Smith + Singleton Opens in Flemington
Chef and restaurateur Paul Dunlop, of GG restaurant and bar in East Melbourne, recently opened Smith + Singleton - a café located at 48 Flemington Road, Parkville. The World Loves Melbourne has been a fan of GG restaurant and bar in East Melbourne, so we anticipate great food and an element of "soul" in this venture.
Dunlop (formerly of St Katherine’s and Bistro Thierry) says opening Smith + Singleton was an opportunity to reminisce and recreate food memories, forged during international travels.
“In the early planning stages of Smith + Singleton, my head chef Lucas Sansome and I realised that between us, we’d covered a lot of culinary ground across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. “So we decided to plate up our experiences, and share them with Melbourne. “Smith + Singleton brings something new to Flemington Road, and what we hope is a welcome addition to the suburb,” says Dunlop.
Smith + Singleton, situated adjacent to The Larwill Studio - part of the Art Series Hotel Group - and located close to The Royal Children’s Hospital, is currently trading as a cafe then from early 2016, will open as a restaurant, following liquor license approval.
The breakfast menu highlights include puffed rice granola with poached pear, orange curd and pistachios; avocado with grilled pumpkin bread, Persian feta and hazelnut dukkah; scrambled eggs with buffalo mozzarella, jamon and basil; and toasted croissant with leg ham, manchego and green tomato jam. The lunch menu focuses on small and large plates to share. For small, think grilled haloumi with pickled grapes, shallot, pine nuts and mint; crispy squid with Szechuan salt and kaffir lime; and grilled prawns with smoked chilli butter and lime. Larger plates include lamb cutlets with a parsley and lemon crumb, whipped ricotta, and smoked almond vinaigrette; grilled spatchcock with garlic, preserved lemon, burghul, currants, almonds, pomegranate and herbs; and pan fried cauliflower, smoked paprika, currants, seeds, nuts and sherry vinegar.
A more casual menu is also available, including sandwiches like Piggy – roast pork, spiced raisins, roquette and tomato; the Smith + Singleton take on Banh Mi – lemongrass BBQ pork, hoi sin, carrot, cucumber and Sriracha mayo; plus stone baked pizzas like the Hottie – tomato, calabrese, red onion, fior di latte and chilli; and the Green – broccoli, zucchini, smoked mozzarella and parsley. Smith + Singleton serves a signature coffee blend from Axil Coffee Roasters, available as espresso, filter and cold brew, plus a range of Spider drinks made with Coke, lemonade or ginger beer, and scoops of salted caramel, chic chip, or vanilla bean ice cream. If smoothies are more your thing, try the spinach, spirulina, coconut, cucumber, and mint; or banana, oats, peanut butter, honey, and almond milk.
Studio Y architects designed Smith + Singleton. Recent projects include Mantra (Carlton), The Deli Counter, and Raw Trader (both Melbourne CBD). Smith + Singleton will see natural light spill in through floor to ceiling windows, showcasing an airy, industrial, welcoming space of timbers, wrought iron, and low strung light globes and shades.
A partially raised dining area and elevated booths subtly divide the 330 square metre floor space, and chefs will cast a watchful eye over the room from an open kitchen. Green shrubbery adds colour, and wall and floor tiles in a variety of sizes, shapes and textures provide contrasting tones - from greys and rusty browns, to patterned blue and white Moroccan, and even wooden styles.