8 of the best sport-spectating dishes at the Australian Open

This is sponsored content by Tennis Australia.

The Australian Open is here and that can only mean one thing: tennis. But there's something else afoot at the southern hemisphere's greatest tennis event – this year, the food is set to be all-time. From Rockpool and Nobu to world-class pizza and mind-bogglingly delicious stuffed pitas, we've got you prepared – game, set, match – for your big day at Australian Open 2020.

Here are 8 dishes to try this year.

400 Gradi's pizze

Stop into Garden Square and grab a pizza from 400 Gradi. The Melbourne restaurant is regularly ranked as serving not only one of Australia's best pizzas, but one of the best in the world. The AO ham and mushroom pizza is a heady combination of San Marzano tomatoes, leg ham, mushrooms and mozzarella. Grab an Aperol Spritz and channel those easy Italian vibes.

Mr Miyagi's baos

Pick up the bao of your dreams at Grand Slam Oval East with Mr Miyagi's peking duck Bao. Stuffed into a fluffy, steamed bun you'll find delicious peking duck, fresh shredded lettuce and silky Japanese mayo. It's simple and snackable — which is often the most satisfying way to eat at a big event like this.

LOMAH's pitas

Feel like something light and fresh in between matches? Look no further than Lomah at Grand Slam Oval North. The Melbourne restaurant made its name by serving soft, fluffy pitas stuffed with textural delights like crisp-edged falafel, tahini-spiked, creamy hummus and crunchy pickles — and you can get the same thing right here at the tennis. Napkins recommended.

Rockpool's scallops

Over at Riverside Terrace, Rockpool is offering up a three-course meal with all the trimmings. Our pick is the roasted scallops served with citrussy orange oil with a kick of Aleppo pepper — it's the perfect marriage of sweet, fresh and hot, showcasing the balance that made Rockpool's name. You'll leave feeling full but not too much — so you can still enjoy the tennis without all that food weighing you down.

Mamasita X Little Roma's taco

Who doesn't like tacos? Only monsters; that's who. They are pretty much the ultimate food on the go, and this year at the Australian Open, Mamasita have created an italo-mexicano menu especially for the crowds at Grand Slam Oval North. Try their calamari taco. It's chock full of tender, charry, grilled calamari, cavolo bianco and creamy, herb-flecked pesto aioli.

Hellenic Express' lamb bowl

If the chicken souva or loukoumades don't get you, then the AO lamb bowl will. Hellenic Express' take includes roast Flinders Island lamb, paired with lentils, nuts and fresh herbs. So that's pretty much health food, right? Well, it would be, if you try to ignore the restaurant's fêted feta chips. Hot potato bedecked with salty cheese? Where do we sign?

Sun Kitchen's custard buns

In the mood for something sweet? While you're at Grand Slam Oval East pick up a fluffy steamed Custard Panda Bun from Sun Kitchen, Melbourne's fancy Albert Park restaurant. They are as cute to look at as they are sweetly satisfying to eat, and we all need a hit of the sweet stuff to keep us going through the heat.

Nobu's Sudachi Cheesecake

Nobu, the restaurant empire helmed by Nobuyuki 'Nobu' Matsuhisa and Robert de Niro, among others, is the stuff of Hollywood movies, and here's your chance to try it out at the Australian Open. The restaurant is at Riverside Terrace, and the on-theme dessert you're not going to want to miss is the tangy sudachi cheesecake featuring matcha green tea and bolstered with forest berries. Did we mention it's shaped like a tennis ball?

Catch all of your favourite sport-spectating dishes at Australian Open 2020.