A Sommelier’s Guide to Dining Out in South Yarra, Melbourne
Nathalie Reymond has a distinguished culinary bloodline: she was still at school when she started waiting tables at her father’s eponymous fine-diner, Jacques Reymond Restaurant in Prahran (it closed in 2013), and eventually spent more than a decade there as sommelier. In 2011, Nathalie and her brothers, Antoine and Edouard, opened Bistro Gitan in South Yarra, inspired by the French bistro tradition, with Spanish and Italian accents. L’Hôtel Gitan followed in Prahran, and Frédéric and Fréd’s in nearby Cremorne. These are her favourite haunts in South Yarra.
France-Soir for Îles flottantes
“You can’t talk about South Yarra without mentioning France-Soir; it’s an institution and just so traditionally French. There’s always steak frites but I also love the quenelles of fish, which reminds me of a dish Dad used to make. The desserts, such as Îles flottantes – soft meringue with crème anglaise – are fun, too.”
Ned’s Bake for a filled baguette
“This café and bakery serves beautiful pastries and the most delicious baguettes. They’re fresh and have fillings such as chicken and salad or ham and fromage. It’s one of those places where you go to get a sandwich and suddenly find yourself starving and wanting everything because it all looks so good.”
Omnia Bistro for the signature duck dish
“We had a fabulous lunch here for Mum’s 70th birthday last year. It was very special – the fantastic chef, Stephen Nairn, composed a menu specially for us. The signature dry-aged, honey-roasted duck for two is amazing.”
Botanical Hotel for a seafood platter
“I like to walk around the Tan Track at the Botanic Gardens then pop into the Botanical for a glass of rosé with a girlfriend. It’s the place to be seen and a great local for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The menu has a focus on steaks and the chilled seafood platter is excellent – prawns, mud crab, sashimi and oysters.”
Bar Carolina for a bowl of pasta
“This fun restaurant has great vibes, very Italian waiters and service, and fabulous pasta, such as spaghettini with Fraser Island spanner crab, chilli and garlic. On weekends, my husband and I sometimes catch up here with friends then finish with drinks at the rooftop bar [Tetto di Carolina]. I like the wine recommendations and they always have a nebbiolo or chianti on the menu.”
