Finn and Vegilicious join the Carlisle Street crowd

The slab of Carlisle Street around St Kilda library is on the up - my hairdresser told me, so it must be true.

Finn (124 Carlisle Street, 0481 394 403) opened recently, serving Scandi specialties along with granola and omelettes. The continental breakfast board features the sturdy Karelian pastry with barley porridge encased in rye crust.

Just open is Vegilicious (118a Carlisle Street, 0407 538 603), a large vegetarian restaurant with an upstairs arts hub. Owner Giovanna Ghelardini was part of the original Lentil as Anything crew and has been catering under the Vegilicious banner at markets and festivals for six years. Dishes will include marinated tofu burgers and Japanese pancakes.

The newies join hip, tasty Vietnamese restaurant Uncle, old faves Cafe Bruce and the Hearty Hungarian, and busy Indian grocery Limra.