Dainton’s website or social media for upcoming events including limited-edition beer launches. Open Thursday noon-10pm; Friday-Saturday noon-11pm; Sunday noon-8:30pm Closed Monday-Wednesday
Colourful Frankston - photographs by Steve Brown
