You'd be a brave man to open yet another restaurant in Collingwood right now. Or, four brave men to be exact: Wide Open Road and Heartattack and Vine proprietors Hootan Heydari and Jono Hill have teamed up with long-time employee Mark Jacobson and head chef Daniel Dobra to open a slick cafe-restaurant hybrid on Johnston Street on Monday.
They've taken over the old Heart of Europe site transforming a once-dingy space into a light-filled bar with the help of architect Nicky Adams: mid-century modern-style booths in rich red upholstery, LA diner-style stools and low-fuss hanging fluorescents.
After stints at the Royal Mail, Brutale and most recently the Beaufort, Dobra's menu is built around all-day dining, "a restaurant that does breakfast," he says, with a carnivorous lean.
![Mark Jacobson and chef Daniel Dobra of Bedford Street restaurant.](/web/20160710001050im_/http://www.goodfood.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/0/d/5/c/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gq0axo.png/1467961094761.jpg)
In the a.m. it's fried chicken and waffles or pancakes stuffed with macaroni and cheese; as night falls he brings out the big guns – a pork "schnitty", really a slow-roast rump par-crumbed in panko and crackling, is sure to be a drawcard, and don't get us started on the the deep-fried apple pie.
On the coffee front, expect Wide Open Road beans (naturally); Jacobson has created a special Bedford Street blend in honour of the new venue.
Looking for something stronger? There are three beers on tap, martinis and manhattans and a concise, mainly local, wine list.
![Plush deep-red booths inside Bedford Street.](/web/20160710001050im_/http://www.goodfood.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/0/l/6/5/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gq0axo.png/1467961094761.jpg)
Open Mon-Fri 7am-11pm; Sat-Sun 8am-11pm.
11-13 Johnston Street, Collingwood