5 cracking sharing menus to try in Melbourne right now

Melbourne’s dining scene has everything you could ever want to make this festive season unforgettable. From group-friendly destinations, occasion-worthy gems, private dining rooms and vibrant hotspots for a celebratory night away, some stellar restaurants have prepared the best sharing menus in Melbourne to book for the holidays.

Between contemporary Filipino food that calls for a unique dining experience, a fun-filled Mediterranean menu by one of Australia’s youngest chefs, or one of the most delicious, budget-friendly pan-Asian set menus in the city, getting together with family or friends and sharing a meal has never felt more exciting.

Invite all your aunties, uncles and cousins, plan a catch-up with old school mates or organise an office Christmas feast. These are Melbourne’s best sharing menus to book on OpenTable this festive season.

The best sharing menus in Melbourne to try for the holidays – read on for our top 5

For one of the best Thai sharing menus in Melbourne – don’t miss Kan Eang by Thai Culinary in Melbourne CBD

Kan Eang by Thai Culinary’s two-storey space on Flinders Lane is a slick, contemporary upgrade on the family-owned venue’s Elizabeth Street predecessors: Thai Culinary and Raan Kan Eang. The menu is full of classic Thai recipes, like som tum (papaya salad) topped with crispy soft-shell crab; smoky pad see-ew with Chinese broccoli; and pineapple fried rice served with crisp calamari. 

Ordering an assortment of dishes to share ensures the group gets a taste of everything, or try the two or three-course feed me menus with bottomless cocktails. It is the silly season after all.

For a fun night out with a group – take the gang to Maven by Morgan in Fitzroy

Maven by Morgan has all the energy and playfulness you’d expect from Morgan Hipworth, one of Melbourne’s youngest chefs. The bottomless snacks and drinks menu is one of the best ways to sample the menu’s highlights while sharing – and sipping – with a group. Designed to complement the drinks, the decadent Mediterranean-inspired snacks menu features jalapeno and Manchego cheese croquettes; fried cauliflower with creamy, spiced patatas bravas sauce; and super savoury, crisp halloumi churros balanced with tart plum chutney. 

Still hungry? Order a few large share plates for a substantial feed. There’s pork cotoletta served with sage and almond burnt butter; slow-roasted lamb shoulder with salsa verde and roasted eggplant; and chargrilled prawn risotto finished with saffron jus and red chimichurri. The extensive drinks list spans cocktails, spirits and wines, or you can slow things down with non-alcoholic beer or a mocktail.

For a transportative dining experience – gather around at Askal in Melbourne CBD

Contemporary Filipino food is having a moment in Melbourne’s dining scene, and the CBD’s Askal is leading the charge. Co-owner and chef John Rivera’s menu of reimagined classic dishes transports diners and challenges expectations of Filipino cuisine. Oxtail kare-kare peanut stew is served on a doughnut; oysters come with a mignonette of seaweed sinamak (spiced vinegar); pancit canton, a fine noodle dish, is made with blue swimmer crab and egg yolk. 

Groups are covered with three set menus that range from a six courses to a full-fledged fiesta.

Feast on chargrilled prawns and coconutty crab fat alavar sauce served with sweet-onion-filled piaya flatbread; bluefin tuna and lap cheong sausages combined to create a flavourful ceviche-like sinuglaw; or unctuous beef oyster blade that makes up a pares stew with bone marrow and clay pot rice. The food might be modern, but diners are encouraged to eat in the traditional way: with their hands.

For one of the best budget-friendly set menus in Melbourne – book a table at Salted Egg in Melbourne CBD

Between gift-giving, holiday parties and family gatherings, the holiday season can be hard on the wallet, which makes a delicious dining experience on a budget even more welcome. Enter Salted Egg with its outstanding pan-Asian menu and $39 late night meal of two courses plus snacks.

This is no budget eatery though. Set on level one of the Quincy Hotel, Salted Egg is accessed by a winding gold staircase leading to the restaurant and bar. Settle into sumptuous banquet seating and sample raw kingfish with shiso leaf; or green nam jim and taro chips; or Salted Egg’s twice-cooked pork belly with plum-tamarind sauce. 

An extensive drinks list rounds off the offering, with cocktails like the vodka and ginger-citrus St Kilda Sunset, or the tart sour cherry and gin Quincy Sling. Groups can get amongst old and new world wines, or celebratory champagnes.

For a tapas feast with the mates – visit Crossley Street Cantina in Melbourne CBD

Late nights with mates are all about cracking tapas and drinks. At Crossley Street Cantina, channel the Spaniard style of eating with a late-night chef’s banquet featuring shared pinxtos, large plates and desserts. 

This laneway spot has the charm of a Basque pinxtos bar, with many dishes inspired by the northern Spanish region, while others celebrate the country as a whole. There’s bruléed chorizo terrine with corn purée; a signature paella with salted cod-stuffed piquillo peppers, seafood rice crackers and vizcaina sauce of sweet Basque peppers; as well as roasted lamb ribs with preserved lemon and baby capsicum.

There’s only one way to finish a meal like this: with burnt Basque cheesecake with dulce de leche and honeycomb, plus plenty of forks. The wine list offers a solid array of European wines with Spain Italy, Portugal and France all represented, alongside a handful of Australian drops.

Sharing is caring – book one of the best sharing menus in Melbourne this festive season and secure a great night out on OpenTable today.

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