Sunbury. Just forty minutes from Melbourne is native wildlife, a rapidly growing foodie scene and the state’s oldest homestead. The laconically named Emu Bottom was built in 1836 at the foot of the Macedon Ranges it was named as such because of the low lying ground and proliferation of emus at the time. It now offers a taste of Australia’s pioneer experience for parties of 80-600 via The Epicurean Emu Bottom. Its fresh, regional, seasonal produce is prepared with a rustic and authentic flair of modern Australian cuisine with a fresh and bountiful Italian influence.
Without 79 friends onboard you can take your pick of the cafes and eateries of O’Shanassy Street. Dine alfresco. Sample the finest local produce, pair it with local wines and enjoy the ambience of a leafy foodie scene.
Vic’s Food & Wine (69-71 O’Shanassy St, Sunbury) is an eatery of uncompromising quality and affordability. Owned by Carmel and Tony Scerri with son Vic their head chef; part of the deeply rooted Italian tradition of family. Unadorned tables, modern Italian décor, a well stocked bar and open kitchen strike the right complimentary note to the fine menu, wines and generosity of plate and spirit. Vic’s is easily the most cherished and loved restaurant in Sunbury and a rite of passage for anyone new to the area.
Dental and orthodontic services in Sunbury mean you can reward yourself for taking care of your oral health by checking out local favourites like the Spotted Owl, and the Roquette Bar & Grill.
The Spotted Owl Café (93 O’Shannassy St) prides itself on serving consistently delicious food for its breakfast and lunch. Coffee is Harker St espresso roast, from Little Goat. Think you’re bored with Smashed Avocado? Two pieces of perfectly toasted sourdough topped with the perfect amount of smash – imbibed with coriander and chili – bedding beautifully runny eggs. See if you can go past the Japanese pancake. Tasty and crisp, generous with beautifully cured salmon, it’s an unexpected stunner for a little café.
You can even order online.
Before you visit nearby Melton also for dentists’ services like digital smile design, take your hunger for a walk to the Roquette Bar & Grill.
Here at 59 O’Shannassy Street, it’s all about seasonally eating quality food. Hormone and antibiotic-free, grass fed meats come from ethical farming communities in Victoria and Tasmania. Seafood is sourced from our own shores, and cheeses produced locally, in Bolinda.
Feel like adding to social media for cafes and hospitality venues? Want to experience and upload something a little different to dining in? Roquette Bar & Grill has Grazing and High Tea Boxes available with 3 days notice. These beautifully presented assortments that include house sausage rolls with tomato chutney, traditional ribbon sandwiches, scones with raspberry jam and whipped cream for High Tea; for grazing, spoil yourself with an assortment of deli meats, grissini, antipasto, fresh ciabatta, marinated olives two delicious house dips, and fresh and dried fruits.
Forget choosing – order both.
If you’re in the mood for Thai, omnivores, vegetarians and vegans alike will find Rice Scoop definitely fits the bill of fare. (See what I did there?) This hidden gem is found at 46 O’Shannessy Street with killer crispy pork, sensational vegan choices and a chef more than happy to adjust to patron’s chilli level.
A place full of happy staff, great service and a menu that will never disappoint.
And if you’re just hankering for a kebab, get yourself off O’Shannessy Street, into Evans and stop at number 34.
Cheeky Kebabs is the family run mecca for Turkish food. Fresh, home made, terrific. Mixed plates, breads, dips and pickles are all high quality, well priced and always well appreciated. Its kebabs are the stuff of legend; its garlic sauce like a fervid kiss.
Always clean, very friendly, and fast, Cheeky’s not fancy, but there’s booth style seating should you want to eat in. Which you may very well want to do with all that Turkish bread being baked…
… and you might want to take a pide home.
Sunbury has several First Nations Peoples archaeological sites, including five earth rings identified in the 1970s and ‘80s believed to have been where ceremonial gatherings took place. It is Wurundjeri country, settled in 1836 by George Evans and William Jackson. Jackson’s brother Samuel named it after Sunbury-on-Thames, in Middlesex, England because clearly, he wasn’t a creative type and “Koorakoorakup�? was far too Aussie for his Pommy sensibilities.
Who wouldn’t want to live at Koorakoorakup? Cracks me up just thinking about it.
