Melbourne food news: Doc Martin's out in front in the Collins Quarter

For seven years the four venues in Collins Quarter – Magnolia Courtyard, Blind Alley Bar, Colin's Pub and Ra Cigar Lounge – have hidden in the warren of buildings behind 86 Collins Street. But Doc Martin's gives Collins Quarter its first Collins Street frontage. Occupying the former Franco Jewellers at 86a, Doc Martin's is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am and Saturday from noon, transitioning from early morning cafe to bar.

After a chance meeting in Hepburn Springs' main drag, Jason M Jones (Prix Fixe, the Stables of Como) and Joseph Abboud (Rumi, the Moor's Head) are collaborating on Moor Please, which opens on Thursday October 30. The Middle Eastern-inspired menu will be geared towards all-day dining, with the wood oven put to use firing "inauthentic pizzas". The cafe, at 79 Hepburn Road, will open 8am until 10pm Thursday to Monday.

Former MoVida general manager Iain Ling and wife Stella have taken over Carlton's Hotel Lincoln, which will reopen in November as the Lincoln, after a spruce-up. Lachlan Cameron (ex Supernormal and MoVida Aqui) will captain the kitchen, delivering things such as veal tartare with cured egg yolk and whipped cod roe, and cheese burger with pickles and triple-cooked chips.

Sommelier Tim Cohen, who earned his stripes at Vue de Monde and Albert Street Food & Wine, among others, has opened his first solo venture, Brunswick East Wine Store. The shop is retail-only but will have seating for up to 20 and a menu of charcuterie and cheese boards in the new year. The store is at 472 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, 9384 0875.

Collingwood's Gorski & Jones and adjoining Smith Street Alimentari reopened yesterday as one merged business, Smith Street Alimentari Food Store and Eatery. The food store will carry a larger range of ready-made meals, wines and cheeses, and the neighbouring eatery will open for breakfast and lunch daily. Meaghan Gorski, who opened the dining room with Paul and Linda Jones in 2011, has left the partnership and is "looking into some sweet-focused catering options".