You won't find a QR code menu at The Milbri in Rosebud. The team are all about showing off their personality and providing good ol' fashioned hospitality.
Located on Rosebud's main drag, what was once a rundown Indian restaurant has been transformed into a moody all-day-diner with dark mirrors, pendulum lighting and timber cladding throughout.
By day it's a popular brunch spot serving up reimagined classics, and by night, it morphs into a restaurant-come-watering hole, perfect for rambunctious dinners and candlelit date nights.
The Milbri opened in 2014 as a joint venture between chef Chris Miller and restaurant manager Chris Fabri. However, with Miller having since moved on, Fabri is now running the show. His first order of business was to bring in head chef Cam Peirce, previously of Point Leo Estate, to add his signature flair to the already impressive menu.
"Our menu is inspired by our travels and the flavours that have stuck with us", says Fabri. "It's all about balance. Not too sweet, not too spicy. We like to showcase good produce in the simplest way possible."
On the brunch menu, you'll find sambal folded eggs with kimchi and roasted mushrooms, corn and zucchini fritters with scrambled chilli tofu, and French toast with blueberry maple coulis and bacon ice cream. The classic tiger toast is also a favourite amongst big and little kids alike.
The hawker-style dinner menu plays with flavours from Latin America and South-East Asia, and is designed to be shared. Smaller plates include delicate leche de tigre ceviche, chipotle salt-baked potatoes, and spiced cauliflower with silky vegan aioli.
For mains, you can't go past the DIY bao buns with crispy buttermilk chicken, or the calamari salad with coconut nam jim and Asian herbs. The tacos are also a real standout, with the tortillas handmade and pressed in house.
The team source their produce from Hawkes Farm and Palamara in Mount Eliza, meat from Greg's Butcher, and pantry staples from Poblana Mexicano. For coffee, the local legends at Little Rebel Coffee Roastery have made them their very own Milbri blend.
The extensive wine list offers a killer lineup, with local drops from Bellingham and Crittenden Estate alongside imported wines, such as the El Payador Malbec from Argentina and a Serge Mathieu NV Brut from Champagne, France.
An ever-changing cocktail menu includes well-loved staples such as the redskin rumba – made with house-infused vodka, lemon, whites and sherbet rim – or the miso mojito – made with Bass & Flinders gin, apple, ginger beer, lime and miso glaze. Grab a seat at the bar to enjoy the show.
For those looking for a little extra bang for their buck, the team serve up $5 tacos and $10 margaritas for Taco Tuesday, or you can mosey in on a Friday evening to make the most of $10 cocktails.
The Milbri is open daily from 9am-10pm, with delivery available from McCrae to Tootgarook.
