Grounds of Arcadia
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Housed in the majestic former Royal Mint building, the Hellenic Museum, home to Australia’s most comprehensive collection of Greek art and antiquities, now boasts the city’s newest Greek restaurant – Grounds of Arcadia.
In the leafy surrounds of the museum’s courtyard garden - one of only two of its kind in the city, the other being located at the Melbourne Club - sits Sean Godsell’s original multi award-winning MPavilion reimagined as an indoor-outdoor restaurant space.
The menu is prepared using bespoke wood-fired ovens and paired with indigenous Greek wine varietals, beers and spirits.
To start the chargrilled eggplant dip with pomegranate, parsley and shaved chilli was beautiful and went perfectly with fluffy pita bread.
The Spanakopita was similarly delicious. It was a traditional and absolutely moreish rendition of the classic spinach, beet leaves and feta pie. Pan seared haloumi graced our presence next and was served with an heirloom tomato medley for freshness to cut through the richness of the cheese as well as wild fig and raisin conserve to add an addictive touch of sweetness.
For the main affair we adored the crispy skin roasted chicken which was bursting with flavour from being marinated in rosemary and tarragon.
You can be friends with salad at Grounds of Arcadia. The cauliflower and broccoli salad was a true highlight. Think chargrilled florets tossed with thyme infused goat cheese, pine nuts and a mixture of dried berries.
Our visit concluded on a sweet note with traditional homemade galaktoboureko served with chocolate and cinnamon dipped candied orange wheel. Simple but simply delicious.
Location: Courtyard of the Hellenic Museum, 280 William St, Melbourne
Phone: (03) 9642 1889
