Etta, an unfussy bistro in East Brunswick, has no real gimmicks and no overarching food philosophy; rather, it simply offers reliably delicious seasonal dishes plus some of Melbourne's most interesting bottles. The bulk of the starters are vegetarian with a strong seasonal focus, which could mean meaty mushrooms with chestnuts in winter or rich crumbed eggplant in summer. Of the three or four mains, the fish is often the highlight; the New Zealand salmon with horseradish and finger lime is a perennial standout.

Don’t be fooled by all the concrete, terrazzo, and marble—Etta is more than just a good-looking neighborhood joint. Bold dishes draw on the chef’s Chinese, Malaysian and Irish heritage, underpinned by a firm handle of the wood-fired hearth. Char siu marinated in rhubarb and cooked over red gum delivers flavour fireworks, as does ironbark-smoked duck leg with rambutan and red curry.

Etta is a the handsome 70-seater ex-fish shop that epitomises the maturation of the area and whose sharing-is-caring menu is about as date night as it gets. This Easter long weekend it's open on Good Friday and Saturday, 5pm to late (with a 15 per cent surcharge). It's closed on Easter Sunday and Monday.

The cuisine at Etta is considered to be Australian, but it also draws inspiration from Greek, Italian, Middle Eastern, and Asian cooking styles. It is sufficient to know that it is flavorful and comes in a variety of forms. It is a cosy neighbourhood restaurant in East Brunswick that has a warm and welcoming ambience, and the people who work there are eager to provide you with the most enjoyable and memorable dining experience possible at one of the most hip and trendy restaurants in Melbourne.

Made to feel like an extension of your lounge room, Etta is one of the cosiest places to have a glass of vino. What used to be an old fish and chip shop has transformed into a peeled-back, elegant 80-seat dining room offering a brilliantly curated wine list. If you’re feeling a little hungry, be sure to tuck into some smaller plates created by Head Chef Rosheen Kaul, who formerly worked at Carlton Wine Shop and draws from her Chinese, Filipino and Kashmiri heritage to curate Etta’s menu.

Opening in 2017, Brunswick East’s Etta was an instant hit among both local food and wine lovers. Hannah Green ( Rosetta) runs the show and is now supported by Lorcán Kan in the kitchen (following Rosheen Kaul’s departure in April 2024) and Ashley Boburka in the wine cellar. The trio champions all things local, fresh and seasonal (with a strong focus on small producers), meaning change is a big part of everything here.

Six courses of Rosheen Kaul's food in the comfort of your own home sounds like a lockdown silver lining if there ever was one. Snacks include caramelised onion and comte croquettes, while larger dishes are wood-fired tandoori carrots with stracciatella and, for carnivores, milk-braised pork and salsa verde (there's a winter veg tarte tatin for plant-eaters). Available all weekend but you must order by 9pm on Friday.

Intimate, warm service meets excellent food at Etta, so you won’t have to worry about anything other than wooing your date. Cosy interiors set the scene for the perfect, low-stress evening, and easy-drinking wines and funky cocktails just sweeten the deal. Sit, sip and snack to your heart’s content as new chef Lorcán Kan plates up house-made pickles, ferments and an ultra-creative whole-animal philosophy.

She leads the pack at Potato Head in Bali, but in Melbourne, chef Pamela Yung goes straight to East Brunswick for a night at Etta working alongside their chef, Rosheen Kaul. “We are very happy to be popping up in a kitchen led by a woman, especially one that celebrates the Asian flavours I love,” says Pamela Yung. “And although I am Chinese, I haven’t worked in any Asian kitchen before,” she said.

The small and intimate dining area in this Brunswick East restaurant is ideal for cosying up with a date. The seasonal menu caters well to vegetarian diners – chilled Skull Island prawns, tropical fruit and fresh lemongrass sambal off the summer menu will hit the spot. And the Otway pork chop with toasted sesame bearnaise and sorrel is sure to satisfy a more carnivorous inclined partner.

Yet to visit Etta since powerhouse chef Lorcan Kan took the reins (and retained its hat)?. Book for Saturday lunch, a tropical seafood-centric affair, and get three courses inspired by his travels to Malaysia for just $70. There’ll always be some variation on fish and fried rice, finishing with shaved ice to channel ais kacang, a classic Malaysian dessert.

Best for: Interesting Asian flavours and a massive wine list.Cuisine: Modern Asian, Middle Eastern. This smart, handsome wine bar is as low-key as they come, preferring the humble neighbourhood approach over anything flashy. But Etta is still a big deal, presenting an intelligent range of Asian and Middle Eastern flavours helmed by head chef Rosheen Kaul.

In 2024, Brunswick East restaurant Etta farewelled chef Rosheen Kaul, throwing the pans to chef Lorcan Kan. Expect all the dare and contemporary Asian-Australian adventure you’ve come to love, but with a fresh perspective – one that gave life to one of the city’s most talked-about desserts in the chilli-oil parfait. 60 Lygon St, Brunswick East

This Brunswick East local’s favourite has gone from strength to strength since it first opened. Under the stewardship of owner Hannah Green, and head chef Rosheen Kaul, Etta nails the food, drink, and atmosphere that you want on a date night. I highly recommend one of the booths on the side for a casual, yet sophisticated experience.

Etta is one of the most exciting places to eat in Melbourne right now, largely thanks to a bold, punchy menu that draws on the chef’s Kashmiri, Chinese, Singaporean, and Filipino heritage. Read: scallops cooked in sambal-spiked butter, abalone-lardo skewers swept with soy and kampot pepper, and crayfish with curry-leaf butter.

Etta is inspired by their favorite, intimate local dining rooms and restaurants, the sort that seem like an extension of your living room and a part of the neighborhood. What was previously a fish-and-chip business has now become their home. Things are a little different these days, but fish is still on the menu.

This neighbourhood wine bar and restaurant keeps going from strength to strength. Its latest incarnation, guided by the steady hands of owner Hannah Green and head chef Lorcán Kan, is one of Melbourne's essential dining experiences. It's also a fantastic place to drink wine – with around 250 bottles on the list.

Etta is exactly the kind of cool restaurant you’d want in your neighbourhood. Tucked on Lygon Street, it’s a warm, inviting bistro that’s small enough to feel intimate but never pretenious. The dining room is cosy and modern, with leafy touches that give it a welcoming, warm atmosphere.