Ash St. Cellar

Here's a little bit of Europe - and a touch of Melbourne laneway - tucked away behind the busy thoroughfare of George Street. Sit outside in the alley or in the warm woody interior at either a large share table or a (very) small, marble-topped round one and pick and mix from the cosmopolitan all-day dining menu. The most fun comes from share plates, such as parmesan-dusted whitebait and zucchini fritters with caper mayo, or smoky babaghanoush and flatbread teamed with chargrilled chorizo. Daily specials might be thinly sliced silky veal tongue with mushrooms, the richness balanced by a hit of vinegar in the dressing, or grilled lamb cutlets with harissa yoghurt and couscous. To finish, load up on fashionable alfajores (shortbreads with rich dulce de leche filling). The United Nations of charmingly accented staff are friendly and helpful enough to make sure a lone diner doesn't feel alone. It's fun, relaxing and casual, but with one of the most serious wine lists around.