Wait for gas soon over for B'Stilla Cantina, Fitzroy

When news broke that chef Jason Jones planned to serve a special cold menu at his new Fitzroy venue, B'Stilla Cantina, while he waited up to nine weeks to have his meter connected, he got a surprise phone call from the gas company saying they could install it immediately. Jones' response? "I said next Tuesday is better as I've prepared for it being an oyster bar for at least the weekend." So his Waiting for Gas menu starts today and will continue until next Tuesday. The full B'Stilla Cantina menu begins on Wednesday, December 17.

The small room is bright with Northern African-inspired tiles, retro wall hangings - there's one of Elvis in a keffiyeh (headscarf) - and colourful crockery that, this week, will hold oysters, seafood dishes and cold salads. When the gas kicks in next week, B'Stilla Cantina will have a short menu of hot sandwiches, lamb ribs with dates, lime and red dukkah, and barbecued octopus with tahini and kohlrabi remoulade.

When the liquor licence comes through he'll serve boozy slushies and a brief drinks list: "one white, one rosé, one sparkling and one red, and a couple of tinnies." The no-bookings cantina has 24 seats inside and another 24 outside and will also offer takeaways. It's open from noon Wednesday to Monday.

B'Stilla Cantina, 277B Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, 9417 2858, bstilla.com