One of the hottest openings this month, Cheek by Jowl is helmed by Rishi Naleendra, the former head chef of Maca. His flavourful take on Modern Australian food sees the likes of Wild Venison ($22) with fermented plums, zucchini and wasabi, and a reinterpretation of his claim to fame at Maca, Confit Duck Leg ($36) with five spice caramel, cucumber and excellent waffles. The set lunch ($30 for two-course, $38 for three-course) is great value — for dessert, try the Coconut ($15), an unconventional pairing of flavours like laksa leaf and green chilli. Pro tip: The food is fine but the vibe is super laidback, so there is no need to dress up.
Avg price: $60; set lunch from $30