Just Open: Lady Carolina, Brunswick East

If the hard-to-find ingredients with superfood status on Lady Carolina's menu don't provide a pep, the offerings from the pisco and rum bar just might.

"As in Peru, there is equal weight given to food and drinks," says creative director Paul Wilson. "Anybody with an inclination for a good time is often inclined to have a drink."

Australian-grown purple corn ("high in antioxidants") finds its way into the food (purple pavlova) and the drinks, such as chichi morada – a traditional Peruvian drink made at Lady Carolina with Christmas spices, with or without pisco.

There are two distinct areas to the 160-seat restaurant: the front Paladar dining room, with a Cuban vibe, cevicheria and pisco bar with a window into the kitchen, and pit master Blair Williams (ex Piqueos, Bluebonnet) and chef Cameron Denning (Acland Street Cantina).

Out back is the Latin Street Kitchen (opening September 25), with communal tables, cactus garden and street food such as alpaca burgers.

There is even more of a feel-good factor to Lady Carolina, which will donate a percentage of profits to Pay a Sack Forward, for homeless people.

Open Tue-Thu 6pm-late; Fri-Sun noon-4.30pm and 6pm-late. Latin Street Kitchen Tue-Thu 6pm-late; Fri-Sun noon-late.

175-177 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, ladycarolina.com.au

Correction: An earlier version of this story described Paul Wilson as executive chef. This has been updated.