Anchovy

The most fascinating aspect of this modern Vietnamese-Australian restaurant, aside from chef and co-owner Thi Le's spectacular, creative cooking, is its ongoing growth. Le's menus immediately showed a promising and unique perspective through mediums as diverse as pickled mussels, Vietnamese blood pudding, and salad dressings made with fermented tofu when it first opened in 2015 – in a sparsely decorated Bridge Road shopfront (the minimalist approach remains but is now more upholstered).

Previously a la carte, Anchovy now offers a set menu of eight to ten items, such as a rendition of bánh bèo with cured pork relish, custard apple ice cream with gingerbread granita, or expertly boned garfish with jicama and rice paddy. Another progression, which now has a permanent, dedicated facility next door, is the experimental experiment of bánh m through an Anchovy filter (fillings include jungle spicy pork sausage and crisp fried egg).

Address: 338 Bridge Rd, Richmond, Vic

Phone: (03) 9428 3526

Website: anchovy.net.au