The Crosstown Eating House

Crosstown was a hip new kid sticking it to the establishment when it launched. The house has since matured (they serve flat whites now) along with the market (shared food de rigueur). Unchanged is a distinctive soul brought about by deco design, offbeat staff on-song with service and an approachable menu meant to be shared. Pretty terrines of pancetta, chook and nut beg to be broken over toast with a lick of duck egg and relish. Meaty chorizo and potato mash together with peppers and olives for forkfuls of punchy flavour. Mains of confit duck leg and pork belly sound serious but arrive lounging atop generous 'withs' to be worked over with abandon. Dessert is just as fun; think strawberry spring rolls smeared with tarty passionfruit curd. Back up for brekky (fish tacos a must) or roll in later for a casual-delicious lunch matched by good mates, share plates and a crack at the sticky-pork spare ribs.